How a crappy golfer can hit decent iron shots

[SoundandFury]

I've generally been terrible with my irons for the past month.  Nothing but fat and topped shots, except for maybe 1/10 lucky ones.  I tried every drill (towel, penny, etc.) and nothing seemed to provided lasting results.  I'd basically resigned myself to crap iron play for the rest of my days.  However, I had something of an epiphany last night at the range, and I'm curious to hear whether these are things I should have been doing all along, or if I just found something that worked for me.

Basically I think there are three prerequisites for hitting consistently crisp irons:

1.  Keep your head still - everyone knows this one, but it makes all the distance in the world.  People talk about "not lifting your head", but I think that while the idea is correct, what is really meant is "don't raise up".  If you look at stills of tour pros just after impact, they all look like they're almost bent over to the right (the righties at least).  I think this is because they keep their body at the exact same height from address through impact.  On a side note, I started concentrating on this with my 3 wood off the tee, and my slice disappeared entirely.  Worst miss became a slight push right, but 80% of my shots (where I made good clean contact) took off like a missile right down the pipe.

2. Relax - I started noticing results from the first time when I (a) loosened my grip to the point where it was juuuuust firm enough so the club wouldn't move; and (b) instead of swinging the club at the ball, I started with a downward pull while shifting my weight forward, and then basically let the club fall through the ball.  Obviously it takes some muscle to keep it on plane and to accelerate through impact, but I don't think you should feel as if you're making a conscious effort to do so.

and finally...

3. Don't focus on the ball - Even after I saw some improvement from the first two, I went back to the range and was still hitting a fair amount of balls fat.  After refraining from throwing my club end over end out on the range, I tried staring not at the ball, but at a spot about 2 inches in front of it.  The ball is almost out of focus.  I then swing at that spot, and essentially let the ball get in the way.

After putting these three things together, not only was I consistently hitting crisp irons, but I was hitting crisp 4 and 5 irons.  I am not a dude who can hit long irons.  Up until today my 4 iron was basically spotless as the day I bought it.

Like I said, curious what people think.  It'd be cool if this helps anyone who's been struggling with this.

[TN94z]

No matter what "feel" you have to have to trigger good movements, it sounds like you are getting to know some of the basics of hitting the ball.  It all comes down to a steady head and hitting the ball first.  You also found that you don't have to choke the club to hold on to it.  Losing that tension allows your wrists to work.

It sounds like you are on the right track.  Combine these with getting your weight forward, and maybe those fat shots will disappear.

It's always a great feeling when you figure something out on the range and the ball starts doing what it's supposed to.  Repeating that is the next battle.

[Jon Robert]

Shoulder turn. It helps with timing and positioning of arms to torso.

Also check to see if the wrists are slowly and steadily turning rather than staying in the same position relative to the elbows. It is kind of like a motorcycle at a stop sign as long as the bike is rolling ever so imperceptibly the rider can balance with out putting a foot down.  As soon as motion stops the bike falls over. The wrists in tiny motion aid in timing balance accuracy.

And look at the front of the ball

[Jeffrey71]

Originally Posted by SoundandFury

I've generally been terrible with my irons for the past month.  Nothing but fat and topped shots, except for maybe 1/10 lucky ones.  I tried every drill (towel, penny, etc.) and nothing seemed to provided lasting results.  I'd basically resigned myself to crap iron play for the rest of my days.  However, I had something of an epiphany last night at the range, and I'm curious to hear whether these are things I should have been doing all along, or if I just found something that worked for me.

Basically I think there are three prerequisites for hitting consistently crisp irons:

1.  Keep your head still -

2. Relax -

and finally...

3. Don't focus on the ball -   I tried staring not at the ball, but at a spot about 2 inches in front of it.  The ball is almost out of focus.  I then swing at that spot, and essentially let the ball get in the way.

After putting these three things together, not only was I consistently hitting crisp irons, but I was hitting crisp 4 and 5 irons.  I am not a dude who can hit long irons.  Up until today my 4 iron was basically spotless as the day I bought it.

Like I said, curious what people think.  It'd be cool if this helps anyone who's been struggling with this.

I think you are on the right track. I, personally, just dropped 1.2 off my handicap with these same things. Plus, I keep in mind, not jerking my head up at impact, ball striking, and using alignment rods( thick plastic garden stakes) for aim.

[bjwestner]

Congrats on your epiphany!  I fully agree with TN94z when he/she said "the next battle is repeating it".

I have have a few "epiphany's" on the driving range only to have trouble repeating the same success the next time or in my next round.

Slowly but surely I am getting better and hitting a higher percentage of good shots.  I am excited for you because it sounds like you have figured out what is in my opinion the biggest hurdle for hitting irons and long irons, and that is focusing on hitting through the ball and about 2 inches in front of the ball.  It took me a while to get this and now that I have I've noticed a much higher percentage of quality hits.  I still hit some fat or thin, but now know it right away.  I guess it's like basketball as in that usually to be a good free throw shooter, you have to shoot a lot of free throws in practice, the same as in hitting irons.

Best of luck to you - sounds like you are doing great!