3 Wood Ball Position Explained: Why This Holds The Key To Better Strikes

When it comes to 3-woods there are some utter stunners on the market, some feel so good it's like they're almost hitting the ball for you! But to get the most from your 3-wood you must get the set up right. It is so important to remember the perfect ball position should be determined by how the ball is lying. The video with the article below from Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Katie Dawkins explains everything you need to know.

3 Wood Ball Position Explained: Assess The Lie

Start by examining how your ball is sitting before you take your address position. If perched up, almost as if it’s on a small tee, then the ball should be positioned about a club head inside your front heel. It’s already sat up so you can afford to move it forward in your stance to sweep it off the turf for maximum flight and distance. The same ball position applies when hitting a 3 wood off a tee. 

This forward ball position means that you can create a shallower angle of attack - a sweeping motion that will deliver good distance through a strong flight. In this situation, just remember to stand the correct distance from the ball and your sternum should be just behind the clubhead. Get these two basics right and you'll be in a very strong starting position.

If the lie is tight and there’s not much fluffy stuff under it, then the ball needs to be placed slightly further back, around a club head forward of centre in your stance- this would be the same as if you were setting your ball position for a hybrid shot. This will encourage a more downward angle of attack - guaranteeing a good strike. This is a great rule of thumb to encourage you to hit the ball first and is something I recommend if you are someone who can often thump the ground before the ball or top it. If the ball goes back a touch and you’ll connect with it first - makes sense right?

The Main Trap To Avoid

I see so many golfers placing the ball way too far forward in their stances and wondering why it takes so much effort to get the ball airborne. They take a position that looks like the image below - almost as if they are hitting a driver. This can cause major problems, most notably tops and thins, as the club bottoms out too early. Every golfer should check to make sure the ball isn't creeping too far forward!

What else can scupper your chances of 3 wood success? Tension that’s what. Squeezing the life out of the club is a killer on fairway wood shots. It is one of those tips every golfer forgets - if you squeeze the club too hard you are limiting the chances of making contact with what is under the ball resulting in topped shots. So chill. 

For success with fairway woods you must remember to complete your swing, follow through is so important. So get posing for the cameras and finish!

If the ball is lying in a really grim spot and you have a good old bunch of yards to go then take your medicine and opt for a more lofted 5 wood or even hybrid, sometimes going for glory can take it’s toll on your card.

Get that ball position right and this simple part of the technique will go along way to improve your game.