Adjusting to new clubs

[aaronwright21]

2 weeks ago I just got my new AP2's.  I am 6'4'' and had them extended 1", lie angle changed 3 degrees upright, and midsize grips. I am a baseball player at heart, but have been golfing for the past 5 years and really starting to get into it.  I have been shooting in the 80's for the past year or two and wanted to take my game to the next level so I bought the new irons.

Needless to say, it has been a struggle getting used to them.  I know it takes time and it shouldn't be a surprise because I've changed the grip, lie angle, and length.  I'm wondering if anybody has any tips or drills that they used when adjusting to longer clubs.  I'm not too worried about the lie angle and grip size (although it has seemed like my grip has weakened and the club is "slippery").   I'm trying to focus on picking the ball cleanly and being consistent with it-- I know the best drill for this is repetition.

I used to hunch over pretty significantly due to the smaller clubs so I know I probably have to work on my posture with the longer clubs.  I also used to hit my previous irons with a low ball flight, which I also believe was due to my club length being too short or me putting the ball too far back in my stance which leads to a low angle of attack.

I will try to put together a video of my swing and post it on My Swing section, but for right now any comments and tips would be greatly appreciated.

[vangator]

Trying to pick the ball is not the best plan of attack. Some courses are so hard they force you to, but normally the impact should still be slightly on the downswing. Picking is probably past that point. If the clubs are slippery, it sounds like the grips. I clean mine with warm water and Dawn dishwashing liquid before every use. When I get new clubs, it's the new yardages that get me.

[aaronwright21]

thanks vangator for the reply,

The grips are Golf Pride midsize multi compound.  I've heard everywhere that these are the bees knees so I figured I'd give them a shot.  I'll wait a few months or weeks before I come to a conclusion on them.  We will see......

I'm thinking I had bad habits with my old, standard sized clubs.  Hopefully it just takes time to get used to them!

[vangator]

I have Golf Pride Tour Wraps on my woods. They are fantastic when cleaned. I think the golf grip size charts suck. They call for too thin of a grip. I use jumbo grips. My hand size from wrist crease to middle finger tip is 7 3/4". Same as my... We won't go there. :-) Grip size should be when the tips of your fingers just touch the pad under your thumb.

[Bulletbone]

Hey man, you sound similar to me. Im 6'4 myself and  baseball player at heart. Played 3 years college ball. Only been golfing for 2 years. first year I would shoot 90 to 100 on a given day. Now i shoot 84-87. I Literally just got fitted myself because I wanted to take my game to the next level like you do. Give the clubs some time I promise you will not be dissapointed. I had my shafts 3/4 of an inch longer and had x100 shafts put in with a 2 wraps under standard size grips. Its taking some time to get used to them but man what a difference. Before I never knew if i was gonna fade or draw. Now Im playing dead straight with a small draw. Give it time you made the right choice getting fitted.

[Jakester23]

2 weeks ago I just got my new AP2's.  I am 6'4'' and had them extended 1", lie angle changed 3 degrees upright, and midsize grips. I am a baseball player at heart, but have been golfing for the past 5 years and really starting to get into it.  I have been shooting in the 80's for the past year or two and wanted to take my game to the next level so I bought the new irons.  Needless to say, it has been a struggle getting used to them.  I know it takes time and it shouldn't be a surprise because I've changed the grip, lie angle, and length.  I'm wondering if anybody has any tips or drills that they used when adjusting to longer clubs.  I'm not too worried about the lie angle and grip size (although it has seemed like my grip has weakened and the club is "slippery").   I'm trying to focus on picking the ball cleanly and being consistent with it-- I know the best drill for this is repetition. I used to hunch over pretty significantly due to the smaller clubs so I know I probably have to work on my posture with the longer clubs.  I also used to hit my previous irons with a low ball flight, which I also believe was due to my club length being too short or me putting the ball too far back in my stance which leads to a low angle of attack. I will try to put together a video of my swing and post it on My Swing section, but for right now any comments and tips would be greatly appreciated.

My suggestion would be to get out to the range when you have a hour or two and go through your bag hitting all your irons starting at about 50% speed. Make sure your hitting them good then go up to 75% then 85 ect... When I got my new irons I was looking for results and ignoring fundamentals. Those clubs are awesome stick with em.

[aaronwright21]

Vangator - Hey nobody asked for specific dimensions about your "GRIP" size!! Haha! I thought it was pretty funny actually. +1

I just had the grips put on when I got my new clubs (2 weeks ago).  I don't think I need to clean them yet but I've never cleaned my grips with any club so maybe I'm wrong.

I hit them yesterday and they felt much better.  I just started using a Nike all weather glove and it helped my grip a lot more.  I also tried to loosen my grip a little bit and I felt much better.  I would say my hand size is average.  Probably a little smaller than the average for how tall I am though.  I'm sure I'll get used to them.  They felt a lot better yesterday.

[aaronwright21]

Bulletbone - Thanks for the reassurance.  That's exactly what i like most about the clubs. I can plan for the draw.  I used to just hit it straight and it would fall left or right and I would have no idea why. Now I play a small draw and I can plan my shots around it.  It sounds like you're doing the same thing.  Do you hit your irons pretty long too? I was a pitcher in college, but I feel like I've been playing baseball for my entire life and its made me have a much stronger swing.  How far do you hit your PW? I hit mine about 155 and I do not like it lol I'd much rather be right around 135-140.  I feel like I'm the only one who's not trying to hit the ball further!

[aaronwright21]

My suggestion would be to get out to the range when you have a hour or two and go through your bag hitting all your irons starting at about 50% speed. Make sure your hitting them good then go up to 75% then 85 ect... When I got my new irons I was looking for results and ignoring fundamentals. Those clubs are awesome stick with em.

Jakester - Thanks for the response.  Where at in Wisconsin? I'm originally from NW Suburbs of Chicago.  If you aren't too far away from there we should get together next season and hit the links! I thought I saw you post something similar in the Wisconsin thread.

That's funny! I didn't even check this message and that's exactly what I did yesterday.  I tried to slow my swing down a lot and just focused on the ball at impact.  I just need to become familiar with the new length and then I can start to get the finer details figured out.

[Jakester23]

I'm about 1/2 hour west of Milwaukee.

[Bulletbone]

That's funny I was a pitcher in college as well. I hit my pitching wedge about the same. I would say 150ish. When I was fitted I was averaging 186yds carry with 6 iron. Sounds like we have some of the same problems.I don't know if I would give up my distance but I def would give up some height. I wish I could hit the ball lower.  I could probably be a single handicap If it wasn't for the driver. I mean 300 yds doesn't do any good in the woods lol. Anyway,Just keep hitting those irons it will come around. I actually posted a video of some of my swings in the member swing forums under (bulletbone). The more I hit these fitted irons the more I love em.  How you liking those AP2's? I was so close on pulling the trigger on those lol.

[Hammer 4]

2 weeks ago I just got my new AP2's.  I am 6'4'' and had them extended 1", lie angle changed 3 degrees upright, and midsize grips. I am a baseball player at heart, but have been golfing for the past 5 years and really starting to get into it.  I have been shooting in the 80's for the past year or two and wanted to take my game to the next level so I bought the new irons.

Needless to say, it has been a struggle getting used to them.  I know it takes time and it shouldn't be a surprise because I've changed the grip, lie angle, and length.  I'm wondering if anybody has any tips or drills that they used when adjusting to longer clubs.  I'm not too worried about the lie angle and grip size (although it has seemed like my grip has weakened and the club is "slippery").   I'm trying to focus on picking the ball cleanly and being consistent with it-- I know the best drill for this is repetition.

I used to hunch over pretty significantly due to the smaller clubs so I know I probably have to work on my posture with the longer clubs.  I also used to hit my previous irons with a low ball flight, which I also believe was due to my club length being too short or me putting the ball too far back in my stance which leads to a low angle of attack.

I will try to put together a video of my swing and post it on My Swing section, but for right now any comments and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Regarding the length and lie on your new irons. Were you fitted for those adjustments, or did you request them..?  Reason I ask is cuz just cuz your tall, doesn't always equate to longer clubs.

My Son is 6'5" and has Long a$$ arms, but his clubs were only fitted for 1" over, so it also depends on your arm span, and how you set up to the ball. anyways, hope you get those irons sorted out.

[aaronwright21]

Regarding the length and lie on your new irons. Were you fitted for those adjustments, or did you request them..?  Reason I ask is cuz just cuz your tall, doesn't always equate to longer clubs. My Son is 6'5" and has Long a$$ arms, but his clubs were only fitted for 1" over, so it also depends on your arm span, and how you set up to the ball. anyways, hope you get those irons sorted out.

Yes I was fitted. And I have short arms for my size anyways.