Down and Through the Ball

[Fairway_CY]

So... last Sunday was my first round of the season and only second time hitting on grass since last September. I struggled mightily with hitting down and through the ball with my irons. It wasn't so much a scoop as it was a sweep... but if I didn't make perfect contact, the ball would fade a bit and got me in trouble a few times. I've been to the range the last two days to focus on hitting down and through the ball... but off of range mats... I get a false reading (even the 'fluffier' mats).

I CAN'T hit a ball fat at the range off those mats... but I KNOW when I hit it there if it WOULD have been fat off of grass. So, I've spent the last two days (300 balls, give or take) working on primarily my full wedges and my 5 iron. Today, I THINK I kind of got it grooved a little bit to where I was feeling the ball 'ride' up the clubface in that instant before I 'bottomed out'... but I'm not 100% sure.

What worked for me was changing my takeaway (which was suggested by many when I posted my swing video because it was SUCH an inside move). My takeaway is now MUCH slower and more down the line than inside the line. Then, when I come through, I feel like the club is in a good position and I'm finishing the downswing with the clubface in a good position and the ball is hitting my target... but I'm STILL playing a 3-5 yard fade on most shots.

Does anybody have any drills they use (especially off of range mats) to ensure they are hitting down and through the ball? I know when I get on the course again... I'm going to get that thought in my head to NOT hit it fat... and I'm afraid I'm going to go back to sweeping the ball.

Also... I've noticed that my 5 iron, which WAS my 180-185 club last season is now my 170-175 club this season. Is that attributable to the range balls and the cooler weather... or should I worry about that? It's carried down along the entire set of irons... so it's NOT just one club.

CY

[NI4NI]

I read a good drill in the April 2010 Golf Mag edition to eliminate the "fatsies". Assuming a righty swing...Take your normal address with any iron, then drop your right foot back a full foot length. Raise up on your right toe, and then make your everyday swing. This will put the extra weight on your left side to correctly move through the target on your downswing. I tried it last week, and it seemed to work as a practice aid before my round. Good luck.