Madelene Sagström’s Keys to Performing with Fairway Woods
If fairway woods feel like one of the most intimidating clubs in your bag, you're not alone. Even LPGA Tour professional Madelene Sagström sees amateur golfers struggle with these versatile clubs. In this video breakdown, follow along as Sagström shares her tour proven tips to help you get the most out of your fairway woods.
By understanding proper setup, swing strategy, and the role of ball position, you’ll be able to swing your fairway woods with confidence while improving distance and control.
Many golfers make the mistake of trying to "lift" the ball into the air. As Sagström points out, that mindset leads to inconsistent contact and often results in topped shots or mishits.
“The biggest thing is that they're trying to lift the ball up in the air,” she explains. “But when I actually hit fairway woods, similar to the way I hit my long iron, like a five or six iron, I really hit down on the ball to make the ball pop up.”
It’s important to remember - fairway woods are designed to do the work for you. They have enough loft built in to help you get the ball airborne without needing to scoop it.
Proper Ball Position and Stance Setup
A solid setup creates the foundation for a successful shot with your fairway wood. According to Sagström, the goal is to find a middle ground between an iron and a driver setup.
Madelene's Fairway Wood Setup Tips:
- Stance Width - Slightly wider than your iron stance.
- Ball Position - Place the golf ball about one clubhead inside your lead heel.
- Clubface Contact - Your aim should be to make a level to slightly downward strike, just like with a long iron.
Finding the Correct Swing For Your Fairway Wood
The biggest breakthrough tip from Sagström? Think of your fairway wood like a long iron, specifically a five iron. That mental shift can improve your angle of attack and overall consistency. When you swing, remember to:
- Avoid scooping or flipping at impact
- Stay down through the ball
- Let the club do the lifting
“I still try to hit it like my five iron,” Madelene emphasizes. “You don’t see me take much of a divot since it’s a wood, but I get a good spin and carry.”
Fairway Wood Performance: Tee vs. Turf
Wondering if you should tee up your fairway wood? Sagström recommends it in certain situations, especially when you’re hitting from the tee box and looking to eliminate friction with the grass.
Key Differences Between Hitting Off the Turf vs. Tee
- Off the Turf - Carries around 215 yards into a light breeze.
- Off a Low Tee - Carries about 10 yards farther with slightly lower spin.
Sagström uses a low tee height, just enough to reduce friction without encouraging a driver style swing.
“I probably hit it about five yards farther off a tee than I do off the ground,” she notes.
So while teeing it up isn’t always necessary, it can offer a small distance advantage when used strategically.
Madelene Sagström’s Favorite Fairway Wood
In the video, Sagström is using a high lofted Callaway Elyte 3 wood, tailored to her preference for versatility and controlled launch.
Whether you're choosing between a 3-, 5-, or 7-wood, loft and fit matter. The right fairway wood can become one of the most reliable clubs in your bag, on or off the tee.
Higher-lofted fairway woods like a 5-wood, 7-wood or 9-wood can be excellent alternatives to hybrids and potentially easier to hit than a 3-wood for many players. As always, it’s important to get fit to find which loft fits the gaps in your bag best.
Whether you're a weekend golfer or an aspiring low handicap player, mastering your fairway woods can elevate your game. But finding the right club and setup for your swing is just as important as a good technique.
Schedule a custom STUDIO fitting at your local PGA TOUR Superstore to try the latest fairway wood models and get advice from certified club fitters on ball position, loft, launch angle and more.
For a full breakdown of materials, lofts, and setup tips, check out our Fairway Woods Buying Guide.
