Need some advice with de-lofting

**right handed phil mickelson** · October 2, 2010

I'll be out on the course with some friends playing a nice round of golf and notice that I'll hit my drive about the same as my friend (about 250 yards) who's about 5 inches shorter than me. It's not a bad hit at all, but then I get to the 150 marker. I pull out my pitching wedge while he gets his 7 iron out.

My pitching wedge stock is going, as of now, about 150 yards.
Gap wedge about 138.
9 iron about 162
8 iron about 170.

Then it gets up to my 5 iron; about 190
4 iron about 200.

I know I'm de-lofting the crap out of my lower irons, I just want to know what I can do to be able to get the same amount of distance out of my longer irons to keep that distance pattern going.

Thanks for your input.

~RHPM

**upah** · October 2, 2010

This isn't personal experience, so take it for what its worth, but I have a friend who hits clubs like you. He airmailed a green from 180 with his PW. His long iron strikes look like a wedge swing. I want to say his 4i goes about 230-240ish, as he takes monster divots and delofts the club quite a bit with even his long irons. His ballflight obviously starts really low but the dramatic downward strike creates a lot of spin which causes a ballooning effect. I would say to try and hit the long irons with the same swing as the short irons, even if you have to choke up at first. This should give you an idea of how much you can deloft and still keep the ball in the air.

**right handed phil mickelson** · October 2, 2010

This isn't personal experience, so take it for what its worth, but I have a friend who hits clubs like you. He airmailed a green from 180 with his PW. His long iron strikes look like a wedge swing. I want to say his 4i goes about 230-240ish, as he takes monster divots and delofts the club quite a bit with even his long irons. His ballflight obviously starts really low but the dramatic downward strike creates a lot of spin which causes a ballooning effect. I would say to try and hit the long irons with the same swing as the short irons, even if you have to choke up at first. This should give you an idea of how much you can deloft and still keep the ball in the air.

That was my first attempt at fixing the distance gap, but I didn't see any increase in distance with my long irons. I think I'm retarded

**jamo** · October 2, 2010

You have Slingshot OSS irons. They come pre-delofted.

Without seeing your swing I have no real specific advice.

**right handed phil mickelson** · October 2, 2010

You have Slingshot OSS irons. They come pre-delofted.

I know I look up when I make contact so don't say anything about that :P

**MJP** · October 2, 2010

You float load quite a bit but I feel like you could be giving the ball more of a rip maybe by driving your hands quicker. You don't push your hips a great deal either (a few inches, 4 with driver) and stop pushing them before impact. I'm sure that could give you more power as well.

Biggest thing I notice is it appears that you almost fall back in your impact position and you could definitely be more laterally forward with the hips. Beautiful tempo and swing apart from that though.

**Zeph** · October 2, 2010

Wow, and I thought Zach Johnson had a strong grip, I've never seen such a strong right hand before. Hit left much or?

What are your launch angles? A weaker grip may help. Could be that you are de-lofting them so much that the launch angle ends up being too low.

A real question would be if you really need to hit it that far. If the gap wedge goes 140 yards, you only got one club inside 140 yards. Unless you play very long courses, wouldn't it be better to hit it a bit shorter, but with better gaps?

**ohiolefty** · October 2, 2010

I play with a strong grip and I have a similar issue...although not as extreme as you because I rarely go as 'full-bore' with my scoring clubs as you do because I don't like to fart around with the wind as much as I feel it necessitates. I don't have any answers, either.

**jamo** · October 2, 2010

What are your launch angles? A weaker grip may help. Could be that you are de-lofting them so much that the launch angle ends up being too low.

My guess is something like this. Delofting short irons generally leads to added distance. Delofting long irons (past a certain point) can lead to a loss in distance. Could also just be inconsistent contact due to all the lifting of your arms. And the head thing.

**canadianpro** · October 2, 2010

With such a strong right hand...how can you help but de-loft? Easier not too when the ball is teed up but virtually impossible unless you flip the club through impasct with an iron

**right handed phil mickelson** · October 2, 2010

I've always had a strong grip. I do miss left sometimes but not terribly. My launch angles are a lot higher than you'd think; I don't remember what they were from the last time I went to golf galaxy, but I hit it fairly high.

**canadianpro** · October 3, 2010

Your handicap tells me you are a good player.....my advice is to bite the bullet, hit some crappy shots for awhile...and take your game to the next level....yes there are a few PGA Tour players with strong right hands but not as strong as your video shows....you have to be manipulating the club somewhat to hit the shots you describe.....a good swing but it could be a lot better

**upah** · October 3, 2010

As mentioned before, your equipment selection certainly isn't helping you out if you're trying to hit a low ball. Also, your weight shift into impact doesn't look aggressive enough to achieve the distance you're seeking (granted, you're trying to hit the ball farther than most people can hit it...).

**delav** · October 4, 2010

I'd fix some of the stranger parts of your swing before concerning too much over distance. Your grip, particularly the strong left hand and very weak right hand, is making you do some strange things both up top and at impact. Rather than keeping your elbows close and your right upper arm close to your torso, it's flying out behind you pretty far.

**sean_miller** · October 4, 2010

I'd fix some of the stranger parts of your swing before concerning too much over distance. Your grip, particularly the strong left hand and very weak right hand, is making you do some strange things both up top and at impact. Rather than keeping your elbows close and your right upper arm close to your torso, it's flying out behind you pretty far.

There's a weak hand?

**Zeph** · October 4, 2010

Both hands are strong, right hand probably the most.

**$2 Nassau** · October 4, 2010

Tell us about your ball flight with the longer irons..is it really high? Do the balls kind of "balloon" up on you?

I'm wondering how much the clubs and shafts play a role in this. I know it can't all be due to the clubs, but it could be playing a role.

You're a + handicap playing with an extreme game improvement set. These clubs, especially the longer irons are made to help the player lift the ball into the air. What about the shafts? stiff, regular?

Demo a set of blades, or blade-like clubs with stiff shafts and see if you have a more consistent ball flight. Doesn't mean it will be perfect but I have a feeling those gaps may close a bit with a set fitted more to your game. Those slighshots are for guys with really slow swing speed that can't get the ball off the ground.

**right handed phil mickelson** · October 4, 2010

Tell us about your ball flight with the longer irons..is it really high? Do the balls kind of "balloon" up on you?

With the slingshots I have a mid-height boring ball flight- it goes right through any wind. I can work those clubs way more than you'd think. I love how people (this isn't directed at you nassau) have a set thought on how something should be; like how my strong right hand should hit low hooks. How I can't work the ball with my crappy clubs. I love it haha

I went out on a whim and bought me a set of Cleveland CG7 Tour irons (which look sexy as hell), and I've been hitting them much more consistent. The higher clubs aren't going as far, and the longer irons are going farther than the Slingshots. I think it was just the clubs that were causing the problems. I got them for a decent $500 from golf galaxy (going out of business/relocation sale). So I guess this thread is done.

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Need some advice with de-lofting

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