Hitting short clubs well, need help with longer ones

[albatross]

I started lessons with a pro about a month and a half ago. I feel like it's going well and I've started over totally and rebuilt my whole swing. I'm only a 15 handicap.

It was really ugly at first but it's getting better. I've always stood too far from the ball, so the biggest adjustment has been getting used to letting my arms hang naturally and standing closer to the ball.

So after a lot of range work I can hit my 56, 60, PW, and 9 iron pretty solid and straight.

When I get towards the 8, 7, 6, or 5 iron, the shots start going way to the right. Why is this?

Is it because the club is longer and I'm losing it at the top? Is it harder to come through the ball with the longer clubs?

Any ideas of things to work on to improve this? I'm hitting the short clubs really solid but I can't progress to the longer clubs. Thanks.

[fufanu360]

you may find that in your head you think you need to strike these "longer" clubs harder, or a different way, sometimes i catch myself trying to swing extra hard to get that "long club" distance, which causes the swing to go to hell, so maybe just try your average swing and dont think about the number on the bottom of the club....

[KwSipp]

This is a perfect example of why I take 3-4 iron to the range more than any other club!! First off I am guessing that you are coming into impact way to steep because you are used to short irons....This is something that can take some time to fix. Try this forget about your short irons for awhile and hit shots with your long irons UNTIL you can hit them, shallow out your swing a little bit and tell us how that works out for you.

[ComftaBill]

I am new to golf and am having the same trouble when I get into the 5-3 irons. I was wondering if you could elaborate a little more on how to execute a better long iron shot.

My short irons and wedges are coming along great but I seem to hit my longer irons either a bit fat, or when I do get a pretty good strike they dont get much loft or are very erratic.

Any advice would be tons of help.

[KwSipp]

I am new to golf and am having the same trouble when I get into the 5-3 irons. I was wondering if you could elaborate a little more on how to execute a better long iron shot.

The reason you are going through this is because your delofting your club, maybe the same reason the op is haveing trouble, coming in to steep. Play the ball up in your stance and lean the shaft a little back and come in from the inside, dont flip your hands just let your body natually close the face and see if that helps at all.

[BallStriker]

To get the feel of a shallow path, try and keep the clubhead as close to the ground as possible as you take the club back -- much like the driver, low and slow. This will keep the arms extended and shouldn't allow the club to come up so quickly.

One thing I personally do is to feel like I am pulling the club away from the ball with the middle two fingers of my right hand (right handed golfer)....it works for me to shallow out the long irons.

[CarlSpackler]

Do you feel like you are rushing the downswing from the top to hit the ball farther? I find that my mid-long iron shots will do this if rush from the top causing an out to in swing path. I am assuming that when you say the ball goes right, it is curving to the right as opposed to a straight push. I try to focus on a smooth start to the downswing and that seems to help me at least.

[CarlSpackler]

To get the feel of a shallow path, try and keep the clubhead as close to the ground as possible as you take the club back -- much like the driver, low and slow.

This helps me as well.

[KwSipp]

Do you feel like you are rushing the downswing from the top to hit the ball farther?

Why would you want to rush from the top? Its detrimental to your whole swing.

[ComftaBill]

The reason you are going through this is because your delofting your club, maybe the same reason the op is haveing trouble, coming in to steep.

When you say "delofting" and "coming in too steep", are you saying that my clubface is too open, or hands are too far ahead of the head? (causing low loft?)

I do generally play the ball about 1-balls distance up in my stance for longer irons. I will try the low-slow backswing also! Thanks for the speedy replies.

[KwSipp]

When you say "delofting" and "coming in too steep", are you saying that my clubface is too open, or hands are too far ahead of the head? (causing low loft?)

yes and yes haha

when most guys say they play their ball up there really playing it middle to a ball up or maybe 2 for your case, with the ball on the ground put your feet together with the ball inline with your lead heel/toe, to set up properly, move your trail foot back to a comfortable postion, dont move your lead foot. Its going to feel wierd at first, but my philosophy is to experiment with things to make you more well rounded in different situations.

[ComftaBill]

So, in order to recap ( just so I think I understand it better )

I should be playing my long irons as if they were up where I'd play my fairway woods? Or thereabouts?

[KwSipp]

So, in order to recap ( just so I think I understand it better )

Well it just depends, internet advice can only go so far. With that being said 2-3-4 iron yes or a ball back from fairway wood. But all this really depends on how upright or flat your swing is.

[imtomtomim]

I'm surprised there weren't many answers leading you back to fundamentals. Ball a bit forward is a start. Also your hand position at setup is incredibly important. You might not be laying the club as it was meant to be positioned. Place the sole flat on the ground and whatever shaft lean is present, you need to set up around that. 8 is still a short iron, will most likely point at your hip. 7-5 should be mid irons, those have the shaft pointing at your center, belt buckle,zipper, or sternum. Everything after that should be around the same area as well, just a more forward ball position.

If you're still getting that other shot, you're probaby rushing your downswing and not waiting for the natural release of the club at the top of your backswing

I would also check your grip. Make sure through the whole swing, there is no laxity or space which comes in your hands. Grip is the first indicator of what is happening wrong.

[KwSipp]

^ Very well explained

[ComftaBill]

I'm surprised there weren't many answers leading you back to fundamentals. Ball a bit forward is a start. Also your hand position at setup is incredibly important. You might not be laying the club as it was meant to be positioned. Place the sole flat on the ground and whatever shaft lean is present, you need to set up around that. 8 is still a short iron, will most likely point at your hip. 7-5 should be mid irons, those have the shaft pointing at your center, belt buckle,zipper, or sternum. Everything after that should be around the same area as well, just a more forward ball position.

Great advice. Thank you!

I have been focusing on my grip at address recently, and have been "trying" to get a nice and easy swing going. Some days it comes together better than others. I'll hit one perfect 3 iron shot that I won't see again for days. Haha.

[KwSipp]

Just keep at it and youll see that every 3 iron shot will be up to par. Its when you get out on the course after you hit an array of clubs and pull out that 3 iron to hit it perfect, thats the goal!

[CarlSpackler]

Why would you want to rush from the top? Its detrimental to your whole swing.

Exactly. Perhaps I didn't word it very well.