Tom Fortuna Utility woods assist average golfers who have trouble hitting long irons.
Some golfers prefer using utility woods all the time, even with a good lie in the fairway.
But the one time when a utility wood should always be used is from long rough. The wood is designed to slide through heavy grass, as opposed to catching and twisting that long irons tend to do. Trying to hit a long iron from a thick lie out of the rough requires skill and a great deal of strength. The larger head on the wood gives the golfer more confidence and better results. A utility wood has a wider sweet spot, making it much more forgiving on off-center hits.