Angle of Attack

[TerenceFinn]

I was hoping to get some help since my pro doesn't return for the season until next month. I am a new golfer and it seems like I've always struggled with the different angle of attack for an iron in comparison to a wood. This year I've gotten to the point where I only use my irons, typically teeing off with a 3 or 4 iron, due to a lack of confidence in my 5 wood. Please note (I don't yet own a driver or 3 wood. This is based upon recommendations from others.) I actually haven't played bad this year but I obviously don't have the distance that I really need.
As I understand, please correct me if I'm wrong, one should hit down and through when using an iron. While with a wood, the path is more horizantal (swing image: striking a nail into the back of the ball). Finally I also understand that the angle of attack would be from below (upwards) when utiling a wood to hit a ball on a tee.
Is this all correct? If so, how can I ensure a smoother swing transition from wood to iron? Or is it something I just need to practice?

[iacas]

I was hoping to get some help since my pro doesn't return for the season until next month. I am a new golfer and it seems like I've always struggled with the different angle of attack for an iron in comparison to a wood. This year I've gotten to the point where I only use my irons, typically teeing off with a 3 or 4 iron, due to a lack of confidence in my 5 wood. Please note (I don't yet own a driver or 3 wood. This is based upon recommendations from others.) I actually haven't played bad this year but I obviously don't have the distance that I really need.

Some people do it solely with ball position. If you imagine the arc of the clubhead as bottoming out a few inches behind your front toes, then you can see why you place irons back in your stance (where you're hitting down), a 5-wood about at the bottom (flat), and things on tees forward in your stance (to catch it on a slight upswing.

The answer may be - and in fact probably should be - as simple as that.

[Chas]

Some people do it solely with ball position. If you imagine the arc of the clubhead as bottoming out a few inches behind your front toes, then you can see why you place irons back in your stance (where you're hitting down), a 5-wood about at the bottom (flat), and things on tees forward in your stance (to catch it on a slight upswing.

That's just the way I see it. So, it doesn't matter which club you have in your hand, the fundamental swing should be the same. You've got to keep things as simple as possible - the game is hard enough as it is ! The angle of attack at impact then depends on where the ball lies in relation to the bottom of the arc made by the clubface. Obviously, the further back the ball (towards the back foot), the steeper the attack angle at impact and the more turf will be taken AFTER the ball is struck. If you aren't taking quite a bit of turf with the short irons, you are probably not getting set up right (i.e. ball too far forward) - resulting in lots of chunked or sculled shots.

[TerenceFinn]

Thank you very much for your replies. I know I tend to over analyze. This said, I do have a follow up question. Hope this isn't a stupid one. I put the ball up in my stance for my 3 and 4 iron as well as for my fairway wood. As I understand I should be hitting slightly down on the ball with the 3/4 iron but not with the wood. Is that right?

I ask because this year I'm hitting my 3/4 iron well (for me) but can't seem to hit my 5 wood consistently. Please note, Chas is right, I don't tend to take much of a divot on most shots. Although my short irons tend to be my most consistent clubs.

[Old Tom]

Just to further complicate things, these days there's no compelling reason for anyone to even be hitting a 3 or 4 iron - if you haven't already tried one, hit a couple of the newer so-called "hybrid" irons and see what you think. They're much easier to hit than a traditional long iron, and you can even effectively replace your 5-wood with a 2-hybrid in around an 18 or 19* loft.

I don't play a fairway wood at all...I carry a 16* hybrid I can hit around 230 off the turf, and if I'm farther out than that I lay up. I think that's the best solution for us middle-to-high handicappers.

[Chas]

Old Tom,
I agree with your post, since I've been using a couple of hybrid clubs for a while now and never used a long iron (3 or 4). But, just a few weeks ago, I finally worked on my 3i and 4i at the range and find I can hit them pretty good now (at the range at least ....), I'm no longer intimidated by these clubs. I'm more accurate with them than with a hybrid (directionally), but still am more likely to chunk or thin the ball and so don't get such consistent distance. I do advise people to work on their longer irons, because if you're confident with those, the shorter irons (5i on down) feel easier as a result.
I'm no low-handicapper, but I think you've got it about right TerenceFinn (but some scratch player please correct me if I'm wrong). The ideal contact with any wood or hybrid is essentially at the very bottom of the arc, hence the forward ball position. With a long iron, you should hit just slightly before bottom, to better ensure a solid hit. Of course hitting it at bottom wouldn't be a problem, but it's a bit harder to avoid the chuck/thin that way IMO.
Problem I've got now: to keep within 14 clubs, do I take the 3i, 4i, 18deg hybrid or 21 deg hybrid ? (I always take 3 and 5 woods as well as the driver, I like hitting fairway woods when I need the distance on par5s etc). Gotta choose. I haven't settled on anything yet, which is OK: variety is the spice of life !

[allin]

Be carefull of the phrase hit down, I see many newer golfers moving their body or shoulders downward in an attempt to hit down. Try to build an awareness of what the clubhead is doing. The club head should be moving down and through. If you try to force it your body posture may be compromised and it may be difficult to release the club.

[iacas]

Be carefull of the phrase hit down, I see many newer golfers moving their body or shoulders downward in an attempt to hit down. Try to build an awareness of what the clubhead is doing. The club head should be moving down and through. If you try to force it your body posture may be compromised and it may be difficult to release the club.

That's a good point. You hit down through the ball naturally if the ball is at the bottom or just behind the lowest point in the club's arc.