Choking down on fairway woods

DancesWithGolf

I have always had trouble hitting my fairway woods; either fat or big slice. Yesterday, I choked down on the club and was able to hit it consistently straight with no loss of distance. Now I am wondering if it is only because of the choking down or is the shaft too flexible.

ClubSteeler

DancesWithGolf

Easier to control.
When I am struggling, I will choke down on EVERY club. I use stiff steel shafts so the benefit of choking down for me has nothing to do with flex.

Release

It could be a case of and/or.

Many had admitted that hitting 3 woods off the turf is one of the most difficult shot in golf. Because not teeing it up gave a smaller margin for error.
43" standard 3 wood length was the driver length a few decades ago. I have most of my 3 woods in the 41"-42" range. And a couple shafted with the stiffest shaft that I could handle without have to swing a jump out of my shoes swing. sacrificing a little carried distance but finding the sweet spot more often.

sdandrea1

I play my driver at 43" and my 5 wood at 41". Both because I hit them better, straighter, more solid at the shorter lengths. Your mileage may vary.

professor

Sometimes I think we actually make the hard game even harder. Call it "choking down" if you like. Nonetheless, it's just more success because you've decreased the margin for error with a shorter length club.
No need to figure it out. Just enjoy it!

Sparky

I play drivers at 45.5" to 46". But, after playing 3w at 43.5", I tried one at 42" and absolutely kill it. I cannot hit a shorter driver, but the 3w short really works.

Typhoon

Sometimes a low lofted hybrid works better than a 3 wood.

professor

Typhoon Because it's shorter?

azgreg

Typhoon
At the moment I'm playing a 14° hybrid and love it.

Typhoon

professor lie angle of hybrids lends more to hooking the ball. I was asking a couple of clubfitters this a while back because all I could do, and still do, is hook them and have no trouble with fairway woods.

Still today, I carry a 5 wood vs a 3/4 hybrid.

Last week my pro picked up a 2 hybrid. On the gc2 it took some effort but if I didn't hook it I was hitting it 275.

professor

Typhoon If you're getting 275 from a 2 hybrid what would prevent you from teeing off with that club as your "go to". Clearly, you've no need for a driver.

sdandrea1

azgreg

I could putt with that thing, but never hit it......................

Sneakylong

sdandrea1

The G400 SFT is 445cc I believe. This is in response to KCee saying it looked smaller. IPhone has a mind of it’s own. Lol

Provisional

professor he could tee off with 8 iron but would have to get clearance from air traffic control!

Typhoon

professor

You're right. My golf friends asked my why I bought new irons when all I need are wedges. I DO need them for par 3's!

Some days I leave the driver in the truck and take a 5 or 4 wood with me instead so I can hit some longer irons in. The fairway woods I'm very good with, hybrids...no way never!