Distance - Irons

[doubletripledouble]

Before I start, this isn't about willie waving or the like.

Over the winter at the range i've been trying to strike the ball a bit better. Trying to compress the ball more than what I used to do, i.e. sweep/shallow divots. Basically poor compression but not quite thinning it.

I was never 'that' short compared to most people around my handicap. But i could see maybe 1 or 2 clubs shorter than the boys that could hit a big iron.

Over the last few weeks i've seen a huge difference in distance. 1 1/2 to 2 clubs more. I'm trying to fathom if it's the contact of ball and ground or the 'lag' i'm generating with the wrists whipping through at the last second.

The question is... Am i on the way to being a good ball striker?

 

[GeordieAggro80]

How far are you hitting 7 irons for example? Im not a big hitter so only hit my 7 iron about 155. Pretty much 10 yards up and down from there per club!

 

[GeordieAggro80]

Omg. Laird just took a 6 iron on a 219 par 3!!!

I really need to get more distance!!!

 

[Imurg]

Omg. Laird just took a 6 iron on a 219 par 3!!!

I really need to get more distance!!!

Up your swing speed - it's the only way...

 

[doubletripledouble]

I hit 2 7 irons today in succession. One downhill into a breeze, and one uphill par 3. Both hit easy but very well and around 165-170.

 

[Trojan]

Omg. Laird just took a 6 iron on a 219 par 3!!!

I really need to get more distance!!!

Up your swing speed - it's the only way...

not true a good weight transition and timing of the arms coming through will generate better distance rater then just trying to swing faster and smash the ball out the park...

question is why bother trying to hit the ball a long way when the next club or 2 down with get you the yardage you want.

hard to judge if your a good ball stricker without seeing you hit a bal?!

 

[doubletripledouble]

Omg. Laird just took a 6 iron on a 219 par 3!!!

I really need to get more distance!!!

Up your swing speed - it's the only way...

The pro's are silly long with irons. And most look effortless at that!

 

[chris661]

Omg. Laird just took a 6 iron on a 219 par 3!!!

I really need to get more distance!!!

Up your swing speed - it's the only way...

The pro's are silly long with irons. And most look effortless at that!

Good technique and the fact they are hitting a 4 iron that is stamped as a 6iron

 

[doubletripledouble]

not true a good weight transition and timing of the arms coming through will generate better distance rater then just trying to swing faster and smash the ball out the park...

question is why bother trying to hit the ball a long way when the next club or 2 down with get you the yardage you want.

hard to judge if your a good ball stricker without seeing you hit a bal?!

I'm not trying to hit it further. It is just the by product of me attempting to strike the ball better, so as to become a better golfer and hopefully onto single digits this year.

 

[doubletripledouble]

Omg. Laird just took a 6 iron on a 219 par 3!!!

I really need to get more distance!!!

Up your swing speed - it's the only way...

The pro's are silly long with irons. And most look effortless at that!

Good technique and the fact they are hitting a 4 iron that is stamped as a 6iron

Well seemingly the Caddies are where they get the numbers from that pop up on screen, and they do like to big up their guy!

 

[ScienceBoy]

This is all a little confusing.

When out with my pro I tried to pull out a PW iron to hit it 130, what I thought was sensible for the hole. He told me even he would hit a 9 iron.

OK I proceeded to thin it through the back but what he said to me has stuck.

You do not need to hit a 7 iron 170 if you can hit it well and accurately 150 like I do. Most of the time its better to over club than under club so swallow your pride guys and find more greens!

Even the single figure players I play with only hit a 7 iron 160 or so its not a bad thing to hit a 7 iron 150/155 and you really do not need more unless the situation warrents it.

BTW I have hit a 200 yard 6 iron before, downwind, downhill to about 6 feet for my second shot on a par 5

 

[doubletripledouble]

Like I said SB, my aim wasn't to hit the ball further.
Better, more consistent ball contact instead of an inconsistent slap, nip, thinny contact was my aim. Which hit 152 average when I was fitted for my irons.

 

[EZprophet]

When I was growing up playing golf I would just swing every club as hard as I physically could to get the maximum distance. My iron distances were 145 for my PW, 180 for my 7, 230 for my 3 iron etc. but I was always an 11-12 handicapper.

It wasnt till about a couple of years ago when I began to take the game more serious and try to improve that I began to reign in my swing to get more accurate and consistent. Now my distances are like 130 for a PW, 165 for a 7 iron and 210 for a 3 iron, but I am ten times the ball striker I was then and my hadicap is now 4.

Distance is hugely important without a doubt, but NOT at the cost of consistency and accuracy.

 

[Mongoose]

Lofts on modern irons vary a lot between differing sets, so distance for each club can vary between sets and make comaprisons a bit ambiguous. Consistent distance with accuracy is the holy grail, even at the sacrifice of distance. I used to whack the heck out of it but quickly found that going for consistent distance gave me better results. For me in neutral conditions a 7I carry is 150yds and 10yd gaps between clubs.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

What you're experiencing my friend is the effect of warmer weather - sorry to disappoint

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The thing is, whatever distance you think you hit each club you really need to get out on the practice ground and measure them ideally with a GPS or similar) and get an average. When I did it I hit 10 downwind and discarded any mishits and worked out my best (purely struck) and the the average. I then went to the other end into the wind (slight breeze about 5-10 mph) and repeated. It took some time but at least I know what each club will give me

 

[JustOne]

The question is... Am i on the way to being a good ball striker?

Distance and ball striking aren't the same thing.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Play your own game!! Don't worry what other players are hitting/using.

I've never been a big hitter of irons - I'm normally two clubs shorter than anyone else but it doesn't bother me - it's where the ball ends up that bothers me.

Our club pro hit a gap wedge 150 yards the other day. "What do you use in the summer on this hole?" was asked - his reply??

"My 60 degree lob wedge."

150 yards for me is a 6 or 7 iron - maybe 8 if it's downhill and wind behind.

We're all different - our handicap should make us the same.