Part 3 of My 8 Part Series - How Do I? - Fairway Woods

In this installment of "How do I" I will discuss proper technique for hitting fairway woods. What can make fairway woods difficult to hit is that visually it resembles our driver which, when set up to properly will allow us to swing up on the golf ball and golfers generally allow that philosophy to spill over to the fairway woods. When golfers get in to the habit of swinging a fairway wood like a driver, that's when the bad shots start to multiply. If anything, the mental idea of hitting a fairway wood should favor that of an iron, not a driver. Let me explain........

Of all the shots hit in golf (putting aside, that is another animal) the only time we should be swinging "up" on the ball is when we have a driver in our hand. Reason being is that the ball is sitting off the ground on a tee. The last thing we want when hitting the tee ball is club to ground contact.

All other shots however, are made off the turf and in such cases requires club to ground contact even if it is minimal (such as a fairway wood). For that reason alone, the mentality of hitting your fairway woods should more closely resemble that of hybrids and irons more-so than a driver. I can tell you from experience people who come to me seeking help with hitting their fairway woods inevitably are swinging too much "up" trying to help the ball get airborne. Remember golf is a very counter intuitive sport. So if you're having trouble with your fairway woods and looking to make a change for improvement here's what you want to do:

1. Set up with your stance about shoulder width apart.
2. Ball position should be moved about 2 '' in (moving towards center of stance) from where you position your drivers ball position.
3. Maintain your spine angle  for as long as you can through impact to insure solid contact.
4. Swing as if you are trying to take a shallow divot. Let the club do the work, don't try and swing up on the ball as this will greatly increase your odds of topping it or hitting a thin shot.

Things To Remember: 1. Swing down to the ball NOT up on the ball. Golfers generally try too hard to get shots airborne; let the loft of the club work for you, stay down and through.

Give it a try and with a slight modification in the thought process of how to hit your fairways, you'll soon be reaching those par 5's in two.

Blog written by Vince Fratercangelo-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy