Fairway woods, swing

[drumon]

I'm trying to get the hang of playing my 3 wood off the grass.

I'm aware of lots of tips along the lines of "sweep" the ball from the ground with a fairway wood.... and also tips to aim to take a slight divot after the ball so that a slight downward strike gets the ball to grip the face and use the loft.

But I'm just not quite getting it.

Can you offer advice on this?

I'm under the impression that I want to keep my swing essentially same as that used with my irons. (I hope this is the case).

SO....what adjustments should I make with ball position, or the width of my stance to get the club swinging and turning through the right path as it takes the ball away?

[DocWu1948]

Well, since no one has replied, here's what this high handicapper does. I try to sweep the ball with a nice round swing. For irons, I try to come down, but for woods it's a sweep. If I start the club back along the ground, it seems to work better for me. Another trick in practice when you first start out is to tee it high and keep reducing the height til you are used to sweeping the ground.

Two instructional examplesI found on youtube that tend to have the same philosophy.





We'll see what happens this year as I try to add S&T; elements to my swing. Maybe I will keep sweeping my fairway woods.

[Shanks A Million]

I'm trying to get the hang of playing my 3 wood off the grass.

I was plauged with bad fairway wood play for many years. I couldn't hit them to save my life.

I finally realized, after talking to an instructor, that it was all in my head. I knew I could hit my driver from a tee very well. I also knew I could hit my driver off the ground fairly well. So, then why can't I do the same with a fairway wood? The answer was simple, confidence. So, I took my fairway woods, and teed a ball up. I hit the ball from a tee for a while, getting used to the feel, and getting confident with the club. I then took the ball off the tee, and placed it on the ground. I just relaxed, and swung the exact same way. Boom, Presto! That was the key, to merely make the same swing as I would to hit it from a tee. Once the confidence was there, it was a simple matter.

[spc lewis]

Hi. My 3 wood of the turf and my 58* wedge are the only redeeming aspect of my golf game. This drill really helped me make solid contact with my 3 wood. greatest drill I have ever used.

[tacs9888]

I play a full round nearly every day with my dog at my local courses and I have witnessed three woods attempted and failed from the fairway time and again. Although this one of the most stressed facts when people hit any club, I suggest you at least double check, keep your head still and remaining behind the ball until well after impact! Its so basic, but when people hit woods they are too used to teeing them up, so they unconsciously rise up in their backswing, and are unable to drop accurately to return the club to position. Also tempo is very important when hitting any shot, especially one that the ball will be in the air for so much distance. A consistent tempo while keeping the head stable and just slightly behind the ball, will result in more accurate shots with the woods.

Just a thought, but have someone check your set up with the woods, its very important to be the right distance away from the ball.

Simple and repetitive I know, but more often than not its the simple things that need to be checked before a swing change.

[Blades4me]

I'd suggest teeing up the 3 metal and hitting it. Once you get use to "going for it", cuz fairway metals don't like a wussy swing, put the ball on the deck and hit it. You may also have to flatten out the swing a little. As a earlier poster said, its mostly about confidence.

[drumon]

Been focussing on practising the 3 wood, fine off the tee, but its a 50/50 off the grass....

Practising the 3 wood was taking too much time which I feel would be better spent on swinging the irons well, then over time if my swing gets more reliable I can start worrying about using the likes of the 3 wood off the grass also.

So, now my thoughts are to get a 5wood or a hybrid for off the grass and keep the 3 wood for the tee shots.


Then gradually (hopefully) improve the 3 wood off the turf.... Then buy a driver after that when I'm happy using the two woods.

Does that sound a reasonable plan for someone getting into the game and trying to improve and enjoy at the same time?
...and is a 5 wood significantly easier of the grass than 3 wood?

[luckyluke699]

I had troubles till I realised I was over complicating the matter.

A 3 wood is a 3 wood. I hit it the same as I do off a tee, just off the deck. Seems to work every time!!

[drumon]

Fair comment, Thanks.
Even though my 3 wood of the turf is 50/50, that is definitely an improvement! I just dont see it becoming a useful shot on the course for a while yet until it becomes reliable which I feel will take A LONG TIME. Maybe I should keep working hard on it rather than disregard it.

[senorchipotle]

i take a divot with my 3 wood. so does ernie els.

[The Road Dog]

Hi Drumon, the key is fundamentals. the 3wood is a slight bit longer club than a 5wood. Why would it be easier to practice hitting the 5wood? My advice is keep hitting the 3, and get the 5 and a driver. This game takes practice, there are no shortcuts. no secret moves. Your body and your mind have to be taught to work together to accomplish the objective. That being applying small spot on end of stick to little round object in the proper direction with correct speed and force. Go for it.

[drumon]

Hi Drumon, the key is fundamentals. the 3wood is a slight bit longer club than a 5wood. Why would it be easier to practice hitting the 5wood? My advice is keep hitting the 3, and get the 5 and a driver. This game takes practice, there are no shortcuts. no secret moves. Your body and your mind have to be taught to work together to accomplish the objective. That being applying small spot on end of stick to little round object in the proper direction with correct speed and force. Go for it.

I meant it would be easier to sack the 3 wood altogether and just use a 5wood.

Thanks for the encouragement Road Dog. I will just go for it. Though no doubt my puzzlement and need to ask questions will increase.