Tommy Fleetwood is one of the very best ball-strikers in the game, so it goes without saying that we can all learn something from the way that he hits his fairway woods off the deck.
Fleetwood has established himself as one of the world’s three best players this season, having finally broken his duck with a win on the PGA Tour and a run of incredibly consistent form.
When the Englishman isn’t playing in tournaments, he is often found providing golf tips for amateur golfers who are looking to improve.
Fleetwood lost in a playoff at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday, with Aaron Rai emerging victorious.
However, the 34-year-old’s season has been an outstanding one, and he’ll be looking to close it out with a victory next week in Dubai.
Fleetwood’s swing was perfectly locked in out in Abu Dhabi, and if there is anyone amateur golfers should be looking to for inspiration, the Englishman is the man for the job.
Tommy Fleetwood’s advice for amateur golfers who top and chunk fairway woods
Crisply striking fairway wood shots off the deck is always an extremely difficult thing to do, especially if you are a mid-high handicap golfer.
When speaking during an instructional video for TaylorMade, Fleetwood gave his best advice for amateurs who are struggling to strike their fairway woods properly off the deck.
He said: “First things first, is the set up. I grip down on everything, so as well as my irons, I would grip down on a fairway wood. The ball position would be towards my left heel, for a stock shot.
“It’s a fairway wood, so even though, hitting it off the ground, I don’t really want to take a divot or catch behind it like a driver.
“So for me the main focus through impact is keeping my levels and brushing the grass. That is something I will keep in mind pretty much most of the time in my swing.
“The only thing is that it’s a wood. Longer club. Make sure I get a big hip turn on the way back and make sure I get enough turn and energy and get behind the ball on the way back without swaying off it. Those are my key thoughts.“
Striking fairway woods off the deck correctly is always a difficult thing to do.
The most common mistake that amateur golfers make is they try to lift the ball off the ground. There is plenty of loft on your club to get the ball up in the air, so you’ve got to try and get used to hitting down on the ball.
Just watch Fleetwood’s motion or someone like Sergio Garcia if you need a visual to help you out.
Best fairway woods for mid-high handicap golfers in 2025
Golf Monthly conducted an in-depth study earlier this year, advising higher handicap golfers the best fairway woods to buy.
Below are their findings after comprehensive testing:
| Categories | Club make and model |
| Top all-rounder | Callaway Elyte X Fairway Wood |
| Best off the tee | Titleist GT2 Fairway Wood |
| Best feel | TaylorMade Qi35 Max Fairway Wood |
| Most forgiving | Ping G440 Max Fairway Wood |
| Best value | Wilson DYNAPWR Max Fairway Wood |
| Best adjustability | Cobra DS-ADAPT Max Fairway Wood |
| Best sounding | Srixon ZXi Fairway Wood |
| Best looking | Mizuno ST-Max 230 Fairway Wood |
| Best for slicers | PXG Black Ops Fairway Wood |
The best advice is to go to the golf equipment store closest to you that has Trackman technology on offer.
That way, you can try out all of the models listed above and see which club suits you best.
Once you have been fitted up correctly, you can try to take on board the advice given by Fleetwood.
Maybe then you will be able to lower your handicap.
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