Drills for hitting a 3 wood properly/better?

[Marshy77]

Bought a Wilson FG 3 wood reg shaft and only used it a few times but seem to be having the same problem that I had with my old 3 wood which had a still shaft. I tend to hit it kind of into the ground/top it rather than sweeping it, do this maybe 7 times out of 10. When I hit it correctly I get a gradual flight but with a slight left to right movement.

Going to take it to the range and start practicing with it but wondered if anyone could point me in the right directions for tips/youtube vids or just some general pointers to improve my ball striking with it.

 

[bobmac]

It sounds as if the direction of your down swing is going too far left.
Try the drill in the video below so you hit the ball without hitting the head covers. That will help.
Also, try and keep your head behind the ball until after impact

[video=youtube;KsrovFJ3o9I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsrovFJ3o9I&index=33&list=PL7Uf2W3sfvqYBJ3OUldKvQT7ZWYEmPOyW[/video]

 

[Marshy77]

Simple as that!! Cheers Bob, thank you very much - will give it a go.

 

[Stuey01]

I was having trouble with my fairways, similar to you. In one of my lessons I asked my teaching pro to take a look at my fairway wood play. He identified that I had the ball slightly too far forward, pretty much on my front toe. Moved it back about 2 ball widths or so and hey presto.
Simple as that sweet strikes and no fear hitting fairway woods anymore.
Ball is still well forward in my stance but inside my left heel.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I took part in a group lesson a week ago, a bit of a corporate jolly. When the pro came to me he set me up with the headcovers as Bob has shown. Ridiculously effective and brought instant results. Having a shape to aim through seems to help your brain understand what is required better than simply being told. The key is now to reproduce it on the course but I can confirm that the technique and trick shown in the video really does work.

 

[MadAdey]

The head cover drill is a really good one, bu what Stuey said about moving the ball back into your stance is also worth looking at. I notice people with the ball in a similar position as if they where hitting it off the tee, problem is when hitting off the tee your are looking to catch it on the up. Hitting off the deck the ball needs to be at the bottom of your swing plane like your irons.

 

[Marshy77]

Went to the range last night and tried the drill for my 3 wood and driver. 3 wood still very hit and miss but will continue trying with it. Driver was absolutely spot on, better ball striking, about 30/40 yards further on some drives, some miss hits left but hardly any big left to right hits which is what I normally hit.

I did film myself too which was horrible to see my swing, I think my take away looks fine but I seem to move at the top of my swing which I guess is taking me offline?

I never realised too that I didn't ever have my head behind the ball which I guess was costing me distance, I've never been a big hitter but just from moving my head and using the head cover it looked to add 20 yards on the decent drives and up 30/40 on the very well hit drives. Used to hit maybe 180/190 so hoping after more practice I can be constantly hitting 200-220.