Part 3: Technique
Fairway Woods and Hybrids
- Fairway Wood Technique: Sweeping contact, not descending; ball position slightly back of driver but forward of irons; minimal divot.
- Fairway Wood from Rough: Generally avoid the fairway wood from anything but light rough. The rounded sole can slide under a perched ball and produce a weak pop-up, or catch the grass and twist the face. From medium or heavy rough, a hybrid is the reliable choice; from deep rough, a short iron. Reserve the fairway wood for clean lies.
- Hybrid Technique: More iron-like than fairway wood; slight descending blow acceptable; versatile from tight lies, rough, and par-3 tees.
- Hybrid from Rough: The hybrid's lower center of gravity and rounded sole slide through rough more cleanly than a fairway wood. Play the ball slightly back of normal, make a more descending swing than from the fairway, and grip down for control. Expect reduced spin and a lower, running ball flight.
- When to Choose Each: Hybrids are more reliable from rough and uneven lies; fairway woods reward a clean lie and good turf conditions.
- 3-Wood off the Tee: Same fundamental technique as from the fairway, but with the ball positioned slightly further forward than a fairway lie — a thin tee allows a marginally more upward strike than from turf. The slightly more forward ball position (just inside the lead heel rather than one ball-width further back) promotes a shallower, sweeping contact that maximizes carry without the steep hit that causes pop-ups. The swing thought is identical to a fairway shot: sweep, not hit down.