Hitting Fairway Woods Like Scottie Scheffler
Mastering fairway woods can be the key to unlocking lower scores and more consistent play on the golf course.
Few professionals display this skill better than Scottie Scheffler, whose accuracy and distance with fairway woods have contributed significantly to his rise to the top of the world rankings.
From setup and stance to swing mechanics and mental approach, we’ll break down the elements that make Scheffler’s fairway wood play so effective on the links.
Whether you’re struggling to find consistency with these clubs or looking to add distance and accuracy to your long game, the insights and tips provided here will help you emulate Scheffler’s success.
In this article, we’ll provide tips on how you can use Scheffler’s techniques and strategies to improve the results of your fairway woods.
Widen your stance for stability
Scheffler’s rock-solid fairway wood shots begin with a wide, athletic stance. Widening one’s stance is crucial for amateurs looking to copy his success.
Start by positioning your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. This broader base enhances stability throughout your swing, reducing unwanted body movement and promoting better balance.
Take practice swings, focusing on maintaining your posture and balance. Gradually increase your swing speed while keeping your feet planted.
This stable platform will become second nature, leading to more confident and accurate fairway wood shots.
Play the ball forward in stance
The Texas native consistently positions the golf ball forward in his stance for fairway wood shots, typically just inside his left foot or heel (for right-handed golfers).
This forward ball position allows for a shallower angle of attack, promoting a sweeping motion crucial for solid contact.
To implement this, start by placing the ball opposite your left armpit. Take practice swings, feeling how this position naturally encourages an upward strike.
Remember, playing the golf ball from too far forward can lead to thin shots, while playing the golf ball too far back may cause fat contact.
Maintain a smooth, rhythmic backswing
Scheffler’s outstanding fairway wood play is characterized by its smooth, rhythmic tempo. This controlled backswing is key to consistent contact and power.
For amateurs, focusing on rhythm can yield significant improvements.
Start by practicing your backswing in slow motion, concentrating on a steady, continuous movement.
By emulating Scheffler’s controlled tempo, you’ll find it easier to sequence your body movements correctly, leading to more solid strikes and improved accuracy.
Shallow your angle of attack on downswing
Scheffler’s success with fairway woods comes partly from his shallow angle of attack, allowing him to sweep the club low with the ball off the turf. For amateurs, achieving this can dramatically improve contact and distance.
To shallow your swing, focus on rotating your body through impact rather than hitting down on the ball. Practice making swings where your chest points more toward the target at impact.
Another tip is to feel like you’re skimming the ground or grass through impact rather than taking a divot.
This shallower approach reduces the chances of fat shots and promotes cleaner contact, helping you achieve the ball flight like tour players.
Keep your head behind the ball position
One of Scheffler’s key moves is maintaining his head position behind the ball through impact, which helps him hit up on the ball for optimal launch.
Amateurs often struggle with this, moving their heads ahead or left of the ball and hitting down too steeply.
To practice, set up with your head slightly behind the ball at address. During your swing, focus on keeping your head steady and resist the urge to bend forward or lunge forward.
This head position promotes an upward strike, helping you achieve better launch and distance. With practice, this will become more natural and lead to more consistent fairway wood shots.
Sweep the ball, don’t hit down
Scheffler’s ability to sweep the ball off the turf is a hallmark of his fairway wood play. For amateurs, adopting this sweeping motion can significantly improve contact and distance.
To develop this skill, visualize brushing the club low to the grass rather than taking a divot. Practice making swings where the clubhead stays low to the ground after impact.
A helpful drill is to place a tee just in front of your ball and try to clip the tee with both the ball and the tee in one motion.
Focus on rotating your body through the shot rather than hitting down with your arms. This promotes a shallower angle of attack.
Remember, the goal is to catch and hit the ball on a slight upswing.
Focus on hitting the center of the face
Scheffler’s consistent power comes from his ability to regularly find the center of the clubface. For amateurs, improving contact quality can lead to significant gains in both distance and accuracy.
Use impact tape or foot spray on your clubface during practice to enhance your center-face contact. This will show you exactly where you’re striking the ball.
Once you identify the site of your typical miss, you can make the necessary adjustments.
A great drill is to place two tees in the ground, just wider than your clubhead, and practice hitting balls without touching the tees. This drill trains you to make precise contact with the center of the face.
Maintain spine angle through impact
Scheffler’s ability to maintain his spine angle throughout his swing contributes greatly to his consistency with fairway woods.
Many golfers and amateurs struggle with this, often standing up through impact, leading to thin or topped shots.
Focus on tilting your upper body over the ball from address through impact to improve. Think about turning around your spine during your swing rather than lifting up.
Imagine a pole running through your spine that you rotate around. This stable rotation allows for more consistent contact and power transfer.
Follow through high for better trajectory
Scheffler’s high, powerful ball flight with fairway woods is partly due to his full, high follow-through. Amateurs can greatly benefit from focusing on recreating this aspect of their swing.
To achieve a higher follow-through, imagine you’re throwing a ball overhand. This encourages a full release and extension of your arms after impact.
Practice swings in which you finish with your shoulders open, hands high, and chest facing the target.
Practice with different lies and scenarios
Scheffler’s proficiency with fairway woods comes from his ability to adapt to various course conditions. Amateurs can significantly improve their versatility by practicing a range of lies and situations.
Don’t limit yourself to perfect lies on the range. Practice hitting from uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies.
Also, try shots from the rough and even small depressions from the fairway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the secret to hitting fairway woods?
The secret to hitting fairway woods lies in maintaining a smooth, sweeping motion through impact.
Focus on a slightly wider stance for stability, position the ball forward in your stance, and shallow your angle of attack.
Keep your head behind the ball at impact and follow through high. Consistent center-face contact and practicing various lies will significantly improve your fairway wood play.
How to hit wood off a fairway?
To hit a wood off the fairway, start with the ball positioned forward in your stance, just inside your lead heel.
Widen your stance slightly for stability. Focus on sweeping the ball off the short grass rather than steeply attacking the golf ball.
Maintain your spine angle through impact and rotate your body towards the target. A smooth, rhythmic backswing and a high follow-through will promote better contact and trajectory.
Do you hit down or up on a fairway wood?
It would help if you aimed to hit slightly up on the ball with a fairway wood.
Unlike an iron, where you hit down to create backspin, fairway woods require a shallower angle of attack, especially when hitting a fairway wood shot off the tee box.
The goal is to sweep the ball off the turf, catching it on a slight upswing. This approach helps achieve the ideal launch angle and spin rate for maximum distance and carry.
Why can’t I get my fairway woods in the air?
Difficulty getting fairway woods in the air often stems from hitting the ball too steeply with the club.
Common causes include poor ball position (too far back in stance), early weight shift to the lead side, or trying to “help” the ball up.
To improve, position the ball forward in your stance, maintain your spine angle through impact, and focus on sweeping the ball rather than approaching impact with a steep angle.