A 3-wood can be a golfer’s best friend from the tee, like on a narrow par 4. It can also be a weapon on the fairway, giving you more distance than a hybrid or iron and setting up a short approach to a par 5.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts to follow when hitting a 3-wood off the turf.

Do:

• Make sure the ball is sitting up on a nice lie. If it’s nestled down, you’re better off hitting a hybrid or iron.
• Grip down on the club a couple of inches for better control.
• Position the ball a few inches inside the left heel. This will create a slight downward blow at impact, getting the ball up quickly and increasing distance.

 Don’t

• Try to lift the ball into the air as this can cause thin or fat shots. The 3-wood’s loft (usually 13-15°) is sufficient to get it off the deck with a normal swing.
• Play the ball too far back in your stance. This de-lofts club, makes it more difficult to get the ball airborne, and produces a low, hard-running shot.
• Overswing. Precision is more important than power when hitting a fairway wood.