Weight shift difference between short, mid, long irons?

[Roenie]

For shorter clubs, say the 7 iron to SW I put most of my body weight (70%) on the front foot and keep it there throughout the swing.

Quite clearly my aim is to hit the ball on the downswing.

Let's call this swing type (A), or "staying forward".

With a long club, e.g. the driver, my weight starts 50/50 between both legs, then loads up on to the back foot during the backswing.

My body weight then shifts to the front foot during the swing, while my head stays behind the ball.

My hips move toward the target but not a massive amount because I want to hit the ball on the upswing.

Let's call this swing type (B), or "hanging back".

These two shots are simple to remember and execute because they are opposite extremes.

My brain knows very clearly what to do. It's either an A shot or a B shot.

The 4-6 irons, however, sit right inbetween those two club length extremes and that confuses my mind, this uncertainty leads to bad contacts.

With the 4-6 irons, I start with my weight distributed roughly 50/50, then try to load up weight into my back foot during the backswing, without swaying. The subsequent weight shift from the back foot to the front foot and hip movement toward the target (to get to a similar, steep impact position like in "A"), make it difficult to get a consistent contact, and I feel it's mostly because there isn't a clear enough definition in my head for exactly how much I'm going to hit each of the 4,5 and 6 irons like (A), and how much like (B).

Do you have any tips how to stop this uncertainty? Very much appreciated.

If you don't mind, please mention how / if any advice given applies to the 2 or 3 iron as well.

(I don't have these in my bag, but I'd still appreciate the insight as it will help me better understand how to play different length irons in general.)

[Roenie]

I can't edit my previous post anymore, so I'll add this here - a buddy mentioned:

Think of it like this: the 2-4 is a wood type shot clean pick no divot, 5-9 u want to not pick clean.
The loft of them just doesnt really lend towards a non clean pick.

[mvmac]

Do you have any tips how to stop this uncertainty? Very much appreciated.

If you don't mind, please mention how / if any advice given applies to the 2 or 3 iron as well.

(I don't have these in my bag, but I'd still appreciate the insight as it will help me better understand how to play different length irons in general.)

You're making the same swing except the ball position changes. You shouldn't consciously shift more or less weight forward depending on the club. Just stick with one simple swing thought/one priority piece.

[Roenie]

Thanks. Did that at the range today with my 4 iron off the mat and hit it well, ball slightly forward in my stance, launched up in the air just great. I can easily send it too high even, by placing the ball forward a bit more.

The 6 iron felt good too with the same swing, ball more centered.

Does that include wedges and short irons? Do you mean to say with those clubs you load up weight into your back foot, push off and shift weight forward just like any iron shot? For pitches I seem to get a solid strike more consistently when I put most of my weight on the front foot to begin with, and keep it there. It leads to less movement on the shot. The ball goes just as far as with a "weight shift" swing. The latter surprised me, so just for kicks, I tried doing this with my 6 iron to see if I would lose any distance compared to a good strike with weight shift back to front - nope, no difference.

[DrvFrShow]

Seriously stick with doing one thing. Don't mess around. Groove your priority piece.