Trouble with 3-5 irons

[tws1098]

Went to the range today and was hitting everything great but the 3-5 irons and my hybrids. It was strange, contact felt solid yet the ball would launch and remain low leading to a short shot with a ton of roll. What are the most common issues causing this?

[JML22]

picking the ball

[CalBoomer]

Too vertical a swing plane. The longer clubs require a flatter plane. Try using a mirror to flatten your backswing. It can work wonders.

[CG031]

Too far back in your stance?

[tws1098]

Too vertical a swing plane. The longer clubs require a flatter plane. Try using a mirror to flatten your backswing. It can work wonders.

This is what it feels like I am doing, but I had a hard time convincing myself that my swing should be different. This would explain why I am money with my 8-wedges and pretty good with my 6 and 7, but bad with the 3-5.

So how much of a change should there be? And are there changes in the stance and/or distance from the ball as well?

[tws1098]

Too far back in your stance?

No, I do keep the ball forward.

[CalBoomer]

This is what it feels like I am doing, but I had a hard time convincing myself that my swing should be different. This would explain why I am money with my 8-wedges and pretty good with my 6 and 7, but bad with the 3-5.

Three ways to assess your plane. If you have a mirror behind the target line, the plane of your backswing should be approximately parallel to the plane of the club at address. Since the longer irons put you further from the ball, the address plane is flatter or more horizontal than it is for the shorter irons. A second way is that the club shaft on the backswing should be pointing at the line that the ball is on. If the plane is too vertical, it will be pointing inside that. A third way I use is to have the sense that my hands are coming back through the line formed by my shoulders at address. With regard to stance, you should always be incrementally further from the ball as the length of the club increases. Incidentally, the swing isn't really "different," because every club has it's natural plane. Really, the best way to appreciate this is with a mirror. I personally had the same issues that you did. Once I adapted to the flatter plane for the longer clubs, it transformed my game with those clubs and the fairway woods and driver as well. Anyone who tries to hit a 3 iron with the same vertical plane as an 8-W is doomed to frustration. Good luck.