It is easy for a golf fan to marvel at how professional golfers hit their irons with such distance and precision. The ability to hit a golf ball 150 or 200 yards and have it land softly just a few feet from your target takes years of practice. For most amateur golfers, hitting your irons is an exercise in frustration most of the time. Your irons generally consist of your 3, 4, and 5 iron, also known as long irons; your 6, 7, and 8 iron, or mid-irons; and your 9 iron and pitching wedge, or short irons. To hit your irons with any consistency you must follow a few basic principles.
Step 1
Assume the basic golf stance of feet around shoulder width apart, knees slightly flexed and club positioned just behind the ball. Position the golf ball around the middle of your stance for most irons, and slightly toward your front foot for long irons.
Step 2
Swing down on the ball when you make contact. The goal is to hit the ball on a downward plane and take a divot immediately after you make contact with the ball. You must compress the golf ball between the face of the club and the ground, according to Golf.com. This will produce backspin like a professional golfer.
Step 3
Follow through toward your target, with your hips facing forward. Avoiding flipping your wrists to try and get the ball in the air. If you hit the ball properly, the loft on the golf club will send the ball into the air all by itself.
Tips and Warnings
- Visit the driving range and practice using all of your irons to get a feel for how far you hit each club. This will make club selection easier when you play a real game. Monitor your divots to see if your club is coming through toward the target. The small strips should face toward your target and not to the left or right. Replace your divots after each shot.
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