Hitting your long irons pure on a consistent basis is a challenge for most recreational golfers. Sure, they may catch one solid a couple of times per round, but sprinkled in there are chunks and thins that are unplayable. I know that’s been the case in my own game at certain points in my golf career.
If that sounds like you, just know you’re not alone. When you stick a long iron in the average player’s hand, they typically have very little shot of hitting one stiff. It can be a disheartening feeling, but with a few key swing tweaks, you can exhibit improvement.
In the text below, GOLFTEC‘s Director of Teaching Quality Josh Troyer shares five swing keys you can focus on to improve your strike with long irons. Put them to use, and you’ll quickly see improvement.
5 keys for pure long irons
Long irons — the 4, 5 and even 6 iron — can be some of the most satisfying clubs to strike cleanly, but for many amateur golfers, they’re also the most frustrating. While hybrids and higher-lofted woods are excellent alternatives for players who struggle with launch and consistency, and club fitting can absolutely make a difference, the real key to mastering long irons lies in your swing fundamentals.
1. Ball position forward
The first step to success with long irons is putting the ball in the right place. A ball too far back in your stance encourages a steep angle of attack and path too far to the right, while if it’s too far forward you’ll be too shallow and to the left.
According to Troyer, you should place the ball just inside the lead foot’s instep — slightly forward of center, but not as far forward as a driver. This position promotes a slightly downward strike, helping you compress the ball while still launching it high.
2. Widen your stance
You should also be mindful of the width of your stance when hitting a long iron. With longer clubs, you need a slightly wider stance to maintain balance and create the proper swing arc.
With a long iron, this means widening your stance by about an inch more than you would with a 7 or 8 iron. This stabilizes your lower body and accommodates the longer swing arc without sacrificing control.
3. Smooth tempo and balance
When golfers struggle to get the ball in the air with their long irons, they’ll tend to force the issue and try to swing even harder. And while this can be effective for generating clubhead speed, it often comes at the cost of a center strike.
Instead of swinging harder, try focusing on a smooth tempo that will allow you to find the center of the clubface. If you do that, you’ll find that it’s much easier to not only get the ball up in the air, but also send the ball in the direction you want it to go.
4. Maintain your posture
Another symptom that arises when golfers struggle to get the ball in the air is that they’ll lose their posture as they come through impact. They do this because they’re trying to get underneath the ball and “scoop” it in the air. This rarely works out.
Instead of dipping back to help the ball in the air, focus on maintaining your posture and keeping your weight moving forward. This encourages solid contact and ensures you’re delivering the club with the right angle and loft, which in turn will launch the ball in the air.
5. Trust your club
Modern club technology is a wonderful thing — but you’ve got to trust the club to do its job if you want to get the most out of it.
“You don’t have to create height by manipulating your body to get the trajectory that you want,” Troyer says.
Don’t lean back or flip the wrists at impact to add loft. Let the correct setup, solid contact and club technology do the work for you. If you trust all of these factors and make a solid pass at the ball, you’ll be amazed at how much better your ball striking becomes with your long irons.
If you want to get some expert insights into your swing — and learn how to properly sway your hips — book a swing evaluation with GOLFTEC below.
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