Tips for Using Fairway Woods for New Golfers
In the world of golf, fairway woods can be a game-changer for many players, especially beginners. However, mastering these versatile clubs requires understanding some key principles. Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson shares his insights on hitting a fairway wood consistently well.
Firstly, the ball position is crucial. Emerson advises positioning the ball more forward in your stance, typically just inside the left heel for right-handed golfers. This forward ball position helps promote a slightly upward strike on the ball, ideal for fairway woods to maximise distance and trajectory.
Secondly, the tee height for fairway woods should be lower than for a driver. If teeing the ball up, such as on a tee shot with a fairway wood, the ball should be teed just high enough so that about half of the ball is above the top edge of the clubface at address. This allows for a clean, sweeping contact rather than a heavy downward strike. When hitting off the ground in the fairway, no tee is used, but the ball position remains forward.
Emerson emphasises the importance of a smooth, gliding swing. He advises avoiding excessive forward shaft lean at address and striking the ball with a shallower angle of attack. The goal is to allow the club's sole to glide through the turf, making bottom grooves engage the bottom of the ball for better friction and spin rather than hitting too much with the club’s center or causing the club to dig too much into the turf.
Maintaining balance centrally over the ball and letting the club release naturally through impact rather than forcing the release is also key. As the swing back, the weight will naturally move more to the right side, but it's vital to shift it back to the left or lead side as you move into impact. At address, the weight should be balanced roughly 50/50 between the left and right side.
Consistently hitting fairway woods well requires a proper setup. Getting the set-up right is crucial for hitting fairway woods consistently well. Fairway woods are useful for situations where the driver isn't performing well and for long distances on the fairway.
Beginner golfers often neglect how to hit a fairway wood. Hitting a 3-wood can significantly improve a beginner's game and potentially lower scores. Many beginners try to hit fairway woods like a driver, which often results in topping the ball. Topping the golf ball is a common outcome when trying to hit fairway woods like a driver. With fairway woods, it's important not to lean back and try to help the ball into the air, as this will cause bad shots.
Examples of players who hit slightly down on their fairway woods include Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler. Moving the ball position back encourages more of a neutral or slightly downward angle of attack. A good way to think about weight distribution is to imagine your energy is always moving towards your target from the top of the backswing.
By following these tips, golfers of all levels can improve their fairway wood game, increasing their distance, accuracy, and consistency on the course.
Golf can greatly benefit beginners by mastering fairway woods, making them indispensable in the game. To enhance performance with fairway woods, it's essential to understand golf tips like positioning the ball more forward in one's stance, maintaining a low tee height, practicing a smooth, gliding swing, and focusing on proper weight distribution. These principles, as shared by Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson, can increase distance, accuracy, and consistency in striking fairway woods.
