Fairway Woods

I'm having trouble getting my fairway woods airborn. I hit them well up to about 2 years ago and have been struggling since. I have a 12 handicap and I have no problem with the driver or irons. It's almost like I'm skulling the woods but I can't seem to find a swing key to correct the problem. Any suggestions?

Tigress

You can do what I did. I took the 3 wood out of my bag and I only carry a hybird now. Saves me lots of strokes....

Chessbum...

I had the same problem. I went to the range and moved the ball way back in my stance to force myself to hit down on it. I hit a lot of balls like this and gradually moved the ball up to the proper position as cmays suggested. I now hit this club a lot better now but it still hasnt earned its way back in my bag yet. It is definately a mental issue for me now.

At the risk of repeating what more knowledgable people have said, and, as ever, ignore what I say anyway because I'm a 26HC... (and you'll know all of this anyway, as a 12HC - but I just thought I'd throw in my 2 penneth)

Start simple. The easiest shot you can play with a long iron, hybrid or fairway wood (and, like Chessbum, would suggest you start with a hybrid) is a knock down shot. Put the ball in the middle of your stance or just forward of it, choke down a little on the shaft so you feel comfortably in control of the clubhead, 3/4 swing, and just concentrate on hitting into the back of the ball.

Don't worry about follow-through - the knock down doesn't need one (and it'll sort itself out), just hit down in to the back of the ball. The ball should fly razor-straight towards the flag.

This shot is a simple start, and a bit of a lifesaver. When you're comfortable with this, then you can move back towards full swing and follow through. See also here (2nd shot woes) for a nice vid on this subject (not knock down shots, fairway woods... )

__________________
~_~_~_~_~
Personal bests 2007;
Best 18: 78 (+12)
Best 9: 37 (+4)
Best Stableford: 45 pts
Best total putts: 28
Best total length sunk putts (ft): 54

Club tourney history this year: Captain's Day - 1st; Club foursomes - 2nd; Dimex Stableford - 2nd; Club Championship - 13/28 gross, joint 5/28 nett; Ferebee Shield - 2nd; Sept Medal 2nd; Autumn Stableford - 1st

Usually when golfers struggle to get the ball airborn, its because they are not reaching the bottom of the arc at the right time. There are normally two causes:

1. Raising up - this usually happens when you try to help the ball up into the air - work on waiting for your right shoulder (for R/H golfers) to come under your chin before you raise up.

2. The "chicken wing" which is the collapsing of the left arm through impact raising the bottom of the arc and thus topping the ball. Here is a drill that will help - hit sort pitch shots with your sand wedge concentrating on keep the left arm straight, making sure you finish at about 3 o clock with the arm still extended. Once you have done this for about 15 minutes, switch to your fairway wood and do the same thing for about another 15 minutes. Once you can hit the ball in the middle of the clubface consistantly, go to the full swing.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll try them all!

Tigress