Unlike irons, which are most effective when the ball is struck with a downward swing, Fairway woods instruction requires a sweeping motion that strikes the ball as the club head moves parallel to the ground.

When you practice this technique, try to take a wide stance, just the same as you would with the driver. Position the golf ball opposite the left heel, spread your weight evenly and comfortably on the balls of your feet.

Start the takeaway of your swing on a low path that almost shaves the grass, remember to keep your right shoulder level with the ground and begin to pull through with the left hand. Repeat that shallow path on your downswing.

Maintain your head position and upper body behind the golf ball and make sure you extend your arms toward the target on the follow through.

Trying to assist the ball into the air won’t help. Don’t feel that you need to try, the 3 wood isn’t meant to go sky high, just keep the club head on an even track through the impact zone. The fairway woods and the three wood have enough loft to send the golfball on it’s way.

If you need to generate a shot with more loft, say for example to hit over water etc, try playing the ball a little further forward in your stance and lower your hands slightly in the address position. Then put a bit more weight over your back foot by leaning the spine away from the target.

Implementing these changes can position you for a much better swing to sweep the ball off of the fairway, while adding more loft to your shot.

For a more piercing ball flight, with lower trajectory, simply do the opposite. What I mean is, place the ball similar to where you would normally hit an iron shot from, about two golf balls back towards the middle of your stance, and place your weight a little more on your front leg.

Changing your set-up in this way will help you to take the loft off the club at impact and produce a much lower ball trajectory which will assist the golf ball to run up to and onto the green

It is much more preferred to adjust your stance, than to alter your swing to hit different shots with your fairway woods, especially when trying to produce different ball flights. Changing your stance is simpler, safer and more beneficial than trying to alter your swing for every shot.

Fairway Wood Instructions to hit 3-wood from a tight lie:

1. Play your golfball back in your stance

2/ Sweep the ball off of the fairway

3. Strike your golfball with a descending blow

4/ Move your weight to the lead side

5. Swing through your golf ball

The key to hitting different shots and taking strokes off your game with your fairway wood is to adjust your stance, not your swing, to achieve the lofts you need.

Remember this, hitting the perfect shot isn’t always, if ever, going to happen, just relax and don’t let stress and tension creep into your game. Always tee your ball up on the same side as the trouble you may face, so you hit away from it, aim for a clear target in the distance. Don’t worry about hitting it a mile, concentrate on accuracy, distance will come.

Want to find out more about Fairway Woods Instruction, then visit Roland Mahon’s site on how to choose the best Golf Instruction Tips for your needs.