How to Hit Long Irons With Confidence and Precision
By John Holdsworth
By the nature of their design the longer clubs are harder to strike consistently well. If miss-hits creep into your game it tends to be with one of the longer irons. Most golfers are confident using a 9 iron but aren’t so sure about how to hit long irons. The club is longer and has less loft but if you make exactly the same swing with each club you can achieve consistent results.
If you are having problems hitting long irons a simple practice drill may restore your confidence. Hit alternate shots on the practice fairway with your 3 iron and 9 iron. Begin with the 9 iron as it is easier to hit. After a good shot change to the 3 iron - hitting long irons immediately after a good shot will give you’re the confidence to conquer the club you fear most. Work at making the same swing and try to maintain the same rhythm for every shot.
Most golfers understand the principle that you need to hit down on the ball to gain height on a shot. Achieving this on the golf course is harder to carry out. From the beginning of your downswing ensure that your hands lead the club head into the ball. If you let the club head get ahead of your hands you’ve got trouble as from this position it is impossible to put the club on a downward path into impact.
When the leading edge of the club head strikes the middle of the ball you hit a thin (also called a sculled shot). The ball flies very low and runs a long way. In dry conditions the ball can travel as far as a good shot and can finish close to the intended target. If the ground ahead is flat this shot is not such a problem. However, if there is a hazard in front of you, you may have a problem. A thin is more likely to happen when you try to hit the ball hard. This shot can happen from the longest iron to a short chip shot.
If you are striking the ball well but the trajectory of your shots is too low go back to basics and check your address position. Ensure that the clubface is aligned square to the ball to target line. The further you are from the hole, and therefore a longer shot, the more alignment faults are exaggerated.
Correct ball placement is one of the most neglected fundamentals in golf. Most players analyze their swing in search of the cause when their shot goes wayward but faulty ball position could be the problem. As little as half a ball width can make the difference between striking off the heel, toe or sweet spot
of the club. For your long irons the ideal position is opposite your left heel. As the club length shortens the ball should be nearer the middle of your stance.
These are just a few hints and tips on how to hit long irons which should help you learn to hit long irons with confidence and precision.
Find more information on how to hit long irons and when you can master that learn how to hit a draw and take your golf to the next level.
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