Before Hitting Your Woods, Do This for 5 Seconds - Danny Maude
Danny Maude shares a simple drill to hit hybrids and fairway woods longer and straighter in minutes.
Why Watch This?
Ever feel rushed or unsure before hitting a fairway wood? This video introduces a 5-second pre-shot routine that ensures clean contact every time .
Danny explains why your body position at setup determines whether youʼll top, chunk, or pure your fairway woods**.
The best part of this lesson is that it doesnʼt require hours of practice—just a simple mindset shift before each shot. If you tend to overthink your fairway woods, this video will help you simplify your approach and build confidence.
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What Are Fairway Woods and Why Do They Matter?
Fairway woods—once made of actual wood—are now sleek, distance-gaining machines that help golfers cover serious yardage on par 4s and par 5s. Shaped like a smaller driver, these clubs are designed to be hit off the ground without a tee, making them a critical weapon for golfers who need distance but donʼt want to risk a long iron or hybrid shot.
These clubs are essential for setting up birdie opportunities on par 5s or reaching long par 4s in two shots, but with great distance potential comes great difficulty. Because they have longer shafts and lower lofts, fairway woods are notoriously tough to hit cleanly. If youʼve ever topped a 3-wood and watched it roll 50 yards instead of flying 200, you know exactly what I mean.
For many golfers (myself included), these are 50/50 clubs—50% of the time you hit an incredible shot that soars down the fairway, and 50% of the time, you chunk it, top it, or wish you had just pulled an iron. The biggest challenge? Understanding the proper setup and strike. Unlike a driver, where you hit up on the ball, and unlike an iron, where you hit down, fairway woods require precise, neutral contact—brushing the turf without digging in.
If youʼre struggling with these clubs, donʼt worry—itʼs normal. The key is to approach them as a completely different skill, and with the right technique and drills, youʼll start making consistent, solid contact.
How to Hit Fairway Woods: Directive vs. Analogy- Based Learning
Directive-Based Approach: Step-by-Step Mechanics
If you prefer a structured, technical approach to learning, hereʼs how to properly
set up and strike fairway woods:
Ball Position & Stance
The ball should be positioned slightly forward of center—not as far forward as a driver, but not as centered as an iron.
Feet should be shoulder-width apart, providing a stable base for rotation.
Setup & Posture
Unlike a driver, where you tilt your upper body back, your fairway wood posture should be more level, ensuring a neutral angle of attack.
Slight forward shaft lean helps promote a brushing motion through impact
Swing Path & Contact
Sweep the ball off the turf, rather than hitting steeply like an iron or launching up like a driver.
The clubhead should make light contact with the turf after impact, ensuring solid ball-first contact.
Drills for Better Fairway Wood Contact
Tee Drill: Place a broken tee one inch in front of the ball and try to sweep it after impact.
Club Hover Drill: Hover the club slightly above the turf to avoid digging too deep on your downswing.
Analogy-Based Approach: Feeling the Motion
Analogy-Based Approach: Feeling the MotionFor golfers who learn through feel rather than mechanics, these analogies will help you visualize the correct motion:
“Skipping a Rockˮ
Imagine skipping a rock across a pond—the motion should be smooth, level, and effortless.
This prevents golfers from chopping down too steeply or trying to lift the ball.
“Brushing the Grassˮ
Picture your clubhead as a paintbrush lightly sweeping across a canvas —the goal is to just brush the grass, not dig in.
This helps promote a shallow, clean contact.
“The Ice Skater Glideˮ
Think of your downswing like an ice skater gliding smoothly across the rink, rather than jamming their skates into the ice.
This helps create a balanced, controlled swing that doesn't get too steep or rushed
Drills to Feel the Right Motion
Barefoot Drill: Take swings barefoot to feel where your weight shifts naturally through impact.
One-Handed Drill: Swing with just your trail hand to encourage a smoother release and proper club path.
Final Thoughts: When (and If) You Should Use Fairway Woods
Fairway woods, like all long-distance clubs, can be your greatest asset or your biggest frustration. When struck cleanly, they launch high and far, allowing you to reach par 5s in two shots or recover from a poor tee shot. But when mis-hit? Well, youʼre just as likely to top it 20 yards as you are to stripe it 200 yards.
For beginners, it might be best to leave fairway woods out of your set until youʼve developed more control over your swing fundamentals. A reliable 150-yard iron shot is often a safer, smarter bet than risking an inconsistent fairway wood. As you progress to more challenging courses where distance becomes a greater factor, youʼll start to figure out which long-distance club suits you best—whether thatʼs a fairway wood, a hybrid-style iron, or a longer 3-4 iron.
That said, you should still experiment with fairway woods at the range to understand how they feel and how they differ from other clubs. Approach them with a lighthearted attitude, knowing that youʼll duff them more often than not in the beginning. Theyʼre not mandatory for your game right now, but theyʼll eventually become a valuable part of your arsenal as you improve.
So donʼt stress about perfecting them yet—youʼll get there. Until then remember to GG HF.