long irons

[Golfer120]

I am a middle handicapper who is quickly improving, but im having problems with longer irons, such as the 4 and 5 irons. I hit my short irons great, they go up nicely, but im having trouble with longer ones. what can i do?

[Jmdmbike]

You've probably heard this before, but the easiest and most enjoyable thing to do is ditch the long irons & get a couple hybrids. You'll have more success and fun. I read a piece in GD suggesting only low handicap players could hit a 4 iron as well as a hybrid - for the rest of us, it was no contest - hybrid every time.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Golfer120

I am a middle handicapper who is quickly improving, but im having problems with longer irons, such as the 4 and 5 irons. I hit my short irons great, they go up nicely, but im having trouble with longer ones. what can i do?

Get your mid-iron swing grooved then get a couple lessons. Regardless of which is "easier" to hit. A solid long iron game is very satisfying.

[allin]

I don't know if I am typical, but my iong iron play improved when I realized I was unconciously trying to hit them harder than my orher irons and accepted that flagging a long iron was rare for a mid handicap golfer and the fat part of the green or even just off the green was a good result. My pars have increased and my doubles dramatically reduced. Of course this brings you back to your short game nd practicing it enough ta have confidence in it.

[inthecup]

^^

I agree.  I have to keep my tempo consistent from my shorter irons to my longer irons.  When the clubs get longer I feel I need to swing slower and let the swing develop.  It is easy to have the body out race the hands and then the hand get too quick.  It is not actually a slower swing but I have to feel it is slower to keep the tempo down.

A pure'd 3 iron feels nice.

[CuppedTin]

There have been several of these threads lately, but the main thing to remember is swing them all the same. Just because the club is longer doesn't mean it needs to be swung any harder. Best of luck man. And at this stage of your game I believe lessons are crucial. I'm not suggesting that you have any bad habits, but they are much easier to break at this stage IMO...

[Stretch]

Here's a guy just smoothing a 2-iron out there maybe 270 yards. Hard to do but, as Miller says, sure pretty to watch.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Originally Posted by Jmdmbike

You've probably heard this before, but the easiest and most enjoyable thing to do is ditch the long irons & get a couple hybrids. You'll have more success and fun. I read a piece in GD suggesting only low handicap players could hit a 4 iron as well as a hybrid - for the rest of us, it was no contest - hybrid every time.

This I find strange. For me I frequently opt for my 4i more than my hybrid as I feel I get a better strike on the ball and often a straighter trajectory and I'm FAR from a good golfer.

The only difference for me between my 7i and 4i is the distance I am from the ball and subsequently plane which is dictated by the club length. Other than that it's the same grip, same swing mechanics, same(ish) ball position etc

[bkoguy07]

You really do need to swing them smooth and easy and you will IMMEDIATELY see a difference.  Also hit down on them!!  My problem is two things: 1) swinging too hard (getting better with this) 2) picking the ball clean (still working on taking a divot)

I was hitting my 4H for so long, its been streaky at best.  Somedays I pure it.. other days I hook the crap out of it.  I finally benched it and put the 4i back in the bag and boom, way more consistency and essentially the same distance but not quite as high a ball flight (still working on hitting down on it lol)  Just really work on them

[redsoxfan]

keep at it, or get hybrids.

[Meesh]

I had the same problem as you. I could not hit my long irons but lately i've been working on getting my hands more deep in the backswing and am hitting them alot better.

[dsc123]

I started hitting my low irons well when I learned to shift my weight left and swing down on it.  Something about long clubs makes me want to stay on my back leg and spin at it, but that's the worst thing to do.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by dsc123

I started hitting my low irons well when I learned to shift my weight left and swing down on it.  Something about long clubs makes me want to stay on my back leg and spin at it, but that's the worst thing to do.

This. I used to frequently ( and sometimes still do ) stay back off the ball and either hit it thin, or hit a high slice with them. I don;t know why I was doing it ( something mental ) but after keeping a proper weight ratio and not trying to crush it, I have had much better results.

Hitting a long iron flush and straight is a great feeling.