Iron out the Basics

 Improving iron play is the key to making more birdies!! 🐦




Stance and Setup

  • Feet Position: Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. For shorter irons your feet can be slightly closer together, while for longer irons they should be slightly wider.
  • Ball Position: Place the ball in the middle for mid-irons. The ball should be slightly behind the centre of your stance for shorter irons and progressively closer to the front foot for longer irons.
  • Weight Distribution: Distribute your weight evenly between both feet, with slightly more pressure on your front foot (about 55% front, 45% back). This helps promote a descending strike on the ball.

Grip

  • Hold the Club: Position your hands so that your lead hand (left hand for right-handed players) has a "V" formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing toward your back shoulder. Your trail hand (right hand for right-handed players) should complement the lead hand, gripping lightly but securely.
  • Hand Position: The hands should be slightly ahead of the ball at address, with the club shaft leaning slightly forward.

Posture

  • Back Straight and Hips Hinged: Stand tall with your back straight, then hinge from the hips to bend forward slightly. Your knees should be flexed slightly.
  • Arms and Hands: Let your arms hang naturally, with a slight bend in your elbows.

Swing Mechanics

  • Takeaway: Start the backswing by turning your shoulders and chest, keeping your hands and arms relaxed. Your clubhead should remain low to the ground as you initiate the takeaway.
  • Backswing: Rotate your shoulders, keeping your arms connected to your body. For a consistent swing, avoid lifting the club too steeply. The club should be at about a 90-degree angle to your arms at the top of the backswing.
  • Downswing: Start your downswing by shifting your weight toward your front foot and rotating your hips. Your hands and arms should naturally follow, and the club should strike the ball after the low point of the swing making contact with the ball first, then the ground.
  • Impact: At impact, your hands should be slightly ahead of the ball, and the club should descend through the ball for a crisp strike. This creates the desired compression of the ball.
  • Follow-through: Continue rotating your body through the shot, allowing the club to swing around your body. Your weight should finish mostly on your front foot, with your body facing the target.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Basics of Driving

Image
Setting Up for the Drive Grip : Use the standard interlocking grip Stance : Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width, with a slight bend in your knees. This stance helps provide stability and balance. Ball Position : Position the ball just inside your front foot (left foot for right-handed players). Placing the ball forward helps you hit up on it. Backswing Tip Takeaway : Start the backswing with a slow, smooth takeaway. Keep the club low to the ground for the first few inches. Rotation : As you bring the club back, rotate your shoulders and allow your hips to turn naturally. Arm and Wrist Position : Keep your left arm straight (for right-handed golfers) and avoid "breaking" your wrists too early. Top of the Swing At the top of the swing, your left shoulder should be under your chin (for right-handers), and your club should be high and pointing in the general direction of your ta...
Read more

Basics of Pitching

Image
Pitching is a high lofted shot that is used to play a 40-120 yard shot. Club Selection Use a pitching wedge, sand wedge or lob wedge as the loft of the club will launch the ball into the air. Pitching fundamentals The grip, ball position and weight distribution is the same as the chipping technique. Feet Closer Together - Stand with your feet slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart. This narrower stance helps maintain control and balance. Hands Ahead Of The Ball - Keep your hands slightly ahead of the ball at address. This setup helps you hit down on the ball with a descending blow, which is key to a solid strike.    Pitching swing The pitching swing is like a mini version of your full swing. The focus is on control, precision, and making clean contact. Shorten Backswing - The backswing for a pitch shot is shorter than for a full swing. Depending on the distance of your shot, the length of your backswing will vary: Descending Strike - The goal of a pi...
Read more

Basics of Putting

Image
You know what they say 'drive for show and putt for dough!!💸💸' Putting is a vital aspect of the game and usually will make up around half the shots during your round, so really can be make or break. -Get Confident Find a putter you find comfortable including size of the head and grip and the length. -Putting Stance                                                                                                                                                       Your feet should be shoulder width apart. The ball should be slightly in fr...
Read more