Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

[Ian W]

Hello all,

I'd welcome any opinions on this.

From PW - 5 iron, I'm very happy with my game - hit straight and a distance I'm comfortable with (PW - 110 to 5i - 170).

I have immense problems with 4i, 3i, and 3W - start straight and look lovely... then about 180 - 200 in, veer way right, anything up to 50 yards.

Any thoughts? And thanks in advance,
Ian

[BrianW]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

The clubface must be open. Check that you have the face square at address and that you are rotating through impact.

You may wish to consider changing the longer irons for a 4 and 3 hybrid clubs, they are easier to use.

[bukemdano]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

You might be taking your club back initially way too inside moving your club off plane and making you swing over the top... I had the same problem ...

[GreeBoman]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

You might be taking your club back initially way too inside moving your club off plane and making you swing over the top... I had the same problem ...

it sounds like he isnt loosing that much distance, so I would agree with the open clubface suggestion.
If you were cutting across the ball you would lose more distance and occasionally would get a pull and/or a duck hook depending on the clubface compared to the swing line.

[Ian W]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

Folks,

Thanks for the replies - something to look at on the range.

It just irritates the whatsit out of me that I can't work out what is different with my longer clubs swing than my shorter club swing to cause the slice.

Cheers again,
Ian

[kbp]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

I’m guessing here, as is everyone, really, given the limited information, but you may not be turning your body correctly through the downswing. The hips may be stalled and/or blocking your hands though the ball. May be because of spine angle variation. May be because the hips are pushing out to the ball on the downswing and you are raising out of your posture, or because you lock out the back leg and don’t turn the hips in sync, or because you stall the hips before they "clear" the hitting zone. In any case, you can’t turn all the way through the ball and the hands are blocked from the correct inside path.

You might get away with it using the shorter clubs because the posture is inherently more bent over, giving just enough room to allow you to operate even though there is conflict between the hands and the hips. However, with the longer clubs and a more upright posture there is less space, and the right hip can really get in the way. You may be forced to loop around it and then come at the ball with an even more pronounced out to in swing and relatively little power.

Look at Greg’s right hand drill and especially his "door" drill. See how the hips and the hands meet up at the ball and continue to move through impact to finish.

[cyc53870]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

How are you hitting your driver and 3 wood? Or the fairway 5 wood?

[Ian W]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

Chaps,

Thanks again for the thoughts. I went out on the course over the weekend, having looked at the right handed drill mentioned above. It was all a bit hit and miss, but when 'hit' seemed to cure the slice. I was though taking rather chunky divots!

How do i hit the driver? I don't - It was way to uncontrolled and costing me lots of shots... but when I did it was the same... straight, straight, straight... then right, right, right!!!

cheers
Ian

[cyc53870]

Re: Happy from PW - 5 iron... so what happens with my 4i upwards??

Gain confidence with the short irons and work your way up to the long irons and fairway woods... Try shortening your backswing.