I can't hit my 5 iron

[chadw97]

I started playing again recently. I am not a good golfer though. I usually hit double bogeys and bogeys. Like I said in the title, I can't hit my 5 iron. I don't know if it is because I have really cheap golf clubs. $200 for the complete set plus an additional 2009 burner driver. Or, if it is because I am doing something wrong. I hit my 5 iron worst than my 9 iron. Is their a certain technique for a 5 iron. Such as where to put the ball in my stance? Please give me some tips. Thanks.

[norrisedgar]

How do you get on with the 4 and 6 iron? When you say you can't hit it do you mean it just doesn't go as far as your 9 iron or do you constantly top it or fat it etc.? Since you said you are new to golf you have to bear in mind that the long irons are the hardest to hit. They have the smallest sweet spot of any of your clubs.

I very much doubt it has any thing to do with the clubs at your level unless you are trying to play with blades of course .

[chadw97]

Yes, I occasionally top it and also, I get similar distance with my 5 and 9 and the 5 should be much farther I believe.

[norrisedgar]

Yes typically if you hit a 9 iron 140 yards a 5 iron should go about 185-190 yards. Well my suggestion would be to stay away from the long irons until you become more proficient with your other clubs. If you struggle to consistently strike say a 7 iron properly you will find it almost impossible to get a 5 out of the sweetspot. I know that's probably not what you want to here. If must use your long irons remember the fact that they are still an iron and you must hit down on the ball. Nearly every beginner I have seen starts by trying to lift the ball with their hands and body because they are under the delusion that the loft won't do the work for them.

Try practicing some half or 3/4 shots and make sure you hit down and through the ball not up and out at it. When you finish your swing nearly a 100% of your weight should be on your lead foot. That's your right if you're a lefty . You'll be amazed at how far you can actually hit the ball with a well executed half swing.

Hope this helps,

Dan

[chadw97]

Okay. Thanks for the help. I will remember this next time i'm at the course.

[fersman4]

For the past few years the longest iron in my bag is a 6-iron. Below that I use hybrids, which don't give me the same kind of trouble as the longer irons, for some reason. I don't worry about looking like a wuss with my 5-hybrid. I let the score do the talking.

[norrisedgar]

Better to look a wuss then duffing it 20 yards with a 3 iron lol. Actually I remember reading somewhere that under controlled testing hybrids went higher and father then the equivalent iron.

[dsc123]

You're probably not hitting the center of the face.  I had this problem when I bought new irons and that's all it was.  Try putting masking tape on the clubface and seeing where your impact is.