Hitting PW and 9 iron using a putter swing??

[JamesAA]

I've been VERY erratic hitting my irons.  I'll get the shanks and start violently spraying them to my right (I'm a righty).  I experimented "putting" the ball with my PW and 9.  They were all perfectly straight and quite high.  I was hitting the 9 iron 80 yrd-- ---very straight.

Is there any reason I shouldn't just stick with this unconventional method?  Obviously the ball isn't going as far (normally hit a 9 about 130-135 but there's always a huge chance I'll shank).  I'd rather hit 80 straight a very high percentage of times.  I don't know enough about the game, however, to know if this is a good or bad idea.

Thoughts?

And how in the hell could a putting swing with a 9 iron that I'm not using a ton of force with drive a ball that high and 80 yrds???  That blew me away.  I would've though35-40 yrds but those things were flying with barely any force.  Crazy!

[mvmac]

What might have felt like a putting stroke was probably longer than you think.

For long term improvement I would recommend posting some swings in the Member Swings forum and checking out this thread

Introduction to the PureStrike/5 Simple Keys® (5SK) Learning System

[JamesAA]

What might have felt like a putting stroke was probably longer than you think.

For long term improvement I would recommend posting some swings in the Member Swings forum and checking out this thread

Introduction to the PureStrike/5 Simple Keys® (5SK) Learning System

That certainly could be.  But for sure I kept my wrists locked and didn't bend the elbows--both of which you'd obviously do in a "real" swing using an iron.

I like your suggestion of posting a vid.  Great idea.  I will take some vids and upload here.  Thanks for the tip!

[Shorty]

And how in the hell could a putting swing with a 9 iron that I'm not using a ton of force with drive a ball that high and 80 yrds???  That blew me away.  I would've though35-40 yrds but those things were flying with barely any force.  Crazy!

Because you weren't using a putting stroke.

Perhaps a putting stroke for an 80 yard putt

[JamesAA]

Because you weren't using a putting stroke.

Perhaps a putting stroke for an 80 yard putt

Well I'm sure it was a lot faster than a putting stroke, but mechanically it was akin to a putting stroke--didn't break my wrists, didn't bend the elbows, etc.  I addressed the ball with the 9 iron as I would if I had a putter and was about to put.  Then I pulled the club back like I would a putter, but a bit further (if the club is at zero degrees when addressing the ball and 90 degrees when parallel to ground on your backswing, I was about 45 degrees).  But the motion was akin to a put.

[Ernest Jones]

Well, you're probably hitting them with the centre of the club face (sweet spot) which makes an enormous difference. I would stick with it and slowly build up to a longer, fuller swing. You'll get a good feel for staying on plane and getting good extension through the ball. I know when I'm playing well it kinda feels like neither elbows are bending but they are or they wouldn't get past hip high.

Quote:

Is there any reason I shouldn't just stick with this unconventional method?

Because you'll be severely limiting your potential. I think it's an OK starting point for building a swing though.

[dchoye]

I agree you probably weren't using a putting stroke When I use a putting stroke with a PW the ball goes several feet not yards Maybe you are using a pitching swing for your putting swing

[Patch]

It can be done. I use 100% putting stroke with a lot of my short irons for chips, and shorter pitch shots. You probably did have your wrists and elbows locked, but to get the distances you are providing, your were also turning your hips/shoulders to get the extra power into the back of the ball for those distances.

Personally I think it's a good stroke for the higher handicap golfer because it works well for the time being, and progresses to a more correct, longer stroke/distance in the future for the golfer. Once the golfer is comfortable with the stroke, all they have to do is start breaking their wrists and easing into a longer swing.