How do you hit the rescue?

[Basher]

I have a 3 iron/wood rescue club in my bag, steel shafted.
Trouble is, I have some difficulty hitting the ball with it.
Whether it be off the tee, on the fairway or in the light rough.

Any of you good people give me any tips as to correct swing plane, ball position etc please. I keep trying distance shots with my 5 wood which often results in overshooting the green. Other option in most cases is the 4 iron which often falls short.

Cheers.

 

[Fore]

One set up routine i have seen for rescue/hybrid clubs suggest you have your insteps in line with the middle of your shoulders and the ball roughly halfway between middle and your front foot instep/heel.

The following link may be of assistance.

www.free-golf-lessons.com/golf-instruction.html

 

[RGDave]

I guess the full answer is 1.ball position and 2.swing

1. I probably use 4 approximate ball positions truth be told. Driver, fairway woods, long-mid irons, short irons.

It's all done with a kind of "feel/visual" judgement.

Recently, I was given the advice on here to move my rescue position forward a bit, which means more like a 5 wood, and it certainly helped. I've also been experimenting with the ball opposite my logo (see the very good link above) and leaving it there for all clubs but narrowing my stance. But I'm not entirely happy with this, because my feet have got terribly close on short irons.

2. I tend to hit my fairway woods and hybrid better than my irons because although I have an extended flat spot at the bottom of my swing, it rarely gets steep enough for a divot (unless with wedges, when normally, yes) I try to hit my rescue a little downward (like a mid iron) and this works for me.

Trial and error beyond that. Interestingly, despite what you read and hear, I've seen a lot of swings on the Swing-Vision camera (lots on you tube) and plenty of top players catch their 5 woods and rescues a little bit on the down, not "sweeping away" as everyone always says it should be done....

 

[The23rdman]

Simply play it exactly like a long iron.

 

[Herbie]

Basher, if you hit other clubs well enough then you should be able to hit this one too, unless it is the wrong size for you or wrong grips. If you hit long irons reasonably well and the club is the right size for you and correct grip thickness for you then the answer to your problem is in your head!

 

[JustOne]

You should try to hit EVERY full shot with the ball more or less in the same position for every single club, left of center, somewhere towards your left heel (half way between center and left heel). If the ball feels too far forward generally it's because you are transferring too much to your right hand side... and the ball definately looks miles away from way over there!

You need to hit your rescue with a descending blow like an iron, no scooping. Your hands should be ahead of the ball as you strike - no 'throwing' the clubhead at it

Try turning without moving your weight to the right, left shoulder ends up pointing right in the middle of your stance. On the way down just think about turning left and getting to the nice posed finish, hands going through first.

(note: I appreciate it's easy to say these things without seeing your swing but you should always try and stick to the basics...the rest follows accordingly.)

If you follow the link above you'll be pretty close. Personally, whilst I think his ball position is good his hands need to be a little (2 inches) more forward, just inside his left thigh, ahead of the ball.

Out of interest where would you say you normally position your 7-iron?

Regards...

 

[Basher]

Thanks for the info guys, briliant!

I normally position my 7 iron bang in the centre of my stance with my hands slightly forward. I'm guilty of casting the club sometimes so my impact position doesn't always mirror my address position.

Generally position the short irons back in my stance, will try more forward for my full shots.