How to Hit 3-Wood from the Fairway

Do's and Dont's when hitting 3-wood from the fairway

There are a lot of different ways to hit a 3-wood from the fairway, but there is only one way that is going to work consistently for you. It’s important to find a method that suits your game and your strengths, and then stick with it.

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to find the right technique for hitting a 3-wood from the fairway, so you can start hitting it solid every time. Thanks for reading!

What you should do when hitting your 3-wood in the fairway

Grip the club with a strong grip

When gripping the golf club, it’s important to have a strong grip. This will help reduce the chance of slicing the ball and can lead to a draw shot shape.

To close the clubface at impact, you’ll need to grip the club tightly with your lead hand and hold it close to your body.

With your trail hand, you should grip the club lightly and keep your wrist firm. Doing this will help you hit the ball with a square clubface, giving you more control over your shots.

Set up with a wide stance

When you’re standing over the ball with your 3-wood, you may want to consider widening your stance. A wider stance can help you maintain better control of your swing, which can lead to straighter, more accurate shots.

It can also help to generate more power, leading to increased distance. Of course, there is such a thing as too much width, so you’ll want to experiment a bit to find the sweet spot. But if you’re looking to improve your game, widening your stance is definitely worth a try.

Place the ball just inside your lead foot

If you’re using a 3-wood, you’ll want to place the ball just inside your lead foot. This will help you create better contact with the ball, resulting in a more consistent and powerful shot.

Additionally, since a 3-wood is longer than other clubs, placing it forward in your stance will help you maintain control of the club during your swing.

By making these small adjustments, you can achieve better, more consistent impact with your 3-wood and dramatically improve your game.

Pick a target and line up the clubface

The next time you’re on the golf course, try using a different technique for lining up your shots. Rather than staring at the pin, pick out a target that is closer to you, such as a leaf or blade of grass. This will help you to better gauge the distance and angle of your shot, and will lead to improved accuracy.

In addition, this technique can also help to boost your confidence, as it will give you a more concrete target to focus on. So next time you’re feeling uneasy about hitting your 3-wood from the fairway, remember to find a nearby target and line up your shot. With a little practice, you’ll be sinking those birdies in no time.

Hit slightly down on the golf ball

Although the loft of a 3-wood is minimal, you’ll want to make sure that you hit down on the ball in order to get it airborne. This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s actually the best way to maximize distance and accuracy.

By hitting down on the ball, you’re giving it a little extra spin, which helps to keep it from veering off course. So next time you’re hitting your 3-wood off the fairway, remember to hit down on the golf ball to properly launch the ball and maximize your distance.

What you shouldn't do when hitting your 3-wood from the fairway

Don't tilt back as you would with your driver

When hitting the driver you’re often told to tilt your spine back to help launch the ball. Although the loft of your 3-wood is not much greater than your driver, be careful not to do this.

You don’t want to tilt your spine back when hitting from the fairway as this could cause you to hit the golf ball thin or top it, or even whiff altogether. Instead of trying to create loft, trust the club to do its job and remember to hit down on the golf ball. That’s how you’ll get the best results.

Don't place the ball too far back or forward in your stance

If you’ve ever played golf, you know that there’s a sweet spot when it comes to where you place the ball in your stance relative to your feet.

Placing the ball too far back in your stance will take loft off of the club and you won’t be able to launch the ball correctly. Similarly, placing the ball too far forward can cause you to hit the ball fat, leading to another difficult shot.

So what’s the best way to ensure that you’re placing the ball in the perfect spot? First, take a practice swing without a ball to get a feel for where your club will make contact with the ground.

Then, once you have a general idea of where that spot is, position the ball accordingly. With a little trial and error, you’ll be hitting your drives straight down the fairway in no time!

Don't swing too hard

When you’re standing on the fairway looking at a long second shot, it can be tempting to try to smash the ball as hard as you can. After all, you want to make it to the green in as few strokes as possible.

However, swinging too hard is almost always a recipe for disaster. You’re much more likely to mishit the ball, leading to a poor shot that ends up costing you extra strokes. Instead, take a deep breath and swing nice and easy.

Focus on making a smooth, centered strike with good tempo and trust that your 3-wood will do its job. With a little bit of patience, you’ll find that you can make it to the green just fine – without adding any unnecessary strokes to your score.

Wrapping it up

The next time you’re playing golf, remember to use these tips when hitting your 3 wood from the fairway. Not only will they help you to improve your accuracy and distance, but they’ll also help you to avoid common mistakes that can lead to a difficult shot.

So take your time, focus on your target, and hit down on the ball for best results. With a little practice, you’ll be sinking those birdies before you know it!

If you have any questions regarding the do’s and dont’s for hitting your 3-wood off the fairway feel free to reach out and ask or leave a comment! We’re always happy to help golfers lower their scores and become more confident on the course. Thanks for checking out our guide and, as always, happy hitting!

FAQs

What's the best way to hit a 3-wood from the fairway?

To keep it simple, when hitting a 3 wood from the fairway make sure to hit down on the golf ball and maintain a good temp throughout your swing. This will keep your shot controlled and leads to the best results possible.

What's the best way to hit a 3-wood from the rough?

Similar to hitting your 3-wood from the rough, make sure you have control of your swing and hit down on the ball. However, you may have to hit down more steeply depending on how deep your ball is in the rough.

What's the best way to hit a 3-wood from the tee?

It is recommended to try not to change your swing drastically when switching to a tee shot, so make sure to follow a similar path to your normal swing.

How do I stop hitting my 3-wood to the right?

Depending on whether you’re right-handed or left-handed a shot to the right could be a slice or a draw. If it’s a slice, make sure to maintain a strong grip, and if you’re hooking the ball try to switch to a weaker grip.

How do I stop hitting my 3-wood to the left?

The solution is the same to the one on the above question, just reversed.

Why am I hitting my 3-wood fat?

You may be hitting your 3-wood fat if it is too far forward in your stance. Try lining up with the golf ball closer to the middle of your stance.

Why am I hitting my 3-wood thin?

If you’re hitting your 3-wood thin, it might be because you’re leaning back in your stance. To fix this, make sure you’re hitting down on the golf ball and are putting your weight on the front foot.

How can I make sure I hit my 3-wood solid?

If you’re looking to hit your 3-wood solid, make sure that you follow our guide and keep a fluid tempo throughout your swing. This will lead to consistent contact that launches the ball and adds distance to your shots.