Course Strategy · Strategy

Assess a sitting-down lie before using a fairway wood

In the demonstrated rough lie, the club can reach only one third of the way up the ball, which the instructor says produces a top. Hitting down with a 15-degree fairway wood can reduce its presented loft to almost five degrees and send the ball too low. For a nestled rough or muddy lie that requires a downward strike, choose more loft; a 26-27-degree hybrid is described as acceptable, while three-woods and five-woods are very risky.