Fitting Fairway Woods

[pgawest]

I recently got a 3 and a 5 RBZ fairway metals (last year's model on sale). I am 5'3 and having trouble hitting them. I tend to strike the ground behind the ball by several inches when I'm taking a practice swing.

I'm thinking they are too long for me. They are 43" and 42" respectively. Maybe I could get them shortened.

I have no trouble hitting my big 45" driver off the tee. But I struggle with the two fairway clubs to the point where I'm thinking of parking them in the garage.

Thanks very much for your insight.

[LuciusWooding]

  pgawest said:

Originally Posted by pgawest

I tend to strike the ground behind the ball by several inches when I'm taking a practice swing.

OK, I think I found the problem. You can't play good golf with any club unless you bottom out past the ball, so either your swing or setup needs adjusting. It's possible to get away with this on other clubs, but the driver and 3w will punish the hell out of you because so little loft is presented to the ball.

In terms of other fixes, try cutting them down, maybe getting a bit heavier shaft or head, I don't like anything over 41 inches off the deck. It makes it very hard to bottom the arc out after the ball without having some bad angles or a poor ball position. Especially if you're steep coming into the ball.

[pgawest]

Thank you; I really appreciate this.  I think I'll have two inches off each one and take a lesson also.

[LuciusWooding]

I'd start with about an inch, or try choking up to try it out. Getting it cut down and swingweighted will feel better than choking up but cost money if you don't like it. Fairways are designed to have a bit of length and cutting 2 inches off any shaft is a bit drastic unless your stature needs it. Clubs over 42 inches are really hard to hit off the deck, but the 3 wood is a tough club anyway. It's the one club I personally lack confidence in, though I can hit a 3 iron and 17 degree hybrid quite well.

[pgawest]

Thanks Lucius, I very much appreciate your responses, and I'm paying attention.

I agree 2" might be drastic...I have been researching this...I think I'll go over to the range tomorrow and choke down on the club, see how that changes things. I'm very much afraid to tweak the length too much and ruin my new clubs. I'm willing to take a lesson to check out/fix my mechanics on this aspect of my game.

I am only 5'3" after all, low to the ground, but I don't have problems with long irons or hybrids or my driver, which I can hit the snot out of.

Thanks again.

[Mr. Desmond]

If it is last year's RBZ, I'd be surprised if the stock length was 43 and 42 inches in the 3 and 5 wood - more like 43.5 and 42.5. Also, the complaints about last year's club head is that it is too deep in the face, and many of us had a difficult time with it off the deck.

I did not buy them for that reason - I like a shallower face. They are great off the tee. But off the deck? Not so easy. That's why this year's model is shallower and redesigned.

They are still too long in shaft length.

What you may find out is that gripping down, cutting the shaft length, will cause other issues (cutting it down from the butt makes the shaft slightly stiffer - more so if you cut more than .5 inches. And then your swingweight goes to C whatever so you can't feel the clubhead during the swing.

What you probably require is a new shaft with hot melt in the head to get the length and swing weight to where you need them - i.e.. find a good club maker.

Since fairways are more difficult to hit, you've really got to get your weight forward at impact so you don't "fat" the ball.

[pgawest]

Thanks Mr. Desmond. Your comments point out why I'm scared to cut the club. I don't know exactly how but I do know it will change the dynamics of the club. I was interested in what you said about other people having issues with these clubs--makes me feel not so bad that I'm having problems. Thanks.