Fairway Woods/Hybrids

Hit A Hybrid On Short Par 4s

We’ve all done it: Stepped up on the tee of a tantalizing, drivable par 4 (like the 4th hole at DeBell Golf Course in Burbank, California, shown above), pulled out the big dog and let ’er rip … with varying results. More often than not we miss the green or end up in a spot that the course’s designer dared us to take out of the equation. Maybe that’s water, or OB, or behind a buch of trees. Whatever. It ain’t good. Hello, double bogey. So, let’s back off for a second. On short par 4s I think the percentage shot is to leave the driver in the bag and hit a hybrid.

The only time to go with the driver would be if you have room to miss with no penalty shots (the aforementioned hazard and OB). If you do choose a driver on a short par 4 or a hole with a narrow fairway, try to hit a small fade. The ball lands softer than a draw which will help it stay in the fairway.

After taking careful aim at a specific target (Photo 1) I open the club face slightly to promote a fade without changing my grip or swing (Photo 2). I have always felt that it is easier to work the ball by changing my set up rather than altering my swing, especially under any pressure.

A very accurate shot is a 3/4 punch shot with a hybrid, great play on short par 4s or narrow fairways, works great in the wind too. (Photo 3) Play the ball back in the stance to promote a predictable low draw, a great “go to” shot (Photo 4).

Whether you hit a driver or hybrid, there are things that both shots require for successful results:

Always aim at a specific target!

Never take a swing without aiming.
Waggle to get a feel for the shot (Photo 5).
Make sure to make a smooth, one-piece takeaway (Photos 6 and 7).
A well-balanced finish really helps (Photo 8).

Follow these simple steps to turn that short par 4 into a true birdie opportunity, rather than a recipe for disasters. In fact, playing the per-centages on holes like this will pay dividends throughout your round.

Bobby Hinds is a Southern California-based PGA teaching professional

Fairway Metal Mastery

Technology has taken every club in the bag to new and amazing heights, but those just below the driver in length and head size — the fairway metal and the amazingly versatile hybrid — incorporate everything that’s good about modern materials and engineering. If employed properly, they can get you down the fairway and in prime scoring position every time.

Here are a few keys that can really improve your ballstriking with the fairway metals/hybrids. The mindset is critical — pick the right club, treat them like an iron, hit down and get to a balanced finish.

First things first:

The lie dictates the club selection. If the ball is sitting pretty you can use either the hybrid or the 3-wood. If the ball is sitting down there is no reason to hit the 3-wood, which, remember, is the longest club with the least amount of loft in your bag (besides the driver, of course). This makes it very unforgiving from a mediocre or bad lie. Use the hybrid if in doubt.

This lie is a loser for the 3-wood!

With the ball sitting up on top of the grass you can choose either club.

You will have more success with the fairway metals from the ground when you treat them like an iron instead of a driver. Stand close, be aggressive and don’t be afraid to hit down on it.

At address the arms should hang down, with your weight towards the balls of the feet and your knees bouncy and athletic. Standing too far away is deadly.

Letting the upper body turn freely on the backswing is a key for every full swing. The left knee will get behind the ball and the right leg will straighten slightly.

Get steeper! The trend towards increasingly flat backswings have made it much harder to hit longer clubs. Getting the hands above the right shoulder at the top makes it much easier to create speed and hit the ball from the turf.

The lower body should initiate the downswing on every full swing. The thought of hitting more “down” gets the arms and club out and away from the body. This is a much easier place to play from then being stuck on the inside approaching impact.

The descending strike ensures a solid ball/turf contact, which gets the ball up off the ground. Notice that in my follow-through, the body is rotating around to the target and the right foot is rolling up off the ground to the toe.

A great thought on the course to produce consistent results is to get to a balanced finish. There is no need to wrap your body around like Gumby. Find the place where your weight is on the front foot and you are able to hold a comfortable spot, that should always be your goal.

Brady Riggs is a Golf Tips Top 30 Instructor based in Southern California. Reach him at bradyriggs@pga.com

Storm The Fairway

Do you hit a fairway wood like a driver? Read on to find out.

The latest crop of new fairway woods that are primed for more powerful shots are all the rage this year. Call them “mini-drivers” if you will, since they’re made to hit higher,longer shots from both off the tee and from the fairway. Knowing how to harness the power of a fairway wood is key, since no matter how great a club is, if you don’t use it properly, you won’t see the kinds of results you want. The following pages outline some simple tips to help you make the most of your powerful new fairway wood.

SET UP THE RIGHT WAY

Getting into the right setup, not only with a fairway wood, but with any club for the matter, is the easiest thing to do right. You don’t have to make a swing, so getting the basics right should be priority one. With a fairway wood, the goal is to make a more level swing into the ball. (With a driver, you’re more inclined to hit up on it.) If you’re going to err on one side or the other, hitting down on the ball is a lot better than trying to hit up on it, which will likely cause a lot of fat and thin shots.

FAIRWAY WOOD

DRIVER

So, position the ball with your fairway wood off the inside of your logo on your shirt–in other words, about an inch closer to your center than where you normally play your driver. Second, position the hands so the shaft is pointing vertically, as opposed to with a driver where some negative shaft lean can help you hit the ball on the incline of your downswing.

Position your weight evenly over both feet and get ready to make a smooth swing. A lot of amateurs feel as though they need to muscle their fairway woods, since they’re smaller and shorter than their drivers.

That’s wrong. If anything, think of your fairway woods as you do a short iron. Swing them in a smooth, rhythmic fashion and let the club do the work. There’s no need to force anything!

AVOID STAYING BACK!

What usually happens when you try to hit at the ball? In this photo, I’m trying to muscle the ball using my upper body (especially my shoulders), which is a big no-no. This holdsme back on my right foot and from here, I’ll hit nothing but fat and thin misses. Not good!

Instead, the key is to stay relaxed and balanced. The better impact position is one where the hips have opened, my weight has shifted and my hands are either directly above or ahead of the ball at impact. To get here, you need tomake a smooth swing, let the club do the work and don’t try to force the ball up into the air. It’ll happen on it’s own.

DON’T FEAR THE BUNKER

Just because you’re in a fairway bunker, you don’t have to hit an iron.With a fairway wood, the goal is to catch the ball cleanly and with a more level to-the-ground swing, so it’s actually a pretty useful tool in the sand. And the wide sole helps prevent digging. Just be sure of two things. You need a perfect lie and no bunker lips in your way.

*Don’t be afraid to make a full backswing.*	*Keep the feet quiet through the downswing.*
*Notice how I barely made a divot?*	*Finish in balance on the left side.*

GET WIDE! GET FLAT!

If you really want to crush it…

One trick I like to use to add extra oomph to my fairway-wood shots is to hit a draw. It can be done, and the solution is pretty simple. First, set up with the ball a little farther away from your body. This will add a lot more width to your swing. Second, at the top of your swing, try to keep your hands lower. This will flatten your backswing, making it easier to swing from inside-out. Give it a try the next time you need to nuke one from the fairway. Draws almost always go farther than fades.

GET FLAT!

GET WIDE!

Try your putting grip to help quiet your hands as you chip it close.

CHIP IT CLOSE!

When it comes to chipping with something other than a wedge or an iron, most people think hybrids are the next choice. And while that’s doable, I actually prefer the fairwaywoodchip. It gets the ball rolling quicker, the wide sole prevents fat/thin shots, and it’s a pretty easy shot to control.

To do so is simple. Just address the ball using whatever putting grip you prefer and choke down on the shaft. Then, after you get your grip, set up exactly as you would a puttand rock the shoulders. There’s no need to get flippy with the hands or try to lift the ball. In fact, you’ll see the ball rolls almost right away, and after a few tries, the ball will noticeably jump off the face pretty easily.

Try this shot next time you’re left with an uphill shot from around the green. You’ll find it’s a lot easier than either hitting it in the air or trying to pass a narrow putter through the thicker grass.

Set up as you would a putter, but don’t stand as close.

Keep the clubhead low on the backswing.

Stay low through the downswing.

SWING WITH CONFIDENCE

Again, as you would with any shot, you have to swing your fairway woods with a confident mind. Be confident that the ball will rise on its own–there’s no need to try to lift it.And remember to keep the body rotating through the shot. There’s no need to try to muscle with your arms. Instead, as you can see in my sequence, the downswing is a continuous rotation and shift (simultaneously) toward my left side and the club swings around my body. Think of your fairway wood as you would a wedge and swing in balance, with a nice tempo and let the club do all the work. You’ll start seeing better hits in no time.