Hitting 3 wood of the fairway

I love my three wood (TM 200 series 15 degree) hit it pretty good off the tee, 230 yds. But can not hit it off the deck. Can anyone give me any suggestions. When I am at the driving range on the mats no problem but when I go to the grass area I do what I always do which is top the ball.
I am thinking about buying the Ping G5 Hybrid but there is nothing like hitting a three wood flush (which I have done but not often enough).
Thanks (Also posted on golf instruction hope thats ok.)

You are either playing it too far forward or (more likely) just not saying down/behind the ball on your shot.
Watch the club hit the ball before you let your head come up.

It sounds like you are scooping a bit, Dan, trying to sweep the ball away is fine with a long iron but with the woods it can be a little tricky, you are better to play the ball a little further back and hit it more like a wedge and make sure you dont leave all your weight on the right side. Remember a fairway wood is actually supposed to go quite high because theres a lot of weight below the ball especially in the modern clubs, your TM 200 series probably has a big heavy sole on it and quite a thin crown. A lot of players try and hit their fairway woods low and end up with a similar problem to yours, you hit it well off the tee because you are sweeping it and catching it at just the right height because of the tee. If you need the ball to fly low at those kinds of distances you are better off investing in a 1 or 2 iron.

D.

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