Irons - arrrrrgggghhhhh

[golf_bug]

Session at the range this evening started promisingly. Started with some 8irons off the grass (hate the mats) and was genuinely pleased with consistency of strike and distance. 7iron next - still pretty good, but are they going that much further than the 8iron? Onto the 6iron - strikes are becoming more inconsistent and a gentle hook appears.....convince myself its a draw....I'm still enjoying myself. 5iron gets an outing next and I display the full gambit of rubbish golf shots - fat, thin, hook and slice - I can play them all. My mood is now not so good.

Throw the 5iron at the bag and get out the big stick. Hit 5 massive drives exactly where I want them to go.

It is this kind of inconsistency that really is driving me crazy. I have no confidence in my irons any more - anything above a 7iron and I seriously start thinking about laying up.

Any ideas on how I can improve my consistency with the mid-long irons?

 

[JustOne]

Yeh.. practice more!!!

Remember the picture that was posted about Tiger's ball position the other day... do you follow that?

here it is...

 

[golf_bug]

Driver position looks similar I guess, but i suppose I do stand a bit close with my irons.

I'm wondering whether my irons are too short?! I am 6ft and they are standard length

 

[JustOne]

Nope, they would be perfect length.

Got a swing vid or picture of your setup?

...and do you normally try and hit a draw?

 

[golf_bug]

here is the most recent vid i have, which you have seen before - 7iron:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XARS2oqtVhk

 

[golf_bug]

.............and no I usually just try and hit it straight

 

[Imurg]

Hold Up!
I always thought that shaft length had more to do with your wrist to floor measurement rather than height?

A 6 footer with short arms would surely need longer shafts and vice versa.

You can't confirm shaft length just by someone's height...

 

[JustOne]

That's true... however I think I can safely say that UNLESS YOUR KNUCKLES EITHER SCRAPE ON THE GROUND OR DON'T REACH PAST YOUR NIPPLES a standard length shaft will be perfect for a 6 footer.

I take it that you are positive that your clubs actuallyARE standard length and you didn't buy them second hand from a #cough# vertically challenged individual?

 

[Imurg]

That's true... however I think I can safely say that UNLESS YOUR KNUCKLES EITHER SCRAPE ON THE GROUND OR DON'T REACH PAST YOUR NIPPLES a standard length shaft will be perfect for a 6 footer.

http://www.krookedstix.com/lengthchrt.htm

Well according to this chart if you're a 6 footer then you have a 1/2 inch "window" in wrist to floor length before you need non-standard shafts. Not meaning to be pedantic but its dangerous to assume - half an inch isn't a lot.

 

[JustOne]

Well according to this chart if you're a 6 footer then you have a 1/2 inch "window" in wrist to floor length before you need non-standard shafts.

Actually that chart says that you have the same ½ inch window if you are anywhere from 5'4" to 6'2".

As I don't happen to think a ¼ inch club change will affect Golf Bugs swing to any measurable degree it's actually more like a 3½ inch wrist height "window" before a HALF INCH club adjustment would be required (33 inches to 36.5 inches)

Maybe he should see how he gets on playing in heels versus flip-flops?

 

[JustOne]

here is the most recent vid i have, which you have seen before - 7iron:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XARS2oqtVhk

I remember that one It looked pretty nice.

You do come over the top slightly and the club head dives back inside the line very quickly, that one went quite far left of where you were aiming.... not exactly straight.

You say in your post "strikes are becoming more inconsistent and a gentle hook appears.....convince myself its a draw". I can't see how you can hook it (or draw it) from that position as there's no way you are swinging or hitting out to the right.

Before you can get something solid going you need to settle on a swing plane that you are happy with and kinda 'make it happen' accordingly, if you know what I mean. Do you want to draw or fade the ball?

If you want to be hitting a draw then you need to be hitting it out to the right of that yellow line.

regards...

 

[golf_bug]

not that bothered about hitting a draw/fade really, just want consistency. Are you saying my swing is better suited to a fade because I am out to in?

 

[The23rdman]

not that bothered about hitting a draw/fade really, just want consistency. Are you saying my swing is better suited to a fade because I am out to in?

I think he may be saying it's worth spending some time to correct your swing path so you can hit clubs longer than a 5 iron straight.

your bad shot was probably a pull/hook.

 

[JustOne]

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with hitting a fade, Colin Mongomerie hits it and he won the Order of Merit something like 7 times in a row. It's just down to you what feels the most natural, the shape you WANT to hit and how much work you are prepared to put into it. The swing on the vid is definately a fade. If you are pulling out a 4-iron and thinking DRAW from right to left then perhaps that's what is upsetting your swing and making it inconsistant.

 

[RGDave]

I'm wondering whether my irons are too short?! I am 6ft and they are standard length

I've been through the C/F lark a few times and each time I've come out with longer clubs. I'm 6'.

Longer clubs on their own are not really an answer because that is where the whole lie issue comes into it's own.

Think about it, my clubs are effectively an iron longer than standard. What's important is that the lie then reflects this. So my 5i (for example) has the length of a 4 iron but coincidentally the lie of a 5i, but that's going to be different for everybody.

I hit the ball better and straighter with C/F clubs....no doubt....but it doesn't happen overnight.

The only way to double-check is to go for a fitting.

I could "physically" play with a set 1/2 an inch short, but if the lie was not right, I'd start getting in all sorts of trouble....bad habits, uneven divots etc.

 

[RGDave]

Back to the question.....(whoops, got carried away)

It's almost certainly a ball position inconsistency i.m.o.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I was going to suggest ball position too. Try moving it back an inch or so. It will look and feel very different but trust it and try and put a normal smooth swing on it

 

[golf_bug]

Homer and Dave
Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a bash and see what happens.

I think one of my problems is that I tinker with my swing too much. If i hit a bad shot i immediately try to analyse and rectify it. As a result I don't really know what my 'normal' swing is any more! One of the tips Neil Plimmer gave me was to take ownership of my swing, and discard the things that aren't working.

Perhaps I need a lesson with Pro to get me back on track.

 

[RGDave]

Perhaps I need a lesson with Pro to get me back on track.

Maybe.....but if you can hit short irons and wood/drivers well, then it must just be tinkering you need.

My inconsistency just gets worse as the club gets longer. My woods/rescues between 15-20 degrees are pretty reliable now I've got comfy with ball placement. It's just the driver to fix now.

 

[JustOne]

Hiya, following on from your PM's here's a pic....
(If you want the drill I mentioned then PM me)

Your pre-shot routine concerned me slightly and it's something that you might reconsider.

Can you see how high you get the club head? At no time in your swing will the clubhead ever get to that position above your head.

Also can you see that you have the club leaning FORWARD (in front of the red vertical line I've drawn), your club should be leaning the OTHER WAY. The club is heading well off plane, it's supposed to go behind you.... I've drawn the shaft in yellow.

Like I said in the PM, just another thing to think about

Regards as always...