Depending on how far the hole is , you can choose to use a fairway wood or a hybrid when your golf ball lands in the fairway or in the light rough .
When the golf ball is in deep rough , a hybrid with more loft is the better option due to how the club interacts with the longer grass .
BW : What tips do you have for choosing a set of hybrids and fairway woods ? CB : Hybrid and fairway wood clubs are available in a variety of lofts and head designs . Each year , equipment manufacturers improve the performance of these clubs . Some options provide more forgiveness , while others are geared with increasing the golfer ’ s distance . It is important to work with a club fitter who uses launch monitor data to help you decide which of these options is best for your game . The more sophisticated monitors can help you choose the best attack angle by calculating the golf ball ’ s carry distance using important data points like launch angle , backspin and quality of contact .
BW : What do you recommend working on when using a hybrid ? CB : Your intended swing style will be supported by where you place the golf ball in your stance . If you prefer to use the hybrid with the downward attack angle of an iron , position the golf ball toward the middle of your stance . With this ball position , the golf ball will typically fly lower , so it ’ s important to prepare for more roll once the ball lands .
To create a shallower attack angle , move the golf ball forward in your stance . In order to improve your confidence with this technique , I recommend practicing with the ball on a tee . Most of the time , a shorter tee height is preferred , but I do vary the tee height to encourage a more upward attack angle and higher ball flight .
BW : How can you work on improving your technique with these clubs on the golf course ? CB : I advise my students to take advantage of every opportunity to practice a new technique while playing a round of golf . Most tee shots can be easily replaced by a fairway wood in place of the driver , and you ’ ll see an improvement in the number of fairways hit during that round . The hybrid can be used on both longer par-3 holes and shorter ones . Whenever possible , I also advise using the hybrid from the rough . When trying to advance the ball with a lower ball flight while also needing distance , it is a great replacement for the less forgiving long irons .
BW : What tips do you have for improving your fairway wood technique ? CB : Many golfers struggle with these clubs because they do not understand the significance of balance . The fundamentals of setup — which include ball position , stance width , posture and arm hang — are necessary tools [ to use ] before making the actual swing . Assuming that these are correct , the golfer ’ s effort must be monitored . Making
solid contact is the first step toward developing confidence , so swinging at a speed that promotes balance becomes critical . The ideal swing tempo is a 3-to-1 ratio in which the backswing is slower than the forward swing . As you increase your clubhead speed , keep an eye on the quality of your contact with the golf ball . You will eventually notice a negative return , at which point you will have to weigh the advantage of the occasional great shot for consistently good shots .
BW : Are these clubs only for the novice- to intermediate-level golfer ? CB : For a long time , the better players in the game were hesitant to use hybrids or highlofted fairway woods , preferring to build their set of clubs around the more traditional long iron . As previously stated , golf club manufacturers are constantly developing new technology to help golfers enjoy the game . The better players hit the ball at much faster swing speeds . Lowering the launch angle and backspin of the golf ball is critical for these golfers ’ efficiency when choosing their equipment . These golfers are also less concerned with the forgiveness of these clubs and more concerned with the appearance and feel of the equipment they use . The golf club engineers can design golf clubs that meet these requirements by redistributing weight in the clubhead and flex of the shaft .
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