Irons advice - need a little tip.

[Speedly]

So I'm a beginner still. I think my handicap well illustrates that.

I've only recently learned that weight transfer with my woods shouldn't be forced with the swing - it's something that naturally happens when you start the upswing and downswing with your hips first. A good breakthrough for me!

I've also been reading Pelz's Short Game Bible (about which this is not a discussion - see the Reading Room for that), trying to improve bit by bit.

I've only gotten through... oh, a hundred pages?... and one thing I noticed him say is to use his 3x4 system, it's important not to coil, and to turn your hips in-line with your swing, not lead your swing with your hips. But this is with wedges.

My question is, should one coil with your irons? Do you coil with some, and not with others?

Thanks in advance!

[Leftygolfer]

I have read the SG bible by pelz and know what you are talking about. You should coil with all your clubs except your wedges. For me, I do not have time to practice two different swings. When hitting wedges, I am not sure if I restrict the hips and coil or not. I don't have the time to practice and develop that swing. I do use and believe in the time thing to control distance. I just don't practice as much and would rather hit a full lob than soft sand wedge.

At your level I think you would be best to learn how to hit the ball solidly and take a divot with your irons. I think you should focus on one swing for now.

[Speedly]

Well, the issue is, I've had a terrible little-to-no weight transfer swing ever since I started dabbling in golf ten years ago, when I was 13. I've only in the last few months pulled my clubs out of the closet (and actually bought newer ones, starter set for $300) and became serious on playing and improving.

Why do I bring that up? Well, I had a terrible swing then, and it has carried to today. So I'm trying to re-learn my swing... I figure if I'm gonna stand any chance at being any good, I need to make sure my basics are sound, or everything I learn after that is garbage.

But don't get me wrong - I definitely understand needing to learn how to strike the ball well. I took a golf class at my college recently, and it was a joke - but I didn't know that at the time. The guy was the baseball coach, and he spent more time talking to his baseball players and showing Butch Harmon videos than actually coaching anyone. All he taught me is that hitting off of poorly-maintained patched of field grass sucks, and to set the ball so far back in my stance with my irons that it was literally on my right instep. I've now noticed the flaws in his teaching, and am trying to break myself of them.

Whenever swinging my irons like that, I'd take a divot, but would essentially drive the clubhead into the ground. I've managed to ingrain a ball-first impact into my swing, but cranking my wrists back when the club catches... well, it's not so fun. I'll potentially lose distance by moving it farther up (but still behind center) in my stance, but coiling correctly might make up for it.

[shortstop20]

Here's a couple videos of Tiger.

Iron Swing:




Wedge swing:



You will notice that his hip rotation is much more agressive with his irons. Most pros are the same way, they play with a more passive lower body on wedge shots for more accuracy as wedges are all about precision, not distance.

Hopefully this will help a little bit.

Just remember everybody is different though, just because Tiger does this doesn't mean you should. If the same hip motion on irons and wedges works the best for you, then by all means do it. Tiger has always said, "Do what works for you".