Cover story: How To Hit The Big Shots

Driver, Fairway Woods, Irons: My 3 Keys For Every Full Swing


MY 5-WOOD: TILT BACK
Play the ball a few inches inside your front heel, and set up with your rear shoulder slightly lower than your front shoulder.

STAY TALL
Keep your chin up, and maintain your height as you swing back and through. Head movement up and down makes it tough to return the clubhead to the ball with consistency.

TAKE A THIN DIVOT
Swing in control, with your feet staying grounded through the ball. Don't be afraid to cut a thin divot after impact (above) -- this proves you're making a slightly descending blow.

: HANK SAYS
"Stand an inch closer to the ball with your 5-wood, and swing the same as with your 3-wood."

MY LONG IRONS

EVEN YOUR SHOULDERS
Set up more "on top" of the ball than you do with your woods, and position the ball slightly ahead of center in your stance.

SWING UP THE PLANE
Your setup and the shorter iron shaft will naturally create a more upright backswing plane, but be sure to keep your arms extended as you go back.

HOLD THE HINGE
Coming down, maintain your wrist hinge; don't try to help the ball in the air by scooping. Turn all the way through the ball, and finish with your weight all the way to your left side.

HANK SAYS
"Unless you drive the ball at least 275 yards, your long irons should be hybrids. They're much easier to get in the air for almost all golfers."

MY SHORT IRONS

SET UP LEVEL
Position the ball in the middle to slightly back in your stance, which will set your shoulders more level at address.

TURN TO THE TOP
Take a three-quarter backswing, and be sure to turn your shoulders and not just lift your arms. Your weight should basically stay centered during the backswing.

TRAP IT
Stay in your posture on the downswing, and feel as if you're trapping the ball against the turf. Accelerate the clubhead through the shot, sending your divot toward the target (above).

HANK SAYS
"Control is the key to hitting short irons. To have more control, take a shorter swing. Three-quarters is plenty. Think short iron, short swing."

MY ROUGH SHOT

MOVE IT BACK
Position the ball back in your stance: in the center for middle irons and slightly back for the shorter irons.

OPEN THE FACE
The rough will tend to grab the hosel and flip the clubface closed, so open the face a touch at address. Grip a little tighter to keep the club stable through the thick grass (left).

GET STEEP
In deep rough, pick the club up steeply in the backswing, and let the big muscles of your thighs, hips and shoulders pull the club down, powering the ball out of the heavy grass.

HANK SAYS
"In the rough you need a steeper angle of approach, so open the face a little and swing across the ball, like you're hitting a cut shot."

Additional commentary by Golf Digest Teaching Professional Hank Haney.
Tiger Woods writes instruction articles only for Golf Digest.