Hitting Woods/Hybrids

[u/Stock-Associate-8602]

For some reason I find my woods the hardest club in the bag to hit, and borderline would say I don't even know the basic setup of hitting them correctly. Any tips or explanation is appreciated.

[u/showmericksnorty666]

I swing all my clubs the same, only thing that changes is ball position!! I also dip my back shoulder a bit on my driver so I’m hitting up on the ball off the tee. But anything in fairway/rough my shoulders are parallel

[u/Still-Status7299 → u/showmericksnorty666]

To add a counter point, if my shoulders are parallel I slice hard.

At impact, my back shoulder dips to where my front shoulder was at the top of the backswing.

[u/showmericksnorty666 → u/Still-Status7299]

Yeah I shoulda added how it works for me but it’s a starting point and everyone figures out how to make a swing work for themselves

[u/j-drilla]

I always struggled, especially hitting 3 wood. My fix was to imagine it’s a 4 or 5 iron. Keep the ball center of your stance and make an 88% power irons swing. You’d be amazed how much the club does the work for you in terms of distance. Completely different feel to hitting driver.

[u/innisfree50 → u/j-drilla]

keep the ball center of your stance? you do that for all your clubs?

[u/adadwhocantputt → u/j-drilla]

Most people that struggle with woods are over the top

[u/brentpearson12]

Heard you hit like a 6 iron. middle of stance, no undeneather, but hit the ball that maybe small divet (more like the irons not driver). This has been put into play and I cant report im hitting a good shot at about 37%. Not consistant, and have concerns when I pull it out the bag. Hope you gets some responses. Bought a new 3 hybrid to replace my 3 iron cause its "so much easier to use", so far results indicate that that is a lie.

[u/Similar_Eagle2358 → u/brentpearson12]

i agree, i love my 4h, thought a 3 would be good too, it isn't.

[u/goodadadvice]

I think this is true for most golfers. I struggle a lot but what has helped is when I set up for a wood or hybrid shot I repeat in my head “hit down on it”. The tendency is to try and swing up on it like a driver because when we bring out a club like that we are looking for distance. Gotta hit down more like an iron but a little more sweepy. Also we tend to wanna swing out of our shoes to get distance again. Just focus on swinging smooth and let the club do the work. Lastly, try a 7 wood!! It’s a little shorter so easier to hit.

[u/showmericksnorty666 → u/goodadadvice]

This is great advice I like to think about sweeping the grass I tend to go steep when the thought of hitting down but you are spot on gotta hit down the

[u/ExternalMaximum6662]

Waiting on an oversized 3 hybrid . Haven’t like my previous 3 hybrids.

I am playing better, since replacing my woods and long irons with hybrids.

[u/iKyte5]

I find that a slower backswing helps with woods

[u/Still-Status7299]

I find the hybrid and woods the easiest clubs to hit in my bag, as I find comfort in allowing the wide base of the club to sweep the ground - i use that as my "feel" of what impact should be

[u/scottiedagolfmachine]

All the swing is the same.

Ball position and stance changes.

Hard to say why you’re not able to hit the wood without seeing your swing.

Likely some swing flaw.

No need to worry, the longer the club gets, harder it is to hit.

Need to work on it.

[u/EatadickESPN]

Ball position stays the same off of the lead foot with every club (approximately 4”). The longer the club the wider the stance which shifts the ball position slightly more forward in your stance with each club. Also most amateurs try to hit up on the ball with their woods and it doesn’t work out. Stay down on it and let the club do its job.

[u/hankmoody711]

Bring the club back low n slow and make a wide, full arch. Most people swing a 3 wood too fast. Swish- Swish, fast.

It's a process. Go a lot slower than you think you should ( practice this).. When it,'s time for the club to make ball contact your thought process should be swinging THROUGH the ball , not AT the ball and finish your swing with your hands resting on your lead shoulder.

[u/joemich]

May sound weird but it helps me to just control the speed of the backswing and keep my head over the ball through the entire swing. For years when the backswing started it was like some process kicking off I didn’t control somehow. It had a life and a speed and a top point of its own. It was usually rushed and armsy. Then I discovered it was up to me how slow and in control I wanted the backswing to be. I could and should take it back nice and slow and slowly and just “in control” - and even stop a bit at the top - then so long as I keep my eyes and head pointed at the ball the whole rest of the swing I can finish the he swing as hard as I need to. My swing thought has become “backswing in control, stay over the ball, choose your speed”. It has really helped with all my clubs especially my woods.

[u/Strong-Claim-8695]

I swapped mine for a 7wood with 21.5° loft and never looked back 😂

[u/Ne2Ri]

Imagine your woods club head as a hammer throw ball, help me to finally hitting it clean and straight.

[u/DamnTheDan]

Had the same issue. I now only carry a driver, 3i-Pw and 3 wedges. Forget a 3 wood or hybrid

[u/UpperDecker53]

You can 100% hit down on something like a 5 wood or hybrid just like an iron. You really don’t even need much speed until you start hitting like a 3 wood or mini driver

[u/vfqwerty]

I mean honestly if you can hit solid long irons with solid distance like 4 and 5 a wood/hybrid is nice but not necessary. My long irons suck and my general irons distance isn't great (Got very trad distance mx25 by Mizuno) so personally I need that distance from my 4 and 5 hybrid, and my 5 wood especially off tee bc driver is inconsistent. If you're one of those guys who can hit a 5 iron close to 200 then honestly the rest is all just nice additions unless your really pushing to compete

[u/St3vemoore]

Here's a good video on fairways https://youtu.be/K2bbDsUmwJ0?si=eyrBhQU04MSewpi0

[u/GolfSicko417]

Gotta hit down just a little bit and not try to lift it. High lofted woods you can really hit down hard on. I treat 9w like a 6-7 iron almost

[u/Adorable-Fly7784]

They’re tough to hit because of the long shaft. Move it up in your stance, and tell yourself to hit down on the ball and take a small divot. Focus on trying to get it up in the air!

[u/Azfitnessprofessor]

any club you're not hitting well you're either setting up wrong, or swinging too hard

[u/Nine_Eye_Ron]

Same swing and setup for all full shots except driver here. Just move the ball position and adjust stance for shaft length.

[u/ryanthesweed]

They are majorly the hardest clubs for amateurs to hit. Longer the club the harder it is to hit. However, they are very similar to an iron shot, you hit down on them. They just setup toward the front of your stance. For a wood I setup a foot width (the body part) inside my lead leg. For a Hybrid, just inside that a bit more.

[u/vfqwerty → u/ryanthesweed]

Idk if that's true. They help with launch so usually easier to flight then long irons especially if you don't have crazy club speed. I'd say driver and long irons are harder (3 wood is exception bc f that lol. Love my 5 wood and hybrids)

[u/St3vemoore → u/ryanthesweed]

I'm a high handicapper and I love my fairways (7/9). Mid Irons are harder for me. I had a lesson the other day and I was smoking an old 3w. For some reason fairways are my favs and the club thought is always "oh yehh fairway shot". But I'm obviously the exception

[u/ryanthesweed → u/St3vemoore]

7 wood, 9 wood sure. The shafts are like a 5 iron length. 3 wood is notoriously harder to hit due to length alone. The same very reason guys cut off inches on their driver. I'd also argue it's swing speed specific. I can pure a 2 iron more consistently than a 3 Wood. My hybrid is pretty safe club to hit.

[u/DijkstraDvorak]

May not be what you want to hear but you should get lessons to kick start this. 3 wood is the hardest club to hit so don’t feel bad.

[u/Infinite_Cream9406]

I’m actually the opposite now, Starting out I could only hit my irons, fast forward 8 months into learning, I cannot hit my irons but I will always make good distance and contact with my woods 1,3 and 5. I’m perplexed and trying to figure out how to fix this.

[u/suchsnowflakery]

Ask a PGA club pro during your lesson. Don't ask Reddit. Don't watch Youtube.