How to hit with a fairway wood?

[BadGolfer]

Try as I might, I find it nearly impossible to get under the ball with a wood in order to get the distance that I would be using it for. My irons always go farther because I can actually get them in the air. I think this is a common problem too as the few guys I golf with also hardly ever use their woods, and some of them don't even include them in their bag.

So, tips?

[ks8829]

When you say get under the ball, do you mean get the ball in the air? What fairway wood do you use? 3 wood. 5 wood or 7 wood? I would suggest trying with a 7 or 5 wood before the 3 wood because it will be easier to get the ball in the air.

If you have problems with woods you can practice with your wedges and visualize a circular stroke with the ball being just before the bottom of the arc.

The fairway wood are one of the hardest clubs to hit especially from the fairways. the key is your set up and your footwork. if you sway with the fairway woods you will always hit the ball fat. a practice drill is to swing with your feet together not for power but for contact and to help you feel the right backswing.

All the basic golf swing must be just right for the fairway wood to be struck correctly and for you to see the results.

If you can hit the fairway wood you have also improve your golf swing and will see the results on all your clubs.

[The Road Dog]

When you say get under the ball, do you mean get the ball in the air? What fairway wood do you use? 3 wood. 5 wood or 7 wood? I would suggest trying with a 7 or 5 wood before the 3 wood because it will be easier to get the ball in the air.

Yeah, I agree with what ks8829 said (except about FWw being hard to hit) and I will add play the ball forward in your stance for loft and back in your stance to keep it low and out of the wind.

If you can get your swing straight with a 3w it is very versatile on a tight course.

[StricklandPropane]

Have the same problem with my woods, top city. At the range it takes me about 15 shots until I start hitting it well. Once I do I hit it straight and farther than any other club (even my driver since I can't hit that straight yet).

Problem is, next time at the range, it takes me another 15 shots until it's grooved, so on the course I don't have that luxury. I haven't yet figured out what I figure out after 15 shots to get them in the air.

[phatbak]

I have the same problem, I always top it on the fairways. I'm going to try the feet-together drill when I get home.

[Beady]

I actually have the opposite problem from you guys. When playing my 3W poorly I'll take a big deep divot with it.


Even with the divot I usually get a decent shot out of it. My poor shot is one that goes too high and loses distance because of it.

One drill I have seen with the woods is to find an area where you can take some practice shots with the ball above your feet or below your feet accordingly. This would give you either the sensation of swinging down more to get to the ball or up more to keep the club from going to deep.

[Slammin' Sam]

Yeah, I agree with what ks8829 said (except about FWw being hard to hit) and I will add play the ball forward in your stance for loft and back in your stance to keep it low and out of the wind.

+1. Most of the time I play the ball forward in my stance but not as far forward as in would for a driver shot off the tee.

[BadGolfer]

I guess I'll just have to practice. Its hard to practice of those terrible mats at the driving range without a tee though.

I do feel like my game is missing something big, like right after my drive on par fives or long par fours. If I could just hit it with a wood instead of resorting to my 3 or 4 iron I could probably take a stroke off that hole every now and then. Every par 5 I have to sink it in one putt to par, since after my drive (like 250 yards on a good hit) I still have to go another 250, which for me is 3 more hits unless I get lucky and hit the green on my third stroke. Usaually its drive, get closer, get really close, and then chip on.

[wabobbo]

I really like to hit my 5 wood. if i have a terrific lie i hit my three, usually get a nice long low stinger out of it

[CPT]

You don't get "under" the ball with fairway woods. You let the loft of the club pick the ball up in the air for you. I'm an okay fairway woods player and I can hit them pretty straight. I just remind myself to hit with a little bit of a "sweeping" motion.

[BostonSully]

I know im a high capper and all but this is what I found works for me. I actually really enjoy hitting my 3wood with close to 200yds of carry and some good roll in the fairway now though.

Couple of rules: I never use it unless I have a nice flat lie in the fairway. I have alot of room left-right to miss incase it slices or hooks.

Address the ball in between where you would a 8i and your driver. Choke up on the club like its an 8iron, then swing it more like an iron and never take more than like 1/8in of grass in your divot.

I have no idea of the valdity of those tips but it works out great for me on those 550 yard par 5 holes. Even some long par4's I have reached the fringe in 2 with this swing on my 3wood.

[$2 Nassau]

don't try to scoop it, think "long and low" long low takeaway and then on the downswing come in with that same shallow, low approach and long low follow through. the loft of the club will do the rest. If you scrape off a tiny shallow divot that's fine.

[michaeljames92]

I usually put it just in front of centre of stance depending on the shot I want to play. If I want to draw it a lot i put it further back, fade further forward. i am actually more comfortable with hitting 3 wood off the deck than a 4 iron. You have to make sure you maintain your flying wedge and not flip. Too many people try to help the ball in the air instead of hitting with a descending blow and often top it or chunk it

[Quinn07]

When I am playing my 3 wood off the deck I play it a little further back in my stance than I would off the tee. When I am swinging I try to hit it with a descending blow. I don't want to necessarily take a big divot, but I certainly want to to disturb the grass. I have found since I started doing this I get better contact and it goes straighter.

[allin]

When I watch other golfers who hit their fairway woods poorly I feel that the majority of them change their effort and tempo significantly. The get to the top of the backswing and their change of direction is much more agressive than on their other clubs. I feel this leads to their technique falling apart.

[Quinn07]

When I watch other golfers who hit their fairway woods poorly I feel that the majority of them change their effort and tempo significantly. The get to the top of the backswing and their change of direction is much more agressive than on their other clubs. I feel this leads to their technique falling apart.

That's a good point I try to make an effort not to over swing and just make good solid contact. I find when I over swing I have a tendency to top the ball or hit a poor shot.

[themightytimmah]

I found that switching to a "flatter" swing (if that makes any sense) helped me hit my fairway woods more smoothly. Instead of striking a descending blow, I would try to "skate" about 1/4" off the deck and hit the ball square on.

A low hybrid might be an option for you too - I am looking to replace my 3-wood with a 1H as I find the hybrid swing is much more natural for me.

[WUTiger]

Along with other advice, make sure you're not overswinging on your takeaway. I'll have some good rounds with the fairway woods, and then a day where they just don't work at all. A trip to the range usually shows I was overswinging on disaster day.