Iron Trajectory?

[LowPost42]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

Arny, it has to do with technique, age, flexibility, strength, and finally loft.

A summer ago I could hit a 48 degree PW 150 yards. I've lost some strength and flexibility, don't compress the ball as much or deloft the club as much and now use a 40 degree 8 iron for 150 carry (it's more like 154, but for all intents and purposes I pull 8.

I'm also 31, 6' and 290 lbs.

[BrianW]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

On a day when it's dry and there is little wind I can hit a pitching wedge 120 yards and I consider that a good distance. I deloft the face and make pretty good contact.

What do you have to do to hit it 150+ ? Swing out of your skin I guess, but that normally promotes poor ball contact.

[LowPost42]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

hmm, unless you can drive 320+, i am gonna call BS on that. with pro trajectory and your pw goes 160 then your 5i should go about 230 and your drive should be 350+. but if you are hitting it too high, and still hitting 160, you must be driving it 375. and the fact that you said they go left, (ignore this if you are lefty) but draws/hooks aer because the club is slightly closed at impact which means the club face is less loft and they are usually hit lower.

that or check your distances again

but if you can really hit that far and be accurate i think i should see you on the tour soon or LD competition.

I think an ill-fitting driver can keep him sub-300; not to mention that driver and iron swings are totally different.

The boys on Tour hit 150 yard PW's and some don't carry more than 300 yards...

Part of it is the ball, how he compresses it, how he swings (ie swingspeed)...

Definitely not impossible, my friends.

[rotator]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

I think an ill-fitting driver can keep him sub-300; not to mention that driver and iron swings are totally different.

The boys on Tour hit 150 yard PW's and some don't carry more than 300 yards...

Part of it is the ball, how he compresses it, how he swings (ie swingspeed)...

Definitely not impossible, my friends.

No doubt about it, re the boys on the tour. Many of them could hit 150+ PW, particularly when they are pumped up, or when they have to put contrived (delofted, out of their shoes, etc) swing on it. Do you remember the just short of 170 yard PW Tiger hit uphill over trees? One of his top tens.

Having said that, reality sets in, when you watch "Playing Lessons" on the Golf Channel, and you see well known pros hitting a soft cut 8 to 150, or a no spin arm shot PW to 120. Different ways to do it.

I believe for most solid recreational golfers 120 yards is normal.

[golfunderrepair]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

Unless you can do this.

[BrianW]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

I believe some of what I see and less of what I hear.

The only way I can hit a shot longer than a club is designed for is to deloft it, otherwise swinging faster just imparts more spin and lifts the ball higher.

A little delofting is OK as it assists with good ball compression but to deloft the amount that will send a PW to 150 + is IMHO not only difficult to control but difficult to understand the logic. Your hands will need to be so far ahead of the ball that it will be very difficult to stop a way out right push. Why not use a less lofted club where you don't need to play games or swing out your skin. Alternately you could have the club bent to give less loft but you will be swinging a 9 or 8 iron with PW stamped on it.

[LowPost42]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

Don't forget Brian that more swingspeed (assuming the same contact) will also result in more ball speed as well - adding distance.

I agree there's a point of diminishing returns where you generate so much launch angle and spin that the shot simply balloons; but it's not impossible to hit a 48 degree club 150 yards - and not impossible to do it in control, either.

But yes, to do it, you do have some relatively extreme delofting going on.

[LowPost42]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

i agree some pros can hit a pw 160, but that is delofting the club, this guy is complaining he is hitting too high ie, hitting square or adding loft, in which case if he is able to hit a not delofted club or a uplofted club 160, he should easily be able to hit 350+. and i saw him sa 160, not 150, 10 yrds is huge when the loft is that high, and the 350 includes roll, but carry should stil be 300+. I saw bubba hit 170pw before, but you can garantee it wasn't "too high" and he was driving it 350's that day.

It could be that the OP doesn't know what 'too high' looks like.

Although, I've seen guys with identical launch numbers (ball speed and launch angle) and one guy spins the snot out of it and the other guy doesn't. Perhaps the OP is very steep and is over-spinning the ball (but swings very fast).

[OSUsocal]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

No BS here, I am not on this thread to pump up my ego to a bunch of people I will probably never meet face to face. I truly hit my pitching wedge around 150 yds. with a nice smooth swing. I truly can not tell you the exact distance of my 5 iron for two reasons. First, all the ranges I use are not too good for judging distances beyond 200 yds, and 2nd on the course there aren't too many holes where I am hitting my 5 iron to the green. But If had to guestimate, I would say that I generally hit my 5 iron 215-225. I generally hit my driver about 280 with a good bit of slice. It is probably the worst club in my bag. I have never hit my driver 350 yds and highly doubt I ever will, but I have hit it about 315. I was just looking for tips to fix my trajectory in hopes to aid in control of my shots.

[OSUsocal]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

To change something I said on my previous post. It technically isn't a smooth swing with my PW, but by no means am I swinging out of my shoes. The reason I am looking to fix this, is my short game is terrible. I am working on that as well, but If I could fix my approach, then it would be an added bonus.

[cyc53870]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

For a lower trajectory, use a 3 iron or even a 2 iron, since you have swing speed in your case... also try playing the ball a back a bit in your stance in the fairway... Off the tee, you may tee the ball lower. Don't open the clubface, hood it a bit. Read golf articles that give tips on swinging into a headwind...

[rotator]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

No BS here, I am not on this thread to pump up my ego to a bunch of people I will probably never meet face to face. I truly hit my pitching wedge around 150 yds. with a nice smooth swing. I truly can not tell you the exact distance of my 5 iron for two reasons. First, all the ranges I use are not too good for judging distances beyond 200 yds, and 2nd on the course there aren't too many holes where I am hitting my 5 iron to the green. But If had to guestimate, I would say that I generally hit my 5 iron 215-225. I generally hit my driver about 280 with a good bit of slice. It is probably the worst club in my bag. I have never hit my driver 350 yds and highly doubt I ever will, but I have hit it about 315. I was just looking for tips to fix my trajectory in hopes to aid in control of my shots.

There is no reason to feel people do not believe you. I don't see that 150 yards is unrealistic. There are a lot of golfers that can do it, no problem for many pros, certainly. I've also played with regular golfers who have a knack of hitting short irons very long. In their case, it's a quirk in their swing, i.e. delofting, steep etc., or there was one person who was as strong as a bull and had a vicious all you can give it swing.

It's just the normal rec golfer has a standard yardage of about 120 - 130. As previously stated, mine is 120-125. I know I could improve with more delayed lag. less casting..., but I'd have to work at that, and I don't have the inclination or time. Golf is not work for me, even though I'm retired there is more to life.

[LowPost42]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

OSU - I think you'd benefit from the stiffest shaft you can find to help out your slice - and likely something with 9 degrees of loft or less (if you're buying an OEM driver, buy a 7.5).

[BrianW]

Re: Iron Trajectory?

To the OP:

If you want lower trajectories then use less loft. Use the club as it was designed and swing it in a manner that gives you good control. If you want more distance then use a longer club but swing them all with the same tempo.

Or:

Have the ball way back in your stance with hands way ahead. The benefits will be that you spend more time in the trees sheltered from the rain and will get good value for your green fee as you will play more shots