The Best Free Golf Video Lessons565 Free Golf Lessons from the Best ProsOver 120,000,000 views
565 lessons from professionals, selected and summarizedOver 120,000,000 views across all videos
Fairway Woods Wood Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 4 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Swinging an iron 7 with a fairway wood: let the club do the work

After a good drive, the fairway wood often ends up topped or in the rough because you try too hard to help it. Dave Mackinnon, a PGA professional, offers four simple tips for letting the club do its job when swinging your 7-iron.

▶
GM
Golf Mates · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

9 minSame problemHitting Your Hybrid: Aim for a tee in front of the ballLewis Wallace · Beginner / Intermediate5 minNext Level UpFairway Woods: Keep the Club Low in the TakeawayDavid Bobrowski · Intermediate12 minSame problemHitting Your Fairway Wood: Start with Your StanceDanny Maude · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Dave Mackinnon often sees the same scenario: a good drive, followed by a 3-wood that you try to help set up or to force the ball onto the green. The result: a shot that travels only about 25 yards, or a shot that veers off to the side, and a good start ruined. Yet these clubs have a sensation of heaviness at the back of the head That's exactly how you get the ball to go up: just let them do it.

His points of reference: hit the ball about one ball's length further forward than usual; club resting on the back of the sole so you can clearly see the loft; feet farther apart, by moving your right foot back for more stability and a less vertical swing, while still aiming to hit the ball slightly downward. Then, don't try to force the ball into the air: a 7-iron swing, since the club is only a little longer.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Move the ball forward by about one ball's length from your usual position, then adjust on the driving range.
  2. Place the club on the back of its sole so you can clearly see the loft of the clubface.
  3. Widen your stance by moving your right foot back, which shifts a little more weight behind the ball.
  4. Keep in mind to strike slightly downward.
  5. Take your 7-iron swing without trying to hit the ball any harder.
  6. Let the club do the work and aim for a good position for your next shot.

Key Takeaways

Trying to help the ball go up ruins the shot.
Putting weight on the back of your head makes the ball rise.
Place the ball about one ball's width further forward in your stance.
Club placed on the back of the sole to check the loft.
Wider stance: more stable, less vertical takeoff.
The swing is still that of a 7-iron.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Try to lift the ball.
  • Trying too hard to reach a green that's too far away.
  • Placing the ball too far back or too far forward.
  • Believing that you should lift or sweep the ball instead of hitting it gently downward.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Try a few ball positions around a ball placed further forward
  2. Club positioned at the back of the sole, with visible loft
  3. Wide stance, right foot back
  4. 7-iron swing, without straining

Your Questions

Why place the club on the back of its sole?

To see the loft on the clubface. For Dave Mackinnon, that’s an advantage: the club is designed to get the ball airborne—you don’t have to help it.

Should you swing harder with a fairway wood?

No. It requires a 7-iron swing, since the club is just a little longer. Trying too hard to hit it farther usually results in missed shots.

Why spread your feet apart?

A wider stance, with the right foot back, provides stability, flattens the swing path slightly, and puts more weight behind the ball. However, you should still aim to swing slightly downward.

Learn More

All “Fairway wood” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Hitting Your Hybrid: Aim for a tee in front of the ballAgainst the top and hybrid-style chicken wing: keep your chest facing the ground and the clubhead close to the ground until you reach a tee placed in front of the ball. Fairway Woods: Keep the Club Low in the TakeawayWith the 3-wood and 5-wood, let the clubhead skim the ground a little longer in the takeaway to create more distance and a shallower angle of attack.

Video posted on YouTube by its creator. Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros