The hard work is done. You've walked to the tee, hit the ball solidly and now your ball is right down the center of the fairway. You are 150 yards from the flagstick and you have to take out your iron and hit a shot to the middle of the green. If you can blast that tee shot, you can certainly hit an iron without at any trouble, right? Not so fast. Hitting an iron requires strategy, proper alignment and a complete swing.
Step 1
Determine the path you want your ball to take to reach the green. While you want to get the ball as close to the pin as you can, you have to look at your surroundings. Is there a water hazard in your path? Will you be taking a chance at hitting into a bunker? Are there trees that come into play? If you face a hazard, you may be better off going around it instead of challenging it, depending on your ability level.
Step 2
Square yourself to the target before you swing. When golfers hit irons, there is a tendency to open their shoulders. This can result in a hook or slice, depending on the other variables in your swing. However, if your left shoulder--for a right-handed golfer--is facing the target, you have a better chance of getting the ball where you are aiming it. Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart and you play the ball midway in your stance.
Step 3
Take a firm grip on the club. You may have tightened your grip with your drive, so your tendency is to loosen up a bit when you hit with your irons. That would be a mistake. You need a firm grip with iron play. Grip the club at a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10 on all shots. Loosening the grip increases the likelihood of your shot veering off course.
Step 4
Hit down on the ball to let the loft of the iron work for you. You must hit down on the ball to get it up in the air when you take a swing with an iron. If you take a small divot after you strike the ball, you are hitting the iron with the correct angle. To hit the ball well with an iron, you must take a full backswing and hit the ball with a descending blow, as opposed to the sweeping swing you use with your driver.
Step 5
Make a full follow-through with your iron. You may be anxious or excited to see where your ball will go, so your inclination may be to pick up your head and watch. You need to take a full follow-through if you want to keep your shot straight and on course. Make sure your hands are up to shoulder level before finishing your swing.
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