Can't get irons in the air?

[Lugowskins]

This is my first year golfing and it has only been in the past couple months that I've actually been able to strike my irons well but my one glaring issue is that despite a good straight ball flight anything above my 9 iron doesn't get more than 10-12 feet in the air and its killing my distance! I've tried different ball positions and I definitely strike down on the ball according to my toupe sized divots so just wondering if anyone has had the same issue and how they fixed it. Im sure the consensus will be for me to post a swing video and if its really necessary I will I am just wondering if anyone has some advice I could try before resorting to that. I swing a used set of Nike CCI irons if that makes any difference. Yeah I know they are probably meant for someone above my skill level (I shoot in the mid-high 90s) could that be the issue?

[saevel25]

Sorry, It's hard to say with out seeing your swing.

[Club Rat]

Swinging the club too fast or commonly too hard, tends for a swing which does not complete a full radius.

The arc will generally flatten at ground level, with a result of poor contact, low on club face.

Practice hitting 3/4 speed swings should lead to more consistent contact.

Club Rat

 

[Lihu]

This is my first year golfing and it has only been in the past couple months that I've actually been able to strike my irons well but my one glaring issue is that despite a good straight ball flight anything above my 9 iron doesn't get more than 10-12 feet in the air and its killing my distance! I've tried different ball positions and I definitely strike down on the ball according to my toupe sized divots so just wondering if anyone has had the same issue and how they fixed it. Im sure the consensus will be for me to post a swing video and if its really necessary I will I am just wondering if anyone has some advice I could try before resorting to that. I swing a used set of Nike CCI irons if that makes any difference. Yeah I know they are probably meant for someone above my skill level (I shoot in the mid-high 90s) could that be the issue?

You're probably hitting fat. The clubs are fine. For a 9i a low ball flight is about 20 yards and high is about 40 yards.

Yup, a swing video would help the better golfers like @saevel25 look at your swing.

[Valleygolfer]

Swinging too flat or not hitting "down" on the ball or both...speculating though...

[ncarlsongolf]

It would also help to know if the low shots are low and curving right or low and curving left.  If they are low and straight and you are making "beaver pelt" divots, it has to be too steep of an angle of attack.  If you are holding the angle with the wrists and not releasing the club properly you are essentially de-lofting the club through impact, and as a beginner if you are doing that with clubs higher than a 9 iron it could cause them to be hit very low, almost a punch shot in essence. But, as others have said, without a swing video its impossible to diagnose correctly.

[mobilitymust]

Have a friend take a video of your swing and it will help to diagnose.

[mvmac]

This is my first year golfing and it has only been in the past couple months that I've actually been able to strike my irons well but my one glaring issue is that despite a good straight ball flight anything above my 9 iron doesn't get more than 10-12 feet in the air and its killing my distance! I've tried different ball positions and I definitely strike down on the ball according to my toupe sized divots so just wondering if anyone has had the same issue and how they fixed it. Im sure the consensus will be for me to post a swing video and if its really necessary I will I am just wondering if anyone has some advice I could try before resorting to that. I swing a used set of Nike CCI irons if that makes any difference. Yeah I know they are probably meant for someone above my skill level (I shoot in the mid-high 90s) could that be the issue?

Hi @Lugowskins, recommend starting a swing thread so others can help you with the specifics on what you need to work on.

http://thesandtrap.com/forums/forum/13-member-swings/

In the meantime this would be a good thread to check out. You're most likely going to be looking at improving Key #1 (steady head) or Key #2 (weight forward at impact). I would guess your head is moving well forward on the downswing.

[Natural Patrick]

You're probably hitting fat. The clubs are fine. For a 9i a low ball flight is about 20 yards and high is about 40 yards.

Yup, a swing video would help the better golfers like @saevel25 look at your swing.

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure my 9i high ball flight is a little more than 40 yds. Yes I realize that everyone is different.

[Lihu]

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure my 9i high ball flight is a little more than 40 yds. Yes I realize that everyone is different.

>40 yards is really high, but as long as you get good distances I suppose that's probably okay. That's really high, are you sure if you really hit that high or not?

[ncarlsongolf]

If you get on a swing monitor (flight scope) and the peak height of your 9 iron is higher than 120 feet in the air, there is most definitely a problem.

 

30 yards in the air is about the max for all clubs even for the pros.  You would have to be losing distance is your clubs are going that high in the air!

 

[Natural Patrick]

 

>40 yards is really high, but as long as you get good distances I suppose that's probably okay. That's really high, are you sure if you really hit that high or not?

To be fair and honest. No I'm not really sure I hit it that high? I guess considering 3' in a yard I can't be that much over 40 yards. I rarely play with anyone who hits their irons higher than I do. The first thing I hear when I play with someone new is " wow you really hit the ball high" I'm not saying that is a good thing either

If you get on a swing monitor (flight scope) and the peak height of your 9 iron is higher than 120 feet in the air, there is most definitely a problem.

 

30 yards in the air is about the max for all clubs even for the pros.  You would have to be losing distance is your clubs are going that high in the air!

 

There is no doubt in my mind that I'm losing distance.

[Lihu]

To be fair and honest. No I'm not really sure I hit it that high? I guess considering 3' in a yard I can't be that much over 40 yards. I rarely play with anyone who hits their irons higher than I do. The first thing I hear when I play with someone new is " wow you really hit the ball high" I'm not saying that is a good thing either

I'm sure you hit pretty high, but keep in mind that most people hit too low for any number of reasons.

[Jeremie Boop]

To be fair and honest. No I'm not really sure I hit it that high? I guess considering 3' in a yard I can't be that much over 40 yards. I rarely play with anyone who hits their irons higher than I do. The first thing I hear when I play with someone new is " wow you really hit the ball high" I'm not saying that is a good thing either

To be fair, I don't think that most people hit their ball even 30 yards in the air. So if you hit the ball 30-35 yards in the air it will look like you hit it miles high. If I'm not mistaken pros usually hit the ball a max of around 100 feet? That's basically a 9 story building, which is pretty darn high in the air.

[pumaAttack]

This is my first year golfing and it has only been in the past couple months that I've actually been able to strike my irons well but my one glaring issue is that despite a good straight ball flight anything above my 9 iron doesn't get more than 10-12 feet in the air and its killing my distance! I've tried different ball positions and I definitely strike down on the ball according to my toupe sized divots so just wondering if anyone has had the same issue and how they fixed it. Im sure the consensus will be for me to post a swing video and if its really necessary I will I am just wondering if anyone has some advice I could try before resorting to that. I swing a used set of Nike CCI irons if that makes any difference. Yeah I know they are probably meant for someone above my skill level (I shoot in the mid-high 90s) could that be the issue?

 

Whenever I can't get my irons in the air, I follow this procedure:

Edited October 14, 2015 by pumaAttack

[Valleygolfer]

If you get on a swing monitor (flight scope) and the peak height of your 9 iron is higher than 120 feet in the air, there is most definitely a problem.

30 yards in the air is about the max for all clubs even for the pros.  You would have to be losing distance is your clubs are going that high in the air!

 

These are averages not a max so a max would be significantly higher for some pros. I am positive my ball flight is well over 30 yards from the 8 iron to the wedge but I hit a very high ball.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Valleygolfer
language

[ncarlsongolf]

These are averages not a max so a max would be significantly higher for some pros. I am positive my ball flight is well over 30 yards from the 8 iron to the wedge but I hit a very high ball.

I am not saying it is not possible, just saying its not recommended to be that high.

[Valleygolfer]

I am not saying it is not possible, just saying its not recommended to be that high.

Rory hits a high ball. I hit a high ball with plenty of distance. Being able to hit it high is great around here. The only time it hurts is when there is a lot of wind. I gave up on trying to hit it low, messing with shaft flexes... I would like to get my driver a little lower though.