Iron hitting help?

[Scottsdale816]

I've have always had problems hitting my irons, I would always take a huge chunk of ground before striking the ball. I've gotten better at making contact but am having to put the ball real far forward in my stance, actually lined up with my left foot(right handed hitter). When doing this I hit the ball good. How can I correct this so I can hit the ball more center of my stance?

[Ernest Jones]

  Scottsdale816 said:

I've have always had problems hitting my irons, I would always take a huge chunk of ground before striking the ball. I've gotten better at making contact but am having to put the ball real far forward in my stance, actually lined up with my left foot(right handed hitter). When doing this I hit the ball good. How can I correct this so I can hit the ball more center of my stance?

That's interesting. Usually when people are hitting everything fat the ball position starts to creep back until they can hit it solidly which brings its own set of issues. Fats are almost always a weight shift issue.

Just guessing, but by moving the ball so far forward you are sort of forcing yourself to shift your weight more, just make sure you aren't moving your upper body forward too. @iacas and @david_wedzik actually had me setting up with the ball beyond my left foot to work on some issues I was having. I would suggest working on your weight shift (keep the head back though!) and posting some video in a "My Swing" thread so we can see what you are actually doing as it may differ from what it feels like you are doing.

[Abu3baid]

Why do you want to hit the ball more center of your stance? All of my irons are basically close to my left heel, no need to put in center.. if you had said that you have to put them in the back of your stance then that would be an issue because it would probably mean you are flipping pretty badly at the ball and losing major distance while not making good contact.

[3iron]

You need to place the ball just forward of the bottom of your swing.  The bottom of your swing may vary depending on the conditions you are standing on or even how you are swinging that day.  The better you get at striking the ball, the more placement position will become automatic.

For now, you should look where your divot begins and place the ball there.  If you begin making divots in front of the ball, move it back, behind the ball, move it forward.  That will get you hitting the white ball more than the big green ball more often.  Study the swing and make adjustments as you get better.

[DrvFrShow]

  Scottsdale816 said:

I've have always had problems hitting my irons, I would always take a huge chunk of ground before striking the ball. I've gotten better at making contact but am having to put the ball real far forward in my stance, actually lined up with my left foot(right handed hitter). When doing this I hit the ball good. How can I correct this so I can hit the ball more center of my stance?

Since you only have 3 posts. I'd say welcome. Why don't you get a video of your swing and put it in the "My Swing" section.

Follow these instructions: http://thesandtrap.com/t/38240/my-swing-video-threads-rules-please-read

I played the ball back in my stance, but didn't have a scooping issue. It was caused by something else which changed the swing arc.

In the thread, identify what your misses are. You said making solid contact is an issue. Is there anything else? Are your shots going weak right? Hooking? You mentioned fat.

At the moment, I'm working on contact drills. I'd start with your pitching wedge and try to hit this shot as low as you can to a target about 60 yds away. Use alignment sticks if you need to. I highly recommend them. I use three of them: two parallel and the third perpendicular on the inside one to mark my center. This makes me keep the ball position, set up, and club head alignment consistent during my practice.

[Patch]

Unless you know for sure you can hit the ball better if it's more in the center of your stance, as opposed to more forward in your stance, I would leave the ball forward.

Below is a C&P; out of my own golf note book on fat shots. It's not a cure all, but it works for me should I need to look for a reason(s) if I start hitting fatties.  .

*Bent front knee causing reverse pivot.
*Rear shoulder lowering during the down swing.
*Dropping rear shoulder too much at address.
*Not using one piece take away.
*Too much weight on rear foot at impact.
*Dropping shoulders during the down swing. (falling forward)
*Throwing club from the top.

[mvmac]

  Scottsdale816 said:

I've have always had problems hitting my irons, I would always take a huge chunk of ground before striking the ball. I've gotten better at making contact but am having to put the ball real far forward in my stance, actually lined up with my left foot(right handed hitter). When doing this I hit the ball good. How can I correct this so I can hit the ball more center of my stance?

When the ball is in the middle of your stance you chunk it and when it's forward you hit it solid?

Most irons should be played a ball or two inside your left heel. Even on wedge shots I play the ball forward of the middle of my stance.

If you struggle with contact I would look at the drill below and this thread

  DrvFrShow said:

  3iron said:

You need to place the ball just forward of the bottom of your swing.  The bottom of your swing may vary depending on the conditions you are standing on or even how you are swinging that day.  The better you get at striking the ball, the more placement position will become automatic.

For now, you should look where your divot begins and place the ball there.  If you begin making divots in front of the ball, move it back, behind the ball, move it forward.  That will get you hitting the white ball more than the big green ball more often.  Study the swing and make adjustments as you get better.

I'm not sure how you came to this way of thinking but it's the opposite. For iron shots the ball should be placed before low point. The bottom of the swing arc is generally the left shoulder. Poor players have their swing bottom out before the ball, good players have their low point forward of the ball. Good players hit the ball first and the divot comes after it.

[Ernest Jones]

  mvmac said:

I'm not sure how you came to this way of thinking but it's the opposite. For iron shots the ball should be placed before low point. The bottom of the swing arc is generally the left shoulder. Poor players have their swing bottom out before the ball, good players have their low point forward of the ball. Good players hit the ball first and the divot comes after it.

Pretty sure he was just expressing himself poorly. I think he's calling the non-target side of the ball (for lack of a better term, lol) as "in front" of the ball. I doubt he is advocating starting your divot before contact...I hope...lol.

EDIT* Just read it again... ...I am no longer sure...

[mvmac]

  Ernest Jones said:

Pretty sure he was just expressing himself poorly. I think he's calling the non-target side of the ball (for lack of a better term, lol) as "in front" of the ball. I doubt he is advocating starting your divot before contact...I hope...lol.

EDIT* Just read it again......I am no longer sure...

I think you're right.

[billm408]

Agree with mvmac. Lowest point of the swing is aligned with the left armpit. Everything should be played about a ball back of that point- approx. ball to ball & half inside left heel. I play everything just inside my left heel unless I'm trying to manufacture a lower ball flight or adjusting to uneven lies. Hoping 3 iron is just confusing ball:divot relationship. Divot is always after the ball.