By Matthew Kidd, Teaching Pro at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Using the fairway wood off the ground can be a very challenging shot for most amateur golfers. It’s a very low lofted club which requires good contact in order to get the ball flying in the air.
However, these clubs can be so useful by giving you extra distance on the course as well as using it on the tee box for more constant tee shots when the driver isn’t performing. With three simple steps, the fairway can go from being your worst club to your best club.
In my lessons, I see most amateurs setting up with the fairway wood incorrectly which cause many inconsistencies. I like to see the ball being placed just off the lead heel around a ball width from the heel. Ball position is key when it comes to this club as it allows you to strike the ball more on the up creating a good launch angle which helps with maximising distance. This the part of the swing is not to be overlooked as without a good set up then you’re going to struggle straight away.
What amateurs often do is align themselves with the ball when it’s positioned further forward. This creates a closed shoulder alignment and promotes a more of an over-the-top swing which causes the club to hit on top of the ball, rather than brush the grass. What I like to see is players positioning their head and body directly in the middle of the feet – as if you were hitting a seven iron. This allows the shoulders to be neutral and helps create a straighter shot as well as creating a more in-to-out swing path, devoloping a shallow angle of attack.
When we have the ball position as well as our posture set up correctly, we now want to brush the grass as we swing. I see most amateurs try and brush the grass using the leading edge of the fairway wood which causes the swing to be steep as well as delofting the club, making it more difficult to get the ball in the air. When brushing the grass, we want to feel the bottom of the club brushing the grass rather than the leading edge. This will help maintain the loft by creating a nice brush through the grass and hitting the ball towards the middle of the face launching the ball in the air.
