flight of irons

[jonescm77]

My iron shots are high and short. I dont take divots and cant figure out how to hit down on my irons. Any help on how and why this is.

[AussieGolfBoy]

Re: flight of irons

you could be using your hands and wrists to get the height on the ball by trying to scoup the ball into the air.

next time you setup to the ball, set up square, take an 8i, put the ball in the middle of your stance, and then with your clubhead addressed at the ball push the shaft forward so it draws a line upto your left shoulder (assuming your right handed).

the idea here is to keep your hands ahead of the ball the whole way through your swing and hit the ball first before the ground.

i'm sure other people will have some other ideas, but thats something to think about for now. hope it helps.

also, have you had a lesson with a professional, he will be able to sort your swing out and get you out of any bad habits you may have.

[arny660]

Re: flight of irons

I had the same problem staying back on my right foot.

I picked up this idea in a golf magazine. I have a practice swing and just as I am finishing my follow through, I take one step forward. I then address the ball and take my normal swing. I don`t bother with the step forward in my actual swing.

I have found that, by taking this step forward in my practice swing, it reminds me to move my body through the shot, thereby encouraging me to hit down on the ball. Hope this helps.

[jonescm77]

Re: flight of irons

Thank you for the suggestions. I will try both. The rest of my game is fairly good. My short game is really good seeing that I have to use it every hole because my approach shot with irons are so terrible. I just feel my game would be better and more fun if I could get the irons to fly on right trajectory. I have had a lesson from golf pro and he worked with me on releasing the club. He felt like that was ok with my irons I guess. When I hit them it looks like a pop up. For example my 7 iron goes about 95-100 yards. I know that on right tragectory I would probably get average distance and more consistent. I know I have got to be scooping it but figuring out how to fix that has been tough. I have only been playing for a year. Thank you.

[cyc53870]

Re: flight of irons

Have you ever tried using a 7 wood? It may help groove your swing.

[dagoos]

Re: flight of irons

the cure is really simple ,,,,practice taking divots ,,,all the good players take them when they irons .I hit good iron shots when I use this swing thought . Make sure you square yourself to the target line and not the ball cuz if you have the ball to far forward you will setup "open" with out knowing,,,,I found that out myself . by setting up square to the target line and moving the ball postion you can hit draws and fade when you need to, by setting square I mean keep your sterum and belly button pointing to a point just behind the ball with the ball just being at the armpit or just right of it . when you get this try moving the sterum just ahead of the ball and hit some nice draws . dont forget the divots though hope this works for ya

[mattney]

Re: flight of irons

My iron shots are high and short. I dont take divots and cant figure out how to hit down on my irons. Any help on how and why this is.

if ure 7 iron is only goin 95 to 100 yards id say uve probably a weak grip thats the first thiong i would check a lot of these golf professionals people go and see sometimes dont tell people of their faulty grips coz their game will get worse before it gets better and lots of people want a quick fix

[LowPost42]

Re: flight of irons

Jonesy, with a 100 yard 7 iron, no divot, and a sky-high ball flight, it absolutely, definitely sounds like your flipping through impact. No amount of fiddling with your grip is going to fix this.

You need a couple drills to help you hit down and through - here's a couple that helped me learn to hit down:

The first one is simple - try to mash the ball into the ground when you swing. Your whole swing thought is 'bury the club in the earth, and the ball with it'. This isn't a great drill if it's wet and sopping, though.

The next one works well after you've got the first one down - the first one will get you a little too steep. Now, take a tee and stick it in the ground (head level with the grass) 2" in front of the ball. Swing so that you hit the ball and take out the tee.


Finally, for your flipping problem, Greg Norman's Secret is a great teaching tool, or Greg J Willis' Right Hand Drill.

[mattney]

Re: flight of irons

its nothin to do with flipping the hands i could hit 7 irons 160 all day flipping my hands in fact flipping them would add distance ,check ure grip

[LowPost42]

Re: flight of irons

it's nothing to do with flipping the hands. I could hit 7 irons 160 all day flipping my hands - in fact flipping them would add distance. Check your grip.

Physics says that either you have a very strong lofted 7 iron and/or you have some serious swing speed if you're getting that distance with a flip.

Flipping the club through impact increases dynamic loft and adds spin. In other words, it takes your 6 iron and lofts it like an 8 or 9 iron. Since loft controls distance, you hit it shorter.

So, while you may be able to hit 160 yard 7 irons all day with a flip, you most certainly would not be gaining distance against a properly delofted, descending, compressing strike.

Trust me - I still fight the occasional flip when I'm trying to move the clubhead really fast - all I get is a moonball that ends up shorter than had I actually compressed the ball properly.

Out of curiousity, why are you so certain that it's a grip issue?

[BrianW]

Re: flight of irons

Physics says that either you have a very strong lofted 7 iron and/or you have some serious swing speed if you're getting that distance with a flip.

Flipping the club through impact increases dynamic loft and adds spin. In other words, it takes your 6 iron and lofts it like an 8 or 9 iron. Since loft controls distance, you hit it shorter.

So, while you may be able to hit 160 yard 7 irons all day with a flip, you most certainly would not be gaining distance against a properly delofted, descending, compressing strike.

Trust me - I still fight the occasional flip when I'm trying to move the clubhead really fast - all I get is a moonball that ends up shorter than had I actually compressed the ball properly.

Out of curiousity, why are you so certain that it's a grip issue?

Ben,

The wrists can be released through impact in a swat type action that can increase headspeed and if timed correctly does not increase loft at impact, in fact it can keep the face square for slightly longer. The problem with 'flipping' is when it is associated with letting your weight fall back and attempting to hit under the ball. If the weight is transferred and the hands lead the clubhead into impact the same problem does not exist, the club is in fact released.

I understand that many find it hard to understand this concept but if you consider it carefully then you should see that it is possible to be effective.

The attached graphic is an illustration from Nick Bradley's book 'The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing' n where he promotes this swat or 'Puck' type release. (Nick is Justin Rose's coach)

[LowPost42]

Re: flight of irons

Brian,

I'm pretty sure that's the slap-hinge release, which is not a flip. If you look at your illustration, the left wrist is very, very slightly cupped - the start of the hinge. In a flip, it's the 4th frame that we see pre-impact even, promoting a severe cupping at impact. But you're right about the timing issue of the slap-hinge - too early and it's a full blown flip!

[BrianW]

Re: flight of irons

Brian,

I'm pretty sure that's the slap-hinge release, which is not a flip. If you look at your illustration, the left wrist is very, very slightly cupped - the start of the hinge. In a flip, it's the 4th frame that we see pre-impact even, promoting a severe cupping at impact. But you're right about the timing issue of the slap-hinge - too early and it's a full blown flip!

Ben,

That's my point. We read so much that any movement of the wrists in a lateral hinge is the deadly sin of the golf swing. I have disagreed and taken the view that too much focus is given to it and not the real problem of the clubhead leading the hands and this can also happen with a cupped right wrist if the weight is left back on the trail side, especially if the club is released too early.

The action shown in the attached graphic is also the normal release used in a one plane swing as the club is rotated more around the body.

[LowPost42]

Re: flight of irons

Well, I guess therein lies the difference. With a slap-hinge release you can still hit the ball well, but with a flip you certainly cannot. Also, even with a slap-hinge, the hands still lead the clubhead, whereas with a flip the clubhead comes first.

[BrianW]

Re: flight of irons

Well, I guess therein lies the difference. With a slap-hinge release you can still hit the ball well, but with a flip you certainly cannot. Also, even with a slap-hinge, the hands still lead the clubhead, whereas with a flip the clubhead comes first.

Only if the weight is kept on the rear foot and the clubhead leads. Otherwise they are the same.