Help hitting fairway woods

alxmorgan

Hello all,

So I know the theory ( i think !)
Ball forward in stance and sweep it off the fairway.

problem is I hit one good shot from 5.
Any tips on how to improve in this regard ?


thanks,

stockdam

What do your bad shots do?

If you top them then maybe the ball is too far forwards. You need to catch the ball at the bottom of your swing (maybe even just before it). Maybe you are trying to help the ball into the air. Maybe swinging too fast or taking too long a backswing.......best get a lesson and the pro will explain.

Sandwich

Ball forward in the stance of the tee - MIDDLE off the fairway. I thought.

alxmorgan

well I do top it so may be it is too far forward.

I'll try middle and see how it goes

Plan is to get around to a lesson alright

PhilipMarlowe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq5gzmIeRQ8

alxmorgan

Hey thanks for that video


Very interesting - I find it useful to have something to focus on playing a particular shot and skipping off the turf is a good one.

Looking forward to giving it a try now !!

He is playing it quite far forward in his stance though I notice

ShriekingSheet

If you're topping the ball moving it back in the stance will help but with a 3 wood especially, it wouldn't be wise to go any further back than just inside your left heel.

That's only part of the problem with guys who top it I find.

Biggest thing is not staying down and through the ball. There's a tendancy to "stand up" taller at impact than at address. Coming out of the shot. This can be part and parcel of lifting your head to see where it goes.

I find putting a ball down maybe 2 feet away (back down the target line) from the ball youre hitting can be a good drill. Sweep the ball away with the back of the club head as you draw it back from the ball you mean to hit.

<

---

oD ---- o

---

<target line

................8......8...........................

The 8s are your feet, the D is the club head and the two os are balls.

By knocking the ball away to the right you are keeping the club head lower. Pick the club head up quickly and you'll miss this ball. You should be rolling it away nice and slowly.

Then on the downswing and through the ball think of the club passing your eyes and striking the ball before you look up. You're staying down and through the shot - not lifting your spine angle.

It's much more simple to try than to explain in text.

alxmorgan

thanks for the tips Sheet.

Was out yesterday and played one good one from fairway while focusing on the stone skipping thing.
Tried a few balls in range later though (outdoor grass range) and started to leave face very open when trying this.
This meant I didn't have much control and the balls was flying off at angles.

I managed to reduce my topping stats dramatically though which is something.

Think I need lessons though cause my driving my up and down all day as was most of my long iron play.

Anyone know if the pros at Frankfield in Cork are any good ?

thanks

stockdam

alxmorgan wrote: »

thanks for the tips Sheet.

Was out yesterday and played one good one from fairway while focusing on the stone skipping thing.
Tried a few balls in range later though (outdoor grass range) and started to leave face very open when trying this.
This meant I didn't have much control and the balls was flying off at angles.

I managed to reduce my topping stats dramatically though which is something.

Think I need lessons though cause my driving my up and down all day as was most of my long iron play.

Anyone know if the pros at Frankfield in Cork are any good ?

thanks

If you have stopped topping then you are getting somewhere. Don't get disillusioned because you are now slicing.

As Sheet said, one of the main problems of topping is lifting up out of the shot.

If you have stopped the tops then that's very good.

To stop slicing you need to get your setup and grip correct. You may still have the ball a touch too far forwards and your grip may be too weak.

If the ball starts off straight and then curves to the right then turn both hands round to the right to strengthen your grip a bit. Aim the clubface where you want the ball to go but aim your shoulders to the right slightly - this should result in the clubface being closed relative to your swing. Think of hitting the ball out to the right a bit and if your grip is right then the ball will draw back. For people who have sliced all their life then aiming to the right is scary.

bigtimecharlie

alxmorgan wrote: »

Anyone know if the pros at Frankfield in Cork are any good ?

thanks

David Whyte is good, I've had a few lesson's early in the year from him, must go back to get my progress assessed.

I'm at the stage where I use my 3 wood off the tee and find most fairway's. Still a along way from the green so would like to hit the 3 wood from the fairway. The few times I've tried it, I topped it and only once hit it perfectly (felt good too).

Thanks for the tips already posted and to come.

stockdam

bigtimecharlie wrote: »

I'm at the stage where I use my 3 wood off the tee and find most fairway's. Still a along way from the green so would like to hit the 3 wood from the fairway. The few times I've tried it, I topped it and only once hit it perfectly (felt good too).
.

If you have trouble hitting a 3 wood off the fairway then use a 5 wood or a 7 wood instead. If you need to hit a wood quite frequently from the fairway then your handicap is probably quite high so it would be better to hit say a 5 iron or any club that you are fairly good at rather than struggling with a 3 wood (which will quickly loose you shots).

alxmorgan

On hitting from fairway with irons I have a taylor made r7 draw rescue club and I was wondering when I should use this.

Loft is about 22 degrees and I'm wondering what iron would/should it be equivalent to in terms of distance ?

PhilipMarlowe

Obvious answer is to hit it and see!
I have a TM burner 22 degree (number 4) and for me it is slightly longer than my 3 iron.
If you don't have a practice ground, try it on a flat hole off the tee. Hit a few and step them out. I can carry my 3 iron 200 yards (no roll at the moment with the heavy conditions) and my rescue for the same shot is 210. The rescue is a great deal easier to hit than the 3 iron off the fairway and is massively easier to hit well out of the semi-rough.
The ball flies higher so would be more open to being affected by wind. I mostly use mine on 2nd shots to par 5's where I need a nice long lay-up without going all the way for the green or obviously if I am 220 out from the flag etc. I would be more confident of accuracy off the tee with a 3 iron though.