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Fairway WoodsAvoid Fat and Thin Shots Wood Intermediate ⏱ 13 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Fairway Woods: Arm Extension to Stop Topping It

Do you top the ball, hit it thin, or scratch the ground with your fairway woods? Eric Cogorno attributes every mishit to one of two causes: arms that bend too early or hips that lag behind. He recommends a single follow-through position: arms straight, club away from you, and belt buckle above the front ankle.

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Eric Cogorno
Eric Cogorno · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

5 minSame problemFairway Woods: Keep the Club Low in the TakeawayDavid Bobrowski · Intermediate6 minSame problemHow to Hit Your 3 Wood Off the Fairway, Not Like Off a TeeRick Shiels · Intermediate14 minFrom the same proPump Exercise for the Swing TransitionEric Cogorno · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

For Eric Cogorno, everything is on the line immediately after the impact. If the arms and wrists bend too much, the clubhead rises, and the bottom of the clubhead strikes the top of the ball: tall and slender. If your weight and hips stay back, the lowest point moves backward: fat shot. The position to achieve, approximately 45° after impact: arms outstretched, swing the club as far as possible, with the clubhead positioned about 4 feet (1.2 m) in front of the ball, belt buckle above the front of the ankle, keeping your head behind the ball. At address: 50/50 weight distribution, ball under the polo shirt logo, feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, clubface roughly vertical.

At 3-wood, he's aiming for a shot slightly downward, 1 to 2°, with a mini-divot right after the ball. Progression: half-backswing at hip height, then tap the ground by extending the right arm and pushing the hips forward as soon as the downswing begins; next, bring the front arm parallel, then take a full swing. At home, a bag placed in front of you serves as a target for the extension. Once he makes contact, he adjusts the direction: closing the clubface slightly more to counter a fade, keeping the clubface open to counter a hook, moving the club more to the right to counter a pull, and more to the left to counter a push.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Stance: 50/50 weight distribution, ball positioned under the polo shirt's logo, feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, club shaft roughly vertical.
  2. Take a backswing to hip height, with your hips aligned with the middle of your feet.
  3. As you come down, extend your right arm to tap the ground and immediately push your hips forward.
  4. Stop at about a 45° angle after impact: arms extended, clubhead away from you, belt buckle above your front ankle.
  5. Take three practice swings that touch the ground, then hit a ball with the same intention.
  6. Gradually extend your arms: first, keep your front arm parallel to the floor, then swing fully.
  7. At home, place a bag a little less than one 3-wood length in front of you and slowly touch it with the clubhead, keeping your arms straight.

Key Takeaways

Arms bent too much after impact: thin shots.
Hips and weight shifted backward: fat shot.
Key position: arms extended, club held at a distance, belt buckle over the front ankle.
At 3-wood, the slope is slightly downward, at an angle of 1 to 2°.
The mini-divot is located just behind the ball.
Keep your head behind the ball as you extend your arms.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Bend your arms and wrists immediately after impact.
  • Keep your weight on your back foot, with your hips back.
  • Use your arms to move your head forward instead of keeping it behind the ball.
  • Do not touch the ground, or touch it behind the ball.
  • Adjust the steering before the engine starts.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Hip-height half-swing while tapping the floor
  2. A bag or chair in front of you for the stretch, in slow motion
  3. Parallel front swing, then full swing
  4. Adjust the steering according to the path once contact has been made

Your Questions

How can I tell if my problem is caused by my arms or my hips?

Eric Cogorno attributes the "thin shots" and "fat shots" to arms that bend too much, and the "fat shots" to hips and weight that remain behind. If you end up on your back foot, start with your hips.

What angle should you aim for with a 3-wood?

Slightly downward, at 1 to 2°, with a small divot right behind the ball. He places it between the iron—which has a steeper downward angle of 3 to 5°—and the driver, which is struck level or with an upward angle.

How do you do the bag exercise?

Place a bag, a chair, or a cushion slightly less than the length of a 3-wood in front of you. From a half-backswing position, slowly bring the clubhead toward it until it touches it, keeping your arms straight, your hips forward, and your head behind the ball.

What should I do if my fairway wood is fading?

Keep your arms extended and your hips forward, and close your clubface slightly after impact, with the toe in front of the heel. For a hook, do the opposite: keep your clubface open, with the toe behind the heel.

Learn More

All “Fairway wood” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Avoiding Fat and Thin Shots” 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. Eric CogornoAll of his lessons

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

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros