It is true that fairway woods can be utilized both off of the tee and also off of the fairway when they are faced with a long approach shot into a green.
In fact, many players will find that striking a 3 wood off the tee is much easier than the driver but they are much more technically demanding than iron when they are hit from the fairway.
It is true that both fairway wood shots do need similar techniques with just a few alterations and they are also well worth learning as accuracy off the tee and distance from the fairway. These are especially important if you are looking for long-term success on the golf course.
How Do You Play A Great Fairway Wood Shot?
So, it is true that the key to playing a great fairway wood shot is to understand where the club arc bottoms out during that swing.
It is true that a lofted iron swing will bottom out just after the ball and this is why good players will strike the ball first and then the turf which is what creates a lovely divot.
Or, the driver arc will bottom out just before the ball, and most good players and also long drivers strike the ball and have a slightly ascending arc.
A fairway wood swing will bottom out almost exactly at the point of impact, and players will ultimately be able to catch the ball cleanly and then they will just bruise the ground afterward.
Players will not be wanting to take huge gouging divots with a fairway wood and this is due to their lack of loft, fairway woods will not be easy to hit skyward.
Getting The Technique Right
So, as you would expect there is a technique that you need to adopt in order to execute the fairway wood correctly.
So first of all, you need to address the ball with your feet shoulder-width apart and the ball will be positioned a few inches inside the left heel to help the fairway wood to bottom out correctly. You really need to ensure that you are balanced while you are swinging the club back.
Here’s the thing, players will not be wanting huge weight shifts back and then through, you need to make sure that you are keeping the weight 50/50 on each foot throughout the swing.
A smooth rhythm is absolutely essential for you to get that successful shot, and it is especially important that the strike is clean so that the small amount of loft on the fairway woof can have the most effect.
Ultimately, this will help the ball rise up into the air.
You need to really make sure that the ball is struck at the bottom of the club’s arc and this should really be achieved by putting the ball a few inches inside of the left heel.
Golfers will be able to feel that they are sweeping the ball away just off the top of the grass or just off the top of the tee.
Here’s the thing, if the swing is done well then the club will be able to brush the ground ever so slightly after impact off the fairway – but almost not at all when off a tee.
You must not be tempted in any way to lift the ball into the air with your hands, and you need to just sweep the ball away and just let it be gathered up by the swing – and then finish off in a completely balanced position.
If you are keen to get some added control you can really try to grip down the fairway wood an inch, so this will definitely add control but it could also decrease the distance. Ultimately, if you are getting the technique right then you will be sure to improve those fairway shots.
Comparing Your Fairway Technique To Your Other Golf Club Techniques
So, you should find that whilst the fairway wood needs a slightly different technique from your driver, you will ultimately want the clubs themselves to be as similar as possible.
You really need to attempt to match the shafts in your fairway woods to that which you have in your golf driver. And, this is so that you will be able to have a consistent feel and also ball flight from club to club.
If you are able to generate a similar flight pattern with your fairway woods as you can with your driver, this means that it will ultimately be a lot more straightforward to just go back and forth between them.
For instance, if you are standing on a tee attempting to try and work out whether you should be able to hit a driver or three wood.
You are not going to be wanting to have to envision two different kinds of ball flights while you are making your selection.
When both of the golf clubs have a tendency to follow the same paths then you will find that you can just pick based on what kind of distance will be the most appropriate for the hole that is in front of you.
Conclusion
Ultimately, when you have learned how to hit your fairway woods correctly then you will be pretty surprised to learn how many different situations they will be able to handle for you on the course.
Here’s the thing, these are not clubs that are limited to tee shots on the short par fours, and then you can approach those longer shots when you are on par five.
The fairway wood is a club that can come in especially handy all over the golf course, and even around the greens.
It is important that you will be benefiting from every single golf club that you select in your golf bag, especially because the rules of golf dictate that only fourteen clubs can be carried in your bag.
You need to ensure that every single club that you are carrying will be useful to you, otherwise, the club will be taking up the space of a better club that could improve your game.
This is why we decided to set up our site, Better Golf, to provide high-quality information that’s accessible to everyone. From newbies, to seasoned golfers, this site covers everything you need to know. Through this site, we will be discussing all the important details.
- What Does Cadet Mean In Golf Gloves? - March 16, 2022
- Nitro Golf Balls Review - March 16, 2022
- Why Do Golfers Yell Fore? - March 16, 2022