How to Hit a Fairway Wood Swing

Hitting a wood off the tee provides lift, but the same principles can be applied in the fairway.

After striking your drive down the center of the fairway, your next club choice comes down to personal preference. Some golfers feel more comfortable using irons, believing these clubs are easier to control and provide more lift. However, using a fairway wood is also a viable option. Swinging the fairway wood involves a few modifications to your approach, but the results can be just as good as those with an iron.

Things You'll Need

• Fairway wood
• Golf ball

Instructions

1. Select the type of fairway wood you would like to use. The most common woods are the 3-wood and the 5-wood, with the 5-wood providing more degrees of loft. A 1-wood is generally considered your driver and is typically only used off the tee.

2. Align your body so that the golf ball lies about even with your left eye if you are a right-handed golfer. This puts the ball just inside your left heel.

3. Set up your stance to account for the wider swing necessary to hit the fairway wood. Bend your knees slightly and stick out your behind. Keep your spine perpendicular with the fairway wood. Find a comfortable position that does not strain your back. Your alignment should allow for a wide swing.

4. Take the club back with a wide arc and a full rotation. Staying too narrow or only going back halfway will result in an improper swing plane and poor results. Stretch your arms to their longest point.

5. Rotate your hips, torso and upper body as you begin your downswing. Do not fly through the hitting zone too quickly. Stay calm, with your eye on the ball. Make contact with the ball as your clubhead slides across the ground. Finish your stroke as you would any other, coming to the top of your follow through with the club facing behind you.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice hitting your fairway wood at the driving range. If possible, hit balls off of grass instead of a range mat. Find a comfort level with your stance and swing before testing it out on the course.

• Don't try to hit the ball too hard. This results in an uncontrolled swing that leads to a topping of the ball. With a fairway wood, stay relaxed and let the large clubhead provide the power.

References

• GolfingValley.com: Tips to Hitting Hybrid Clubs & Fairway Woods with Confidence & Ease
• Golf-Information: Types of Golf Clubs