Pulling iron shots

[Sanzabar]

Kind of new to golf, and started with a wicked slice and now I rarely ever slice the ball. I have got to the point where my driver is the most comfortable club in my bag.

However, on par 3's I tend to miss left. Not like a major hook, it just seems like the ball comes off the club and is left on impact for some reason. It goes dead left and misses the green.

Any ideas on what this could possibly be? I will post videos of my swing as soon as we get a break in the weather!

[wedstuntpuller]

Kind of new to golf, and started with a wicked slice and now I rarely ever slice the ball. I have got to the point where my driver is the most comfortable club in my bag.

i used to have this same problem... i sliced EVERYTHING, except for my approaches on par 3's which always went left of the pin... i think it's just psychological. I was always focusing on turning my wrists over, and usually it happened a fraction of a second too soon and i ended up being just left.

[Mud ball]

Hi Sanzabar,

I'm also new to this forum - but not new to Golf. The problem you describe is very common.

The issue is swing path. If you swing out to in and across the ball the ball will start left of the target. If your clubface is open it will then go right (a slice) if it is closed it will go even further left (pull hook/draw) and if the clubface is square to your swing path it will just go dead left.

If you hit a less lofted club e.g. 3 iron then the ball makes contact high on it's centre and will not get much backspin - therefore any side spin is able to take affect on the ball. Whereas if you hit a more lofted club e.g. 9 iron the ball makes contact with the club lower and nearer the ground than across it's equator. This is likely to cause more backspin - the backspin takes over and reduces the effect of any sidespin.
This is why you can slice a driver or long iron yet pull a short iron.

The way to tell is to go and hit some shots or take swings in some fairly long grass - long enough that you can take divots or leave a long line showing your swing path and the in-print of your feet.

Stand back and check the swing path to your alignment and the target. If the swing path is pointing left then you are swinging out to in across the ball (all this is written from an orthodox right handed stance position...

Now if that is the case - great news you know what you are doing - next step is to work out why you swing across the ball. For that you need someone to take a look at your swing or post a video somewhere and get some advice.

All the best

Dave

[Bauer]

What he said exactly ^

If you post a swing video here a lot of people can take a look and help you out. Meanwhile, there is a plethora of information on this website and on the internet about the out-to-in swing path.

[right handed phil mickelson]

Hi Sanzabar,

Anywhere where you post from now on I'm writing it down. haha thats great info right there dave. ~RHPM

[Sanzabar]

Hi Sanzabar,

Wow... thanks alot!!

[sean_miller]

Hi Sanzabar,

Sounds like classic John Jacobs stuff - I bought his book (published ca. 1978 I think) in the early 90s and I've used his teachings to get back on track (mid-round) many times. Best golf book ever?

[Mud ball]

Absolutely - that is exactly what John Jacobs would say. The easy bit is working out what you are doing - the tricky bit is working out what causes the out to in swing... that bit you can't really get from a book and self-diagnose. Instead you need to either get help from a good professional coach.