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Struggling to get your fairway wood airborne? PGA Golf Coach Erika Larkin and master coach Brian Newman break down the real reasons golfers find this club so difficult — and share practical fixes you can take straight to the range.
Erika Larkin – From the Fairway
Fairway woods sit in an awkward middle ground between irons and driver, and that confusion often starts before the swing even begins. Erika Larkin and Brian Newman walk through the three key areas that cause the most problems: ball position and setup, swing plane, and low point control. Whether you use this club as a long approach or a second shot staple, the advice here is straightforward and immediately usable.
Key Takeaways
Get your ball position and alignment right
Play the fairway wood just inside your driver ball position and keep your shoulders square — moving the ball too far forward opens your alignment and makes a clean strike almost impossible.
Use the shaft extension drill to check your swing plane
Attach an alignment rod to the grip end of your club and swing back to chest height — the rod should point back along your target line, confirming you are on plane rather than too steep or too flat.
Work through the three-tee drill to control your low point
Hit from a high tee, then a low tee, then off the ground with a tee placed just in front of the ball — clipping that forward tee proves your club is travelling low and level through impact rather than scooping or chopping.
Start with the setup checklist — ball position, square shoulders, correct posture — then use the shaft extension and three-tee drills at the range to build the feel of a consistent, on-plane swing. This video suits golfers of all levels who have written off their fairway wood, but it will resonate most with those who rely on it as an approach club and want to see it land and hold greens.
