Trouble hitting Long irons and Hybrid

[Sai-Jin]

Driver and anything from 6i-LW I have pretty decent control, however, hitting 3i-5i as well as a 4H is troublesome for me.

I can feel hitting them all thin on 3i-5i and end up with a low left to right ball.

Whereas 4H I kept topping it.

I have a steep swing...  I was under the impression that we use 1 swing for all clubs, but I also heard that the longer the iron, the more

you have to have a 1 plane swing / wrap the club around you? Thus flattening it?

WHat's your thoughts on this.

[Missouri Swede]

Take a look at the second video in post 74 by mvmac where he discusses this, here: http://thesandtrap.com/t/61376/5sk-video-thread/72

It might not be what's causing your problem, but it's a place to start.

[Sai-Jin]

Thanks for the video. That's definitely not my problem, since my club is always infront of my hands on take away. In fact, it may have gone up a little too steep.

[Mr. Desmond]

It's tough to offer a response without a video, but if steep is your issue, think wide on the backswing and wide, especially coming down - Mike's video may help on the downswing. You see him getting weight forward and the arms separating from the chin in a wide fashion as the weight continues to move forward. The width will help shallow out the swing, and tucking your butt will continue to shallow you out as you approach impact.

[David in FL]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

Driver and anything from 6i-LW I have pretty decent control, however, hitting 3i-5i as well as a 4H is troublesome for me.

I can feel hitting them all thin on 3i-5i and end up with a low left to right ball.

Whereas 4H I kept topping it.

I have a steep swing...  I was under the impression that we use 1 swing for all clubs, but I also heard that the longer the iron, the more

you have to have a 1 plane swing / wrap the club around you? Thus flattening it?

WHat's your thoughts on this.

I just read your review on the Nike VRS Covert Tour Hybrid.  The review was a little sparse in terms of real info, but I noted that you did say that even with the smallish head, you didn't have any problems "hitting it flush".

Have you considered putting it in the bag?

[mvmac]

Without seeing the swing, start off making sure the basic stuff is right, flare the feet you, with the longer clubs you can push the hips a little forward at address, helps with moving low point forward via Key #2.  Low left start lines mean the club face is aiming to the left and a good chance you need work on Key #2 weight forward and Key #3 flat left wrist.  So I'd check out the videos for Key#2 and 3 in this thread.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/61376/5sk-video-thread

Try to get that left knee looking like these guys on the downswing, feet flare at address makes this easier to do.

[Sai-Jin]

Originally Posted by David in FL

I just read your review on the Nike VRS Covert Tour Hybrid.  The review was a little sparse in terms of real info, but I noted that you did say that even with the smallish head, you didn't have any problems "hitting it flush".

Have you considered putting it in the bag?

1. Sorry for the review, please tell me what extra info you are expecting of me.

2. I forgot to mention... this new hybrid that I have, I installed a premium shaft that's 2 inches longer than any 4H I own... I can hit any normal length 4H flush.

hope it clears it up.

Originally Posted by mvmac

Without seeing the swing, start off making sure the basic stuff is right, flare the feet you, with the longer clubs you can push the hips a little forward at address, helps with moving low point forward via Key #2.  Low left start lines mean the club face is aiming to the left and a good chance you need work on Key #2 weight forward and Key #3 flat left wrist.  So I'd check out the videos for Key#2 and 3 in this thread.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/61376/5sk-video-thread

Try to get that left knee looking like these guys on the downswing, feet flare at address makes this easier to do.

Thank you, I will try that in a few minutes. It's time for me to learn good long iron game.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

I forgot to mention... this new hybrid that I have, I installed a premium shaft that's 2 inches longer than any 4H I own... I can hit any normal length 4H flush.

Why would you do that?  I mean, it sounds like the answer to your original question is right there.  Get rid of the long shaft and put a normal length shaft back in it.

And regarding his comment on your review ... I can't speak for him, but for me, if I'm reading a review of a club, I want to know that the person writing it has at least some experience with that club.  Not just a handful of swings in a simulator bay off a mat.  You can't really learn much from that, can you?  I can go to golfsmith and whack their entire inventory into the nets all day long, but that's not really telling me anything (other than giving me a really sore back) so I would feel like I'd be doing people a disservice writing a review of a club from that.

I'm not saying that you do that all the time, but you write a lot of reviews ... enough to make one wonder if you are doing it to help others or just to add to your total.  If I am wrong, I sincerely apologize.

[David in FL]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

1. Sorry for the review, please tell me what extra info you are expecting of me.

2. I forgot to mention... this new hybrid that I have, I installed a premium shaft that's 2 inches longer than any 4H I own... I can hit any normal length 4H flush.

hope it clears it up.

Sounds like your problem may be with the extra length in the shaft......if you hit a standard length hybrid flush, why the extra 2 inches?  Stick with the standard lengths and it sounds like your problem may be fixed!

As to the review, I just would like to see a little more than "It had a small head, looked good, sounded muted, but I flushed it with a med/high trajectory."  All good to know, but maybe a little more in the way of specs and general on-course usefulness.  Just off the top of my head, and certainly not all inclusive:

-   How does it look at address?  Open, closed, neutral?

-   Are there any adjustable features?  If so, how did they work?

-   How's the finish?  Gloss, matte?

-   Alignment marks/aids?  Good, bad, helpful, distracting, none....?

-   What loft(s) were tested?  What iron would it replace?

-   How far did you hit it specifically, compared to how far you hit the corresponding iron?

-   What were the specs on the test shaft(s) you tested... length, weight, torque, flex?

-   Were the shafts appropriate to your swing/expectations?

-   How was the workability of the club?

-   Compared to an equivalent iron, could you flight the ball up or down?

-   How did the sole interact with the turf?

-   A lot of people like to use hybrids around the green.....how did it chip?  Was the hot face a factor?

-   What did you think of the stock grip?

-   How long did you test the club for?  On the course, range, or just in the hitting bay at the local Dicks?

-   If tested for a length of time, how did the club hold up?

etc, etc.......

Again, not to be picky, but if someone's going to benefit from a review......maybe even make a decision as to whether to even bother trying a club themselves, they need a little more than "it looks good and I hit it flush".

Just my .02 worth, which may actually be worth less than that......

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by David in FL

Sounds like your problem may be with the extra length in the shaft......if you hit a standard length hybrid flush, why the extra 2 inches?  Stick with the standard lengths and it sounds like your problem may be fixed!

As to the review, I just would like to see a little more than "It had a small head, looked good, sounded muted, but I flushed it with a med/high trajectory."  All good to know, but maybe a little more in the way of specs and general on-course usefulness.  Just off the top of my head, and certainly not all inclusive:

-   How does it look at address?  Open, closed, neutral?

-   Are there any adjustable features?  If so, how did they work?

-   How's the finish?  Gloss, matte?

-   Alignment marks/aids?  Good, bad, helpful, distracting, none....?

-   What loft(s) were tested?  What iron would it replace?

-   How far did you hit it specifically, compared to how far you hit the corresponding iron?

-   What were the specs on the test shaft(s) you tested... length, weight, torque, flex?

-   Were the shafts appropriate to your swing/expectations?

-   How was the workability of the club?

-   Compared to an equivalent iron, could you flight the ball up or down?

-   How did the sole interact with the turf?

-   A lot of people like to use hybrids around the green.....how did it chip?  Was the hot face a factor?

-   What did you think of the stock grip?

-   How long did you test the club for?  On the course, range, or just in the hitting bay at the local Dicks?

-   If tested for a length of time, how did the club hold up?

etc, etc.......

Again, not to be picky, but if someone's going to benefit from a review......maybe even make a decision as to whether to even bother trying a club themselves, they need a little more than "it looks good and I hit it flush".

Just my .02 worth, which may actually be worth less than that......

Taking and posting some pictures also help sometimes too.  (You may already do that, but its just a thought)

[Sai-Jin]

Just to close on the topic of the reviews: I get demo and prototypes most of the time and I spend around 5-7 days playing them, then I give feedback back to the rep.

My reviews I post here originally was to keep an archive for myself, but I thought that if I keep it simple, most people would find it easier to read, plus they can get the club features from the company direct. . And I try to not put too much personal opinion, specially because I know I love my own set and I can be pretty biased. So hope that clears it up.

But I'm sure there are people here who can write them better than me.

Back to my problem with long irons =)

@MVMAC: Thanks for the tips, just got back form the range and I was flushing 4i and 5i (should have brought my 3i too) . The flatter take away and flatter down swing combined with

more pronounced hip push helps a lot. It does feel that the flatter plane is quite subtle and not a big change... is this how it's supposed to be?

@Golfingdad: Hi! Long time no talk. Well... the reason I wanted a longer shaft is because I want to be able to replace my normal 3 wood with this 4H . I got myself a Tour Spoon to fill the gap

between my 3W and Driver. So I thought that 2 inches longer = longer distance and if I need to hit a normal 4H distance, I just grip down 2-3 inches. When I grip down, it works great.

When I used its full length... it's top haven.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

@MVMAC: Thanks for the tips, just got back form the range and I was flushing 4i and 5i (should have brought my 3i too) . The flatter take away and flatter down swing combined with

more pronounced hip push helps a lot. It does feel that the flatter plane is quite subtle and not a big change... is this how it's supposed to be?

Just depends on the player, for some it can feel like a huge adjustment while for others it feels different but easier to implement.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

Driver and anything from 6i-LW I have pretty decent control, however, hitting 3i-5i as well as a 4H is troublesome for me.

I can feel hitting them all thin on 3i-5i and end up with a low left to right ball.

Whereas 4H I kept topping it.

I have a steep swing...  I was under the impression that we use 1 swing for all clubs, but I also heard that the longer the iron, the more

you have to have a 1 plane swing / wrap the club around you? Thus flattening it?

WHat's your thoughts on this.

Try getting closer to the ball.  It feels uncomfortable... But I'm learning (slowly)... That the closer I stand to the ball with my longer irons, the better.  Basically your arms should hang from your shoulder sockets freely... And you should be able to just place your hand with a pointed thumb between your groin and the handle of the golf club.  This is the proper spacing from the ball.  Often times, I get too far away from the ball with the longer clubs, thus hitting them lower and lower and thinner and thinner.  Getting closer - almost on top of the ball (it feels like it)... Helps me hit it more consistently.