I’ve Coached Hundreds Of Golfers: This Is How To Fix Common Fairway Wood Mistakes

Lift your spirits, and your second shot, by embracing more lofted fairway woods. For many women, these clubs are quite literally a lifesaver. With the length of most courses being a stretch too long for the average female golfer or shorter hitter, fairway woods are easily the most essential tools in your bag if you want to get anywhere near the green in two or three shots.

Yet, so many players constantly reach for a 3-wood from the turf, even from tricky lies, making a hard game even harder. To get a ball high into the air, you need two things: high swing speed and loft. If you have a moderate or slower swing speed, sacrificing loft is a recipe for struggle. Letting a higher-lofted option, like the XXIO 14 5 or 7-wood, do the heavy lifting will instantly help your ball soar.

Of course, even the best technology needs a proper foundation. The most common mistake golfers make with these beauties happens before the swing: neglecting the setup and failing to read the lie to determine ball position.

To make sure you get it right every time, here is your ultimate fairway wood survival guide.

Ball Position

Many golfers place the ball too far forward, treating it like a driver, and adopt a super-wide stance. Instead, bring the ball back so it’s at least a clubhead inside your front heel, and narrow your stance just a touch. Finally, keep tension out of your setup - a strangling hold on the grip will almost always see you top the ball.

Stay Grounded For Better Launch

Stop standing up. In a bid to create power, many golfers stand up through impact to try and help the ball into the air. This scoop only causes topped shots and robs you of vital distance.

Remember, you don't need to lift the ball, it just needs to get in the way of your swing while you firmly brush the grass. Stay balanced in your address position, wind your body up, and let the club swing through, brushing right under the ball.

Swing Freely And Follow Through

Focus on getting all the way through to a steady finish position. Hitting great fairway woods is so much more about that glorious follow-through than the technicalities of your backswing. So, trust your swing, feel the motion, and strike it freely.

Turn Your Body, Free Your Arms

The importance of turning your body with these longer clubs is paramount. Because fairway woods have longer shafts, simply lifting your arms up and down will cause you to lose both power and control. Instead, focus on turning in sync with your rhythm. Do this, and your arms will naturally freewheel around your body - and hey presto, the ball will fly down the fairway.

You can lock in this feeling by reminding yourself that golf is a swing, not a hit. Try practicing this motion without a club in your hands: turn your body and let your arms completely freewheel to capture that effortless, sweeping sensation.

The Magic Of The 7-Wood

The 7-wood is easily one of my favorite clubs. Call it 'lucky number 7' if you like, but this beauty will save your bacon from all over the place when you are halfway up a hole. It is the perfect club choice when you need to fly the ball up a hill, escape a downhill lie, or carry a fairway bunker.

To really get that crisp strike and make your 7-wood sing, try this simple drill. Too often, golfers whip the club away too quickly and on an inside path, which almost always results in topped shots. To ensure a sharp, solid strike, focus on keeping the clubhead lower to the ground for longer during your takeaway. This keeps your swing on line and ensures you return to the turf beautifully every single time.

Assess The Lie

It is important to remember that you shouldn’t try to force a fairway wood from a dip in the ground or a buried lie - that’s exactly where your wonderful hybrids come in.

Instead, let the lie dictate your choice. If the ball is sitting up really perky, reach for your 5-wood. If it is sitting down on a tight fairway, perhaps go for the 7-wood and let the club do the work for you.

Once you get the hang of it, this club will quickly become a firm favorite in your bag. And when we love a club, we truly commit to the shot and reap the benefits. Trust me, falling in love with this one is easy.