Performance as a driving force behind the change

There are many reasons why a golfer would choose to go for a golf swing change. The foremost reason is performance. As a golfer becomes more mature about his game, there comes the realization that his golf swing is not giving him the right results. Whether it is about not having enough power behind the shots or not being accurate enough, poor scores are a certain driving force for people looking for a golf swing change.

Within this category, there will be numerous people as well. For example, as explained above, some people want more power while others look for more finesse. In fact, some people believe that even Tiger Woods has changed his golf swing in the past to become more versatile and consistent in the game.

Aging may force a golf swing change

Another reason why many people look to change the way they swing their club is age. As golfers grow older, their bodies may stop supporting golf swings that require too much twisting, stretching, turning or, in simple words, pressure on the body. People who have had perfectly productive golf swings have been known to look for a golf swing change because their bodies do not permit the same swing without consequences anymore.

Some rules for changing your golf swing

Changing your golf swing is going to be one of the most harrowing and frustrating things you have ever undertaken. It involves unlearning numerous golfing habits that you may have gathered over the years and learning new ones. Therefore, if you wish to succeed, there are certain things you should keep in mind. Here is a small list.

1. Locate your problem:

To start with, ensure that your golf swing issues relate to your mechanics and rule out your nerves. If you have troubles executing a particular shot, do not mix up a nerve problem with a swing issue.

2. Make one change at a time:

Always attempt to aim for making small changes to your golf swing instead of huge ones. Avoid getting confused and try to work on just one of the golf swing fundamentals each time and proceed from there gradually.

3. Focus on the result:

No reason is good enough for a golf swing change than either improving your scores or supporting your aging body. These are the only two things that should drive you towards a golf swing change. Therefore, you should focus on the flight of the ball to figure out if you need to change your golf swing and continue focusing on it to see whether your golf swing change is successful or not.

4. Take professional help:

Changing your golf swing cannot be done alone, regardless of how much of an expert you are. The reason for this is that you can not see yourself swing nor will you have the objectivity to spot the flaws in your own swing. Hence, seek professional help if you want to change your golf swing.

5. Have patience:

It might take several lessons until you can locate the problem that is affecting your golf swing, and before you actually are able to commence correcting it. Therefore, be patient and take a look at the various ways that can solve your issue until you discover what will be the perfect answer for your swing trouble.

6. Commit for the long term:

Changing your golf swing is not akin to a simple golf swing tip. What this means is that it is a long winded process that will have you frustrated before you are done. In effect, you need to be committed to changing your golf swing if you hope to achieve it in the near future. Furthermore, unless you are committed, the difficult nature of a golf swing change would result in you giving up quickly.

7. Cope with the discomfort:

While many golf experts would tell you to swing the way it feels right, some professional coaches will tell you to balance the feeling with technique. What this means is that proper golf techniques or mechanics that give you results may not feel right in the initial phases. As a result, you will have to cope with the discomfort of the new technique till it becomes a part of your game.

8. Use the slow motion technique:

Changing one’s golf swing is, by far, one of the toughest things to achieve in golf. The reason for this is simply that you would be learning something that does not feel natural to you and it would take a lot of willpower on your part to overcome the instinct to stop. The best way to counter this instinct is to use the slow motion technique. Enact your swing in slow motion so as to make your body used to the new movement.

9. Focus on rhythm and balance:

Finally, it is common for golfers to forget about rhythm and balance when it comes to a golf swing change mainly because it requires a lot of concentration. However, without the right rhythm and balance, your efforts towards changing your golf swing cannot be successful.

Mention of wedges can limit the report to three main choices – sand wedge, lob wedge and a “gap” wedge. Yes, the pitching wedge does have the same “last name” as the others, but is a standard club typically found when buying any “off-the-rack” set of clubs. Standard club sets contain irons 3-through-pitchin wedge. Most beginners use the “pitching wedge” for all wedge play – bunker shots and others – when initially taking up the game. However, the lob, sand and gap wedges are usually sold separately or may be found bundled together as a 3-club set.

When it comes time to implement a wedge play strategy, a golfer typically is looking to hit a short shot getting the ball as close to the pin as possible, setting up the next stroke to be a possible scoring putt. Therefore, wedges can often be heard referred to as “scoring irons.” Although beginning golfers usually carry only one pitching wedge put to all around wedge use, “taking the game to another level” compels a more serious player to seek clubs for greater specialized use. This includes the three mentioned wedges. The three wedges are also identified by their loft degree:

• Lob wedge has a “60-degree” loft and is also known as a 60-degree wedge.

• The sand wedge was invented (attributed to Gene Sarazen) to execute shots from bunkers (some people call “sand traps”) easier, although this particular part of the overall game can be fairly frustrating for the unpracticed. This sand shot can be one of the less challenging ones for many advanced players. The standard sand wedge has a loft around 56 degrees.

• A gap wedge was designed to fit in-between the lofts of a pitching wedge (in mid to upper 40-degrees) and a sand wedge in the mid-50s. Therefore, a sand wedge has a 50-52 degree loft and thus referred to as a “gap” lodge.

The greatest challenge most golfers face where “extra” strokes are needed, is from 100 yards and in to the hole. This is challenging, because many players lack the needed effective wedge play shots. Since there are a variety of different locations and settings (called “lies” – how the golf ball “lies” on the ground), there are multiple types of wedge shots a player can employ. These include:

• Three-quarter. A good wedge shot should not affect a swing that goes any further back than three-quarters the way. Since wedges possess the greatest offset and loft of any club in a golfer’s bag, it is also the club easiest to pull. Executing a three-quarter swing allows a player greater control for distance and direction, thus producing better accuracy.

• Trailing Edge. This shot is the opposite of a three-quarter. This shot is used in the bunker where the trailing edge of the club head is used as the hit spot to produce greater loft and allow the club to push through the sand. The end result is a higher trajectory with less spin. This is also known as a “lob” shot.

• Knockdown. This shot produces a low trajectory that takes one hop and then stops. It’s a full-swing shot with the club head getting under the ball producing the ball-stopping spin after an initial bounce.

• Flat-Footed. This is executed with a three-quarter swing that finishes very low while the player’s feet remain flat through the finish making this an upper-body stroke designed for greater accuracy, not distance.

It is important to remember that wedge play is never for distance. It is used for accuracy. Therefore, many of the shots will be three-quarter and could be half-wedge shots. Try different backswings to control your wedge play when 100 yards or closer to your goal for less strokes used.

There is hardly ever a level and straight line to any hole on any green, unless, of course, you are playing miniature golf. Most course designers place sloping contours and undulating surfaces that always impact the way the ball rolls after landing. The ball needs to roll quickly along the slopes and undulations if there is any chance for sinking this shot. Although sinking a shot hit from off the green is always in the back of a player’s mind, the trick lies in hitting the pitching shot so the ball lands, at most, halfway from the green’s edge to the hole. Some pros instruct students to aim at landing just 1/3 of the way in front of the green.

So, What Club to Use?

There are reasons to select a certain club for pitching the ball and here are some:

• Pitching Wedge – Struck correctly, the ball air time will be between 60-65 percent toward the location of the hole. The roll will then be 35-40 percent. The obvious reason is due to the high lift a pitching wedge possesses. Players should select a pitching wedge when very close to the green or if a need reveals itself for a light touch type of lob to put the ball along the correctly perceived path toward the hole.

• 7- or 8-iron – Again if struck correctly with one of these clubs, the ball will sail in the air 40 percent of the way toward the hole and roll 60 percent the rest of the way. Since these clubs are less lofty than a wedge, the shot sends the ball on more of a straight line. Many beginning golfers shy away from using a 7-iron pitch shot because the traditional mindset compels golfers to use a specific club based on yardage needed to send the ball. However, with practice, players can execute a strike from 30-40 yards away producing a good, clean line to a cup that’s placed toward the back of the green. A player should aim for the front, pr slightly before, the green. A goal using this technique is to produce a bounce before the ball lands on the green.

• 5- or 6-iron – Will send a well-hit ball 40 percent through the air, and it will roll 70 percent once it lands. This technique is a good choice under certain conditions. Typically, it can be used when the approach is about 50 yards out and mostly uphill. Set-up is a normal pitch stance. The front feet should be flared out and the stance open. Execute the swing using only about 40 percent of the normal back swing. This should produce a line-drive shot that lands on the fairway about 10 to 20 yards from the green. The shot should bounce a couple of times before it begins rolling on the green.

Nothing beats a well-struck shot using a pitching wedge when the ball is 30 to 30 yards off the green. This is especially true if the pin is in the middle or slightly to the back of the green. An easy, comfortable swing will produce a medium to high arc. The ball should land at the front of the green and then roll to within a couple of feet of the hole…maybe in. Being in the position to ideally use a pitching wedge is not a common occurrence. Most golfers will have an approach shot that is farther away and, if that shot misses, usually places the next one in a green side bunker without a good lie or with no direct line to the cup.

However, most players will find themselves 75 yards or more out where the typical golf pitching wedge will not be appropriate.

Most duffers are well aware of typical wedges usually carried in a golf bag that includes the standard sand and pitching wedges. However, the soft lob wedge has a loft range from 58 to 61 degrees. Critically demanding golfers, needing a very special club, can custom order one that has from 63 to 65 degrees of loft. Then again, first-time users will need a lot of practice to even start to get the gist using a loftier wedge and should stick to one that is less than 60 degrees. Make sure the club you select also has a 10 to 13 degree bounce angle. Do not acquire a soft lob wedge with less than an 8 degree bounce angle. Clubs with greater bounce angle than 8 degrees are less likely to dig in the ground when striking the ball.

Balance is the most important factor to remember when making this type of shot. Weight needs to be evenly distributed between both the player’s feet. Also, make sure your stance is not too far back before striking the ball. Furthermore, you do not want to stand too far forward in your stance either. Plus, do not make a full swing, use a three-quarter swing when striking the ball making sure your hands lead the swing for this shot, and also keeping them ahead of the ball.

Many golfers make the mistake not accelerating enough when making a soft lob wedge shot. For some reason, a desire to slow the shot down comes into play whenever many golfers use a wedge – regardless which one. Repetitive practice focusing upon always accelerating the swing should make a player new to a soft lob wedge shot more comfortable – and effective.

Anytime your shot is going to require a great deal of height but must make a dead stop hitting the ground. This is the one to choose. It is a great choice for clearing bunkers and other hazards you may find around the green. However, use the soft lob wedge only when there is no other club selection for the shot you face. Since everyone wants to score lower, a lob wedge is a great choice for getting the ball over high obstacles when you have a downhill lie, shooting to tucked pins especially when greens are super fast, and you want to drop the ball in with no roll. More often than not, an easier-to-swing chipping or pitching wedge will take on the shot making its choice the better one.

You will find there’s a significant difference concerning pitching and chipping a golf ball onto a green. A chip shot is required when near the green – only few yards roughly – but never really on the putting surface. The primary object at this point is to get on the green as near towards the hole as you possibly can. Simply because this shot is indeed close to the green, it requires minimal lift and in some cases none. Chipping is recognized as one of the more challenging techniques to master. Pitching is another difficult golf technique and one that is different from a chip shot mainly because it has to carry a good distance on the fly, yet land with comparatively less roll than a chip shot produces. Yes, everyone has seen those magic shots where the ball hits the green and spins back to the cup. Since both these types of shots are difficult, there are tons of tips available attempting to teach players a new skill to help take strokes off the game. The lob shot is also a pitch shot.

When wondering if you need a soft lob wedge in your bag, consider doing so if you consistently miss the green.

The grip has been referred to as the routing of your golf club and that a good and proper grip will help to land your shots to your desired destinations, of course after much practice and time working on it. This is not a get a perfect grip in ten minutes kind of article, this is one which will help you understand what is needed to work on to help to build and maintain that perfect golf swing. In fact, if this were indeed the kind of article that could inform you about how to have a perfect golf swing in ten minutes, I would be charging quite a lot for that privy information and would be living in a million dollar house on an exotic beach somewhere.

Making certain that your hands are properly placed to enable you to guide your golf swing is one of the first challenges necessary to conquer if you indeed desire to have a perfect golf swing. Your grip is a powerfully distinctive element of your swing. Each golfer’s individual perfect grip will be as diverse as their choice in their favorite golf shirt, club choice and top golf location in the world. To learn how to perfect your own individual approach, you will indeed need to spend time practicing. In general, what you put into learning this is what you will get out of it. Thus, if you are inclined to find your perfect golf swing, going out to the golf course or driving range only once a week or so is just not going to “swing it”!

First of all, the following instructions are designed with a right-hander in mind so make sure you do the opposite if you are left-handed. If you are trying to golf as a right-hander while being a leftie, you will be really affecting your game in a negative way. Place the golf club in your left hand so your club goes over your left palm from your forefinger’s support clear down to your pinky. Be sure to hold the golf handle steadily with your left fingers while you wrap your palm around the top of the golf club. Then drape your palm around the top of the grip in your fingers.

You will then want to put your right hand on your right side of your body and next bring it gradually towards the base of your golf club. Your right hand will need to be positioned more so in the fingers than your palm. Then fold your right hand around your left fingers. Be sure to keep both of your palms in front of each other at all times. This is a must-do! Then move your right hand towards the bottom of your left and then fold your right hand around your left fingers. Again, both palms *must* be facing each other.

Your grip has more effect on the golf ball’s flight than any other element of the golf game. It is considered to be the foundation that the rest of your perfect golf swing is built upon. If you find that you are having difficulties with the various flight patterns of some of your golf shots, stop and take a look at exactly how you are holding your golf club. In numerous incidences, addressing concerns with your grip can have a big impact on your golf swing and your entire game for that matter.

If you happen to be a person who learns best by seeing something explained versus simply reading the step-by-step instructions, I came across a great video that is less than ten minutes long, which explains how you can have the perfect golf swing. Enjoy this video and get out there and practice, but most of all-have fun!

Left handed golf tips #1 would be that if you by chance know of someone who is also a leftie, see if you can borrow those golf clubs instead. Although the majority of left handed golfers will eventually buy their own left handed clubs, some will continue to keep playing with the right handed ones, since they have become accustomed to them. They also don’t want to have to start all over and re-learn golf with the correct left handed clubs at some point in time. The left handed golf tips #1 above is crucial for playing your best golf. Start with and keep using left handed golf clubs whether borrowed or bought right from the beginning, using your natural swing.

Left handed golf tips #2 is that you are probably going to have to learn some patience when picking out your own set of left handed clubs, since there are less options to choose from, particularly if you are shopping at a local golf club or a small golf store. Try not to become impatient and purchase a right hander’s set. Wait until you can get to either a bigger retail store or a pro shop that will have a much bigger assortment of golf clubs to choose from. If you happen to live in a small town or one with limited golf stores, you can also start browsing through mail-order catalogs. One good company to look into is called Golfsmith, which will basically have just about every piece of golf equipment a left handed golfer could ever want or need. Of course, we are overlooking the obvious here-you can certainly start browsing around on golf sites on the internet as well.

Once you have finally found the elusive golf equipment made just for lefties, it will be time to start looking for some very good, quality golf instructors to teach you everything you will need to know to enjoy your new sport and to excel at it too. Perhaps you will finally beat that golfing friend of yours who has bragged for too long about how great his game is!

Left handed golf tips #3 is to find a golf instructor whose goal is to teach you how to play golf successfully and of course to have fun at it too. A good golf instructor will be able to help you learn correct swing tips and other instructions that will be tailored to fit your individual game perfectly.

Left handed golf tips #4 is to make sure you keep in mind that as you are looking for just the right golf pro for you, you must be asking your potential instructors if they indeed teach left handed golfers. If they do not, perhaps they just might know of another pro that does. Of course, having a left handed golf pro instruct you would be the best to learn correctly – if you can find one. Unfortunately, many right handed golf pros have a difficult time teaching left handed golfers. No matter whether you are a left or right handed golfer, the importance of a good golf swing is fundamentally the same either way.

Left handed golf tips #5 is actually one for everyone and poses a challenge when you are just learning the game and that is to keep your head downwards throughout your entire swing. Probably the biggest mistake by those just learning to play golf is the inevitable desire to lift their head to be able to watch and see just exactly where their golf ball has traveled to. Once you have found just the right left handed golf equipment, the right golf pro to teach a leftie and have had plenty of time practicing your new sport, it is time to call up your bragging golfer friend and say “game on!”

It’s All in the State of Mind

In order to bear with the pressures of golfing, you must remember well that golf is a game of the mind. It is a must to overcome all the mental pressures that arise in every game. The same pressure that is felt when making a complicated putt is all in the state of mind, too. Being a mental game does not mean that it is easier to deal with. In fact, since you need to take control of your mind, it makes concentration a bit more difficult. The only way to solve this is to divert your thoughts into a more optimistic game perspective. This may not be easy, but you can start avoiding worries about how you must succeed in your golf shots. This kind of thoughts will only bring pressure to your mind. Instead, allow yourself to relax and focus on the fun side of the game. This is one of the best putting tips that never fails to work.

A Good Outlook

The moment you join a game of golf, the only probability you have is either to make a successful putt or to miss it. Accepting this reality is the second putting tip. Always remember that there are a lot of worse things in life than just failing a putt. What makes golfing fun is the thrill it gives whenever trying to hit a goal. It is a good opportunity to learn sportsmanship in each attempt and to figure out ways on how to improve each miss. In this way, every game does not become a wasted experience. There are many putting tips that you can read everywhere. However, without a positive mindset, you will end up getting defeated by the negative pressures around. It is important to see each game as a new learning experience that helps prepare you for future games.

Becoming Resistant to Pressure

Another wise way to deal with pressure is to make friends with it, if you can’t completely get rid of it. Becoming comfortable to pressure makes it easier to deal with it. This can be done by constantly adding difficult challenges into your every golf practice. Some putting tips include several sorts of self-punishment programs that involve just the exact amount of stress such as making twenty consecutive putts. Tell yourself that if you can’t do that goal, you’ll do the laundry at home. It may be tough to beat, and amusing too, but this helps you become immune to pressure. Now, the pressures you feel during official games, as mentioned in the two putting tips above, will seem very normal and won’t be able to take you off your focus anymore.

Practicing the Technical Tips

Now, after having the right mind, it is time to consider the technical putting tips. It is important to grip the putter well by placing your middle finger over the pinky of your right hand. You can try imitating how the professionals do their grips. Secondly, check your position. Your eyes should be aligned with the position of the ball addressed. Then, develop a swing just like the motion of a grandfather clock’s pendulum. Remember to swing smoothly and comfortably. Make sure that the putter head is kept low all throughout the swing. Keep your putter flat on the field and ensure that the heel of your putter does not touch the ground. Working with a pro golfer works best, too. He can demonstrate the correct positioning, gripping and can give you some actual putting tips, too.

The main difference between a good and a bad putt is the confidence displayed by the golfer himself. One can learn about a lot of good putting tips but without the proper attitude towards the game, they won’t do anything. It is important to overcome every golfing pressure through constant practice and a positive mindset.

The initial lifting up in the air of your club which is necessary for momentum is often very difficult, not just for the beginner golfer, but also for the seasoned pro as well. No matter how advanced a golfer is the skills that are taught and learned in the beginning stages of learning to play golf are extremely important to practice and follow through on at any level of golfing ability. It is often both troubling and humbling to have a less than perfect golf swing which can easily be avoided by keeping up with practicing both in the on and off seasons, of course unless you are blessed enough to live in a warm climate that offers year round beautiful golfing enjoyment.

Beginners and advanced golfers need to take the time to keep abreast of the basics. No matter how great a seasoned golfer is, all the skills learned and needed to remain great are built upon the beginner’s skills and are not to be forgotten and worked on. Good skills that are basically just set aside can open the door for new skills that cannot only be wrong but can soon become bad habits that can do quite a number on your golf game, and yes on your score. Practicing the right skills is as easy as finding an area that is large enough to encompass a full swing or as confined enough to work on the very basics such as proper stance.

One of these basic skills that needs consistent practice involves the correct posture and position that are used throughout the golf backswing. For starters, stand with your feet at shoulders’ width apart, remembering to keep your back straight and your knees just ever so slightly bent. Actually, remembering to keep your knees bent all the time while practicing or playing golf is one key element for a great game of golf. By having the knees bent, you are allowing for a more natural flowing and controlled swing. Before beginning to practice the golf backswing give special attention to the proper way of holding your golf club. If you are picking up on bad habits during your practice sessions, it is almost inevitable that these will be played out when it is time to play golf for real.

While practicing your golf movements and in particular, how you are holding your club, pay special attention to not have the majority of your grip be from the palms of your hands but rather mostly by your fingers. With the exception of a very few people, your left hand should be the hand of dominance. There actually are a few different ways to hold your golf club and each serves a different yet important purpose. Make sure that you get very comfortable with several of these correct patterns while practicing so that any incorrect patterns are not carried over into your game and wreak havoc upon it. Learning to grip the club the right ways should not take more than about a week to become very familiar with during practice sessions, and then it is time to move on and prepare to learn the golf backswing.

When you are beginning to engage into the backswing, your golf club should slowly rise into the air. I stress here the word slowly. Many make the mistake of trying to maneuver this much too quickly and know this – a hurried back swing does not make the downswing go any faster. The speed of your particular backswing should be kept at a steady pace or tempo since the normal tendency is to go way too fast. Just slowing this down can help improve many not so great golf swings. The slowly rising club should first be close to the ground then parallel with it at your hip level and finally into position.

Let your hips and shoulders very naturally pivot to enable your arms to raise the golf club. When the club is at its peak of the golf backswing, your left shoulder needs to be in a straight line with the golf ball. Your weight needs to be focused firmly upon your right foot without any of that weight placed towards your toes. Do not forget to keep those knees bent. Correct distribution of your weight is extremely important since it could cause problems with your downswing. This is one area of golf that new players need to be particularly mindful of since bad habits are very hard to break once they are formed incorrectly.

So just why is the grip such a powerful element in finding that perfect golf swing? The grip has often been alluded to as the steering wheel of the swing in that a great grasp on your golf club will get your shots to where you need them to go. Each golfer’s grip is as unique to them as is where they enjoy golfing and what attire they play best in. Did you know that the grip itself has more effect on the ball’s flight than on anything else? It is actually the very foundation that the rest of your perfect golf swing is built upon. If you find yourself having difficulties with your ball’s flight patterns chances are you might need to stop and really look at how you are holding your golf club. One key thing to remember is that you need to grip the club in your fingers rather than your palm. The reason is that the further into your palms you grip, the slower your golf swings will be.

This probably goes without saying but just reminding yourself to relax can improve not only your swings but your overall game as well. Some golfers realize that when they have the driver in their hands, they can actually sense more tension throughout their bodies. You must allow your body to relax while taking your swing. I know this is much easier said than done and I for one know that when I play golf, tennis or other sports, my competitive/perfectionist edge comes out, and the tension is on, which basically can take most if not all of the fun out of it and really, sports should be fun! If you tense up during your swing, your muscles will indeed tighten up and will change the way in which you swing the golf club and probably give you less than desirable results.

It could be helpful if you try to locate your intended shot by just stepping back about six to eight feet behind your teed up golf ball. While you are standing behind your ball, facing the pathway that you have in mid for it to travel, study your shot and decide on the shot you want to play. Is it a draw, straight or fade shot? Locate a spot approximately not more than six inches away from your golf ball that’s around that line of target. This very spot will help when you’re ready to hit the ball. Now, this further step is very crucial: Don’t rush, you need just to study your intended shot thoroughly. By visualizing it in your head, next time when you swing your club, your mind can know exactly how to react. Remember Tiger’s mumblings I heard on TV! The mindset and self-talk are vital not only in a great golf game but also in many aspects of life.

Watch great players during their tournaments either live or on television. We tend to learn by watching and imitating others so be sure they are great players if your intention is to be great or at least to thoroughly enjoy golfing while improving upon your perfect golf swing grip. Don’t waste your time watching lousy players as you don’t want to pick up any of their mistakes even just unconsciously. Practice – practice on the driving ranges, in your backyard or even in your living room. You don’t have to wait until it is 75 and sunny to get outside and practice when the convenience of your home is available in every season 24/7. Don’t forget to focus while practicing. It is better to spend ten quality minutes and concentrate on what you are doing than spending an hour or two just whacking the heck out of the golf balls. If you’re practicing with a bucket of balls at a driving range, remember to take breaks. Rest when you are frustrated or tired. Lastly, walk the course rather than zipping around in those golf carts just like the bigwig tour players do. They walk to give themselves more time to concentrate on their next shot, to improve their speed and yes, it gives everyone an abundance of much needed fresh air and exercise.

The most popular fairway woods that people carry in their bags are the 3 wood, the 4 wood, and/or the 5 wood. For those that are new to golf, the loft on a 3 wood is smaller than the loft on a 4 wood, and a 4 wood loft is less than that of a 5 wood, etc. The clubs also are slightly shorter as the loft of the club increase and these two factors, loft and club length greatly impact the overall distance that one can hit the ball with each given club. Generally speaking, one will hit a 3 wood farther than a 4 wood with the expected distance to drop as the loft of the club increases and the length of the club decreases.

While again making a general comparison, the distance that one will hit a 5 wood is approximately the same distance that one would hit a 2 iron. The key difference in club selection between electing to use a 5 wood over a 2 iron are lie and wind conditions as the flight of the ball will be different between the two clubs. When hitting fairway woods, the higher the loft (or the larger the number on the club) the higher the flight of the ball. A 5 wood will hit a ball considerably higher into the air than a 3 wood, and a 2 iron for that matter, hence the reason for considering wind conditions when making club selections.

With the lie of the ball in the fairway, or in the rough, as a major determining factor in club selection, let’s try to discern which club should be used in which circumstance. For those shots where one has a “good lie” where the ball is sitting up nicely without a lot of grass exposed behind the ball, one can consider using a 2 iron if conditions are windy. For those occasions where one has a much “tighter lie”, i.e. the ball is nestled into the grass more deeply, one should consider using the 5 wood over the 2 iron as the higher loft of the 5 wood, for roughly the same expected total distance hit, will allow you to get the ball into flight much easier. The potential of hitting a really poor shot with a tight lie with a 2 iron will often demand the use of its alternative the 5 wood.

There are those that for one reason or another learn to really love hitting fairway woods as they tend to be a little more forgiving than the long irons. Some people have become so infatuated with hitting fairway woods that they have taken to replacing a number of their longer irons by carrying 7, 9, 11, 13 woods instead of a 2 iron, 3 iron, 4 iron, etc. Some of these clubs have been promoted by club manufacturers as “trouble woods” where their performance, even in deep rough, is exceptional. These clubs follow the same rules as discussed earlier, the higher the number on the fairway wood, the higher the loft and the shorter the shaft.

The last area to discuss pertaining to the lie of the ball is whether you have an uphill lie or a downhill lie. As an uphill lie will tend to increase the effective loft of the club and a downhill lie will effectively decrease the loft of the club, one should seriously consider hitting fairway woods when confronted with a downhill lie. Using a higher lofted fairway wood, whose loft is effectively negated by the downhill lie, will dramatically improve the probability of getting the shot up into the air. For those that are not professional or highly competitive golfers…you know the general weekend warrior…you might just want to look into exchanging some of your long irons for some higher lofted fairway woods.