Fairway woods

[JCDot33]

Ok, here is a quick question for you all ...

I haven't played with a 3 or a 5 wood in a LONG time, and I never could hit them when I would play with them back in "the day".

Here is the question, when taking a 3 or 5 "off the deck" should I swing the woods like I would off the tee, or should they be swung more like an iron would be and more "down" on the ball?

I have been trying both at the indoor driving range, neither one feels quite right ... thanks for the info.

[mirv]

i recall sam snead saying once that fairway woods and long irons should sweep the ball off the ground. the only time i personally leave a divot with a fairway wood is if i just flat out screwed up the shot and hit it fat. otherwise, most of the time, you can't even tell i just hit a ball off that spot. i don't try to hit down on the ball unless i'm hitting a 5-iron down through my wedges.

[JCDot33]

Ok, it's funny because both the TM Burner 3 & 5 woods have a leading edge on the bottom of the club face that sticks out a touch from the actual face of the club (it's almost like a little, well for a lack of a better word, scoop for the club. It's a little distracting but it was an X-Mas gift from the wife and I am not going to take them back - I am just going to learn to hit them) and the design of the club almost makes you want to swing down on it (like an iron) but that didn't feel right, and the "sweeping" of a driver didn't feel quite right either ...

Does everyone else agree - I should be "sweeping" these clubs ... but then again, if Mr. Sneed says to sweep who am I to argue?

[st0wgolf08]

Ok, it's funny because both the TM Burner 3 & 5 woods have a leading edge on the bottom of the club face that sticks out a touch from the actual face of the club (it's almost like a little, well for a lack of a better word, scoop for the club. It's a little distracting but it was an X-Mas gift from the wife and I am not going to take them back - I am just going to learn to hit them) and the design of the club almost makes you want to swing down on it (like an iron) but that didn't feel right, and the "sweeping" of a driver didn't feel quite right either ...

My 3 wood 906f2 has a pretty deep face, so I can't really sweep it, or the shot wont get up very well. I think a medium works best, I don't take an iron divot, but most pros when they hit woods they get a little divot, that's how it usually is for me or what I shoot for. Try the ball a little bit farther back in your stance, i play mine almost in the middle, and that seems to help me a bit.

[GaijinGolfer]

With fairway woods you want to sweep the ball of the ground.

[ebough]

So how do you all get consistency on sweeping the fairway woods? I can hit them reasonably in light rough, but when I get on short or hard-packed fairway, all heck can break loose--fat hits, topped balls, etc. Sweeping a ball off a tee with a 460 driver leaves a lot of room for slight error. Hitting down on a ball with a variable divot also leaves some room for error. Sweeping a fairway wood off the deck is clearly a more demanding shot. So what are people's tricks for consistency?

[ks8829]

don't be afraid of the fairway wood. I would work on your take away and see what works for solid contact and results with your fairway woods.

try hitting your pitching wedge and after some solid contacts use the same take away and chip with your fairway woods with short backswings and work your way up to 1/2 and 3/4 swings and remember the same take away that you used for the wedge.

[denver_nuggs_15]

You should be sweeping your fairway woods. I read that it should feel like you are hitting the ball into a cup about 6 inches ahead of the ball. Hope this helps.

[GaijinGolfer]

So how do you all get consistency on sweeping the fairway woods?

Swing easy and practice, practice, practice.

It may be that you have the ball too far foreward in your stance. With a fairway wood you want the ball slightly ahead of center. You could also try gripping down on your fairway woods, which will make them easier to control and then, as you gain consistency and confidence you could start gripping them farther up on the shaft. Ive always struggled with my fairway woods too, but towards the end of last year I started to hit my 3-wood halfway decent by gripping down on it. Granted, I was only getting about 190 yards out of it, but at least it was in the fairway (which sure as heck beats a 200 yard shot that goes 20 yards into the rough).

[Fourputt]

I've found that for me I have to strike the ball slightly on the downswing to make consistent contact. The popular theory is that it should be a sweep, but I've never been able to get any consistency that way. I've always hit my FW woods best when I have the feeling that I just slightly "pinched" the ball. I don't take a divot, but I do usually "bruise" the grass. I also play them a bit farther back in my stance than most players do.

I'd recommend that you do some experimenting for yourself and go with what works best for you for now. Don't feel that you have to do it a certain way just because someone says so.

[flopdarock]

i love hitting 3w... its saved me more than a few times...
off the deck depending on the lie... i do the slight pinch thing also... more of a sweeping pinch tho... i just put an effort to get a lil more than a 3/4 swing going but definately not a full swing

[misty_mountainhop]

Slight downward strike or pinch works best for me. I find it much more consistent than trying to sweep it away.

[GaijinGolfer]

I've found that for me I have to strike the ball slightly on the downswing to make consistent contact. The popular theory is that it should be a sweep, but I've never been able to get any consistency that way. I've always hit my FW woods best when I have the feeling that I just slightly "pinched" the ball. I don't take a divot, but I do usually "bruise" the grass. I also play them a bit farther back in my stance than most players do.

Im glad it works for you, but hitting down on it isnt the best way to go. Hitting down causes more backspin, which makes the ball go higher and results in less distance.

[Fourputt]

Im glad it works for you, but hitting down on it isnt the best way to go. Hitting down causes more backspin, which makes the ball go higher and results in less distance.

Didn't say it was right, said it was best for me. And since it's has worked for 30 odd years, I'm not changing now.

I'm sort of puzzled about a 20 handicap trying to give anyone golf lessons.

[uttexas]

Generally, do what what works for you. Personally, I find more success sweeping the driver and 3 wood. PS. I always love the consistently crotchety comments made by some here. Adds some spice to the conversations.

[GaijinGolfer]

Didn't say it was right, said it was best for me. And since it's has worked for 30 odd years, I'm not changing now.

I was a 38 back in June.

Go take a lesson from any golf pro and they will tell you the same. Apparently you know more than all those golf pros do.

[Fourputt]

I was a 38 back in June.

I do know more about MY swing than they do. And I've taken lessons myself, most recently from the head pro last August. He told me that if it works, don't change it.

It's not like I'm making a wedge swing with the 3W...

[misty_mountainhop]

I was a 38 back in June.

Have to disagree; they won't all tell you the same. Sweeping with a driver is easy as you're on a tee and you have to be way off beam to hit it heavy; if you're a fraction fat trying to sweep it off the turf on the fairway with a 3-, 4-, 5-wood etc and you'll have all sorts of problems. A pinched contact (i.e. a

slight ball-turf) is much more likely to be consistent. Watch Tiger or any other pro and the majority will typically make a slight descending strike with a (very) small divot or puff of grass post-strike. That said, each to their own. By the way, 38 to 20 in 6 months? And?