Hitting Long Irons better than short irons and wedges

[pounc007]

A problem I often get myself into is trying to hit my scoring irons and wedges higher, and swinging too hard to accomplish this. I usually hit my long irons great 2-5 iron, but inside about 140 I hit everything thin. I really think it's just me trying to hit the more lofted clubs harder, as opposed to just letting the longer clubs do the work for me. I know most people have exactly the opposite problem. I was wondering if anyone else on earth does this and had any drills or anything to help a brother out.

[NormH3]

just an opinion, but it sounds like you are trying to help the ball up. Maybe if the ball was further back in your stance and hit down on it more. This allows the club face to do it's thing without additional help from you

[-BAMA-]

i have the same problem... i hit my 2-5 irons beautifully... i actually hit more gir's from 200-180 yards out than i do from 150 in...

i do tend to hit my shorter irons thin quite often... especially if theres water in play :)

i dont try to help the ball up, i hit down on them quite hard, i just have a problem trying to stand up on my left leg on the follow through with short irons for some reason.. im working on getting it fixed ...

[sean_miller]

A problem I often get myself into is trying to hit my scoring irons and wedges higher, and swinging too hard to accomplish this. I usually hit my long irons great 2-5 iron, but inside about 140 I hit everything thin. I really think it's just me trying to hit the more lofted clubs harder, as opposed to just letting the longer clubs do the work for me. I know most people have exactly the opposite problem. I was wondering if anyone else on earth does this and had any drills or anything to help a brother out.

When's the last time you had your lofts and lies checked?

[DBeane]

You may be swaying off the ball taking the club back. I have seen players that do this can sometimes manage to stay behind the ball and catch the flatter clubs clean.

When you try and really stay down and through a short iron, if you are still hitting it thin, or the ball flares off to the right with no snap to it. Excessive lateral movement is usually one of the culprits.

Focus on keeping your head steady, and make sure you get through the shot (or that your not hanging back or your right side). This should help clean up your ball striking.

-Beane

[pounc007]

When's the last time you had your lofts and lies checked?

About 8 years ago, took about 6 years off and picked it back up about two months ago.

[sean_miller]

About 8 years ago, took about 6 years off and picked it back up about two months ago.

Personal anecdote: I was hitting everything well (for me) until I got to the short irons - especially my 8 iron- typically I'd pull it about 10-20 yards left of the green (not just left of the pin). I took some older sets to the range to see if the problem was consistent with all my short irons. Three old(er) sets of blades tried and all fairly straight at the target (albeit shorter for the oldest irons).

I took my whole set in to get the lofts and lies checked - my short irons were too upright (causing the apparent pulls) and my 3 and 4 irons were too strong (I basically had two 2-irons and a 3 with a 4 stamped on it). I hit them all so much better after that - $50 well spent. In the meantime (while they were in the shop) I rediscovered my Hogan Apex PCs.

[kfowler]

Well I have the exact same issue. My best club is my driver and it goes down from there. I use a hybrid from 5 and up.

I tend to sweep the ball so I believe this is where my trouble comes from. I've tried moving the ball further back in my stance but I end up leaving the face open and hitting it right. It's the main thing I'd like to work on this winter.

[Bauer]

I never realized how important loft and lie was. Obviously not surprising just never crossed my mind. Although, I probably won't mess with mine since I plan on getting new clubs next summer.

[sean_miller]

I never realized how important loft and lie was. Obviously not surprising just never crossed my mind. Although, I probably won't mess with mine since I plan on getting new clubs next summer.

I don't think it's too much of a factor with investment cast irons - just forged irons. It's can be a matter of things changing/bending over time and also of wanting to simply change the lie angle away from the standard off-the-shelf settings.

[wedstuntpuller]

I'm betting that your problem is in the fact that you are swinging harder to try and get the ball in the air, thats not how you accomplish it. For me, i set my ball just a little further back in my stance than directly in the middle, and i concentrate on making good contact and then a complete follow through with a nice high finish, which is usually the product of hitting down on the ball to get it up in the air. I don't do too many things well on the golf course, but hitting short irons (actually everything 6-PW) with good loft and spin on them is one.

[mcman1]

Letting the club do the work is the right approach. I also have better luck when I focus on keeping a still head (Sam Snead used to preach this) throughout the swing. This is extremely important with your lofter irons where you have a higher tendency to blade or hit fat.