Distance Covered by a Typical Female Golf Novice with a 3-Wood Club
In the world of golf, a good game can be significantly improved with a well-executed fairway wood shot. Katie Dawkins, an Advanced PGA Professional, offers several technique-focused tips to help women golfers increase their 3-wood distance.
First and foremost, Dawkins emphasizes the importance of proper ball striking. Visualize the ball as sitting on a "fried egg" yolk, and aim to hit the spot just ahead of it. This technique helps compress the ball well, adding distance to your shots.
Another crucial aspect is an effective wrist hinge at the start of the backswing. A good wrist set creates a natural "L shape" between the club shaft and arm, allowing the club to "whip" through impact, generating more clubhead speed and power. To improve this, Dawkins recommends adjusting grip position to produce a better wrist hinge and, in turn, improved fairway wood distances.
Maintaining relaxed but firm grip pressure is also key. Tension in the hands reduces swing speed and fluidity. By avoiding squeezing the club too tightly, you enable a smoother, more powerful swing.
Practice is essential for consistency. Dawkins suggests using a "traffic light" drill by imagining small circles around the ball and consistently hitting the same spot on the turf behind the ball through practice.
When hitting a 3-wood from a tight lie, consider a more downward angle of attack for a good strike. For a comfortable stance, ensure the distance from the golf ball is such that your sternum is just behind the clubhead.
According to the latest 2025 Shot Scope data, the average female amateur golfer with a handicap between 16-20 hits her 3-wood 175 yards. It's worth noting that there is a correlation between a woman's distance with her fairway woods and her handicap: as the distance increases, the handicap decreases.
The fairway wood is a useful club for long par-5 and approach shots to a par-4. Mastering technique is paramount, but choosing a fairway wood that suits your swing and loft preferences also contributes to increased distance.
Remember, avoiding tension is crucial for fairway wood shot success. By focusing on proper ball striking, an effective wrist hinge, maintaining relaxed but firm grip pressure, and practicing consistently, you'll be well on your way to improving your 3-wood distance and reducing your handicap.
Improving a woman's golf game, particularly her 3-wood distance, can be achieved by mastering the fairway wood shot. For instance, Katie Dawkins, an Advanced PGA Professional, recommends focusing on proper ball striking and a good wrist hinge during the backswing to generate more clubhead speed and power.
