Ok after 6 months of practice (and 3 lessons) i can least hit my irons ok-still a long way to gothough.

However i just can't seem to grasp hitting a wood. It's not just the distance i can't seem to make decent contact with the ball. I read that the swing should be the same as when your are hitting an iron but so far no luck.
I also read if you are having trouble to try a shorter shaft. Well my irons are about an inch long while the woods are standard so in essence the clubs are shorter.

I have an 18 degree hybrid wood coming soon(from solid rock golf by the way) and am hoping this may help.Tried a tour edge iron wood and had trouble with that.

After just playing 80-110 yard par 3's so far in a week and a half i am going to start playing with some guys from work and at this point it seems like i will have to tee off with a 4 iron.

Obviously more lessons are the best option but does anyone have any tips,advice,books to look at ,websites to check out to help in the meantime. Would an offset wood help?

Luckily i haven't gotten too frustrated yet and the guys i will be playing with know i'm a beginner
so thats not a problem.