How to Hit the Fairway Woods Solid

Fairway woods aren't intimidating when the ball is teed up, but they can create fear in a golfer's heart when the ball sits on the ground. If the golfer can use a tee to get the golf ball elevated, he can relax and let the fairway wood do the work. Hitting a fairway wood off the ground, though, can be a difficult task if you tense up. The muscle tension forces the club to rise through impact, resulting in a topped shot. The keys to effectively hitting fairway woods off the ground are practice and knowing how to hit them.

Things You'll Need

• A fairway wood
• A driving range

Instructions

1. Position your golf ball just left of center (right of center for left-handed players).

2. Keep an upright posture and do not stoop over when hitting a fairway wood. A fairway wood is longer than an iron, so you will have to stand farther from the ball.

3. Relax your arms. Tight arms will prevent you from getting as much of the fairway wood's head on the golf ball.

4. Turn fully with your torso and upper body when hitting a fairway wood. A full hip and upper body rotation will allow you to get proper club acceleration.

5. Extend your arms as far as possible when hitting the ball with a fairway wood. Swing a few times for practice and focus on a full arm extension so the fairway wood can do the work on your shot.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a positive attitude; if you think you can't hit the shot, chances are you won't.

• Practice hitting fairway woods on the driving range. The golf course is not the place to master this shot.

References

• Swing Machine Blog
• Learn About Golf
• Golfing Valley