Long Irons

[wrx_junki]

How do you guys keep your long irons from ballooning when hitting into the wind. Been having a lot of trouble hitting long irons into the wind. Losing 30-40 yards at times off the tee and on approach shots.

[max power]

Swing easier, abbreviated follow-through.

[kurisu]

I grip down a little to make the shaft a little stiffer and as max power says, swing easier.

[Zeph]

Keeping the ball low, forward leaning shaft at impact. If I'm hitting into a lot of wind, I'll take a club or three more too. Might move the ball back in my stance a bit to get the ball lower.

[gerryg22]

take an extra club or 2 depending on how strong wind is, ball towards back of the stance and hands ahead of the ball. Then use the same swing as you normally would

[$2 Nassau]

everyone loses distance hitting into the wind, just take more club. you're losing distance because of the wind, not a swing flaw.

[wrx_junki]

  $2 Nassau said:

everyone loses distance hitting into the wind, just take more club. you're losing distance because of the wind, not a swing flaw.

Wasn't really blaming my swing. My long irons balloon like mad going into the wind.

[upah]

Ballooning is due to spin. The ball spins more when you swing harder. Furthermore, wind exaggerates this effect. Aside from taking more club, I find that swinging easier and really focusing on trapping the ball makes for more predictable distance as it keeps the ball low and away from the wind. I've found that into a strong wind, a 3/4 swing with delofted face creates more distance than a full swing with the same club. Try some knockdowns like this at the range to get used to the contact and ballflight.

[wrx_junki]

Yeah my knockdown shots with short/mid irons are fine but for some reason even short abbreviated swings with the long irons are ballooning. Hopefully I can figure something out tomorrow at the range. Maybe I'll get lucky and there won't be any wind this weekend.

[Gerald]

I do things differently ..... of course I agree that if you hit (harder) on a ball further back in the stance (or punch it), you deloft the club ..... and the ball flight lowers.

Well that is theory from the writers

Now to the golfers

What you get from handling it this way, is more backspin and into the wind it starts lower (yes okay), but by the added backspin it even climbs higher than normal and the slighthiest sidespin (which is so easy with a ball back in your stance) is multiplied by four at least !

Punch shots can be really effective when you need a let's say lowered alternative shot instead of let's say an 8i but using a 6i and compensate for the usual fade or slice........ but if you have 165 to go ...... I wouldn't advise to try a punch with a 3i......

What you want is less spin and a lower trajectory ..... so I am using 1 to 2 clubs extra, normal swing and the ball about a ballwidth further forwards in the stance.....

Try it !

[opie]

I swing easier to get less spin and lower trajectory. Was working on it last night with a 5 iron. Abbreviated swing, choke down and swing easier. Into a nasty headwind I was losing 15-20 yards but the ball flight was MUCH lower and the wind was affecting it less

[Blades4me]

  wrx_junki said:

How do you guys keep your long irons from ballooning when hitting into the wind. Been having a lot of trouble hitting long irons into the wind. Losing 30-40 yards at times off the tee and on approach shots.

First, you need to resign yourself to the fact that you will loose distance when hitting into the wind. Second, learn the 3/4 shot, which isn't that much different than the knock down shot. This is the preferred shot in windy conditions.

Basically, the harder you hit the ball, the more spin is put on the ball and the more it will ballon, especially with the affect of the wind on the ball. That is why the old saying, "when its breezy, swing easy".