irons

gcurran97

anybody have any good iron drills ? my iron accuracy isn't very good and can't get it close enough to make a few birdies ?

TheDoc

Assuming we are talking about par4's, what iron are you hitting more commonly into the green?

ironkiwi

Apologies for hijacking the thread but I also have the same problem, I feel the rest of my game is decent but my appraoches to the green are hit well but accuracy is poor! I hit mainly 6 and 7 irons for my approaches.

Seve OB

I hate to point out the obvious, but I thought I was in the same boat as you guys with a reasonably decent game, grip/stance/swing etc...

1 lesson and a bit of practice later, the subtle changes definitely had me more accurate with my approach shots. Mind you,that was a while ago now as demonstrated last Saturday in Thurles!

So my advice, is get a lesson.

TheDoc

Yeah so we have something here that I think is worth mentioning.

Your talking about 7 and six irons 7irons and 6 irons. So I'm having a guess we are talking about 150-160 yards.

Your 7-8 iron are your bread an butter in a sense that when you hit them comfy, you should in theory be able to hit all the rest of your irons comfortable. But at the same time you need to be realistic.

What sort of handicapps are you guys on? Do you keep any sort of stats on how frquently your hitting the green and how much your missing?
Is it a case your making the greens, but you just want to be closer?

Be good to get ideas of what is the real problem and what you really want to improve, and then keep realistic goals in check. I did ALOT of work on what I would call "approach" shots, but I call them from about 120 yards in, maybe I use the wrong term

What sort of practice facilities do you have around? Club range, driving range? I for example use Portmarnock driving range to work on ****. €10 for two hours unlimited balls. Two times a week ( usually go in the evening) and I can really work on something with my game.

Do you have the cash to maybe grab a lesson? As above, a lesson can be invaluable, even just one. Most pro's/coaches can indicate a major flaw pretty quickly and maybe sort it out for you, and give you something to work from. Most single sessions are from 20-30 euro.

I also mentioned in another thread, be an idea if we had "pools" of players that lived nearby, played in the same area or even visited the same driving ranges. Could organise some meetups, or get someone to come with you to maybe have a look at your swing etc. I do this with mates, and its a godsend, it's tough to tell whats "actually" going on with your swing, when your not surrounded by video recorders

ironkiwi

With my 6-7 irons we are talking 150-160 yrds, I have a 18 handicap and would hit greens in regulations about 25% which imo is dreadful. Its not to get close to the pin for me, its actually get on the green and give myself a great chance for birdie/par.

I do have driving range near me and don't get out as often as I would like and maybe a lesson would sort the problem out.

TheDoc

WEll looking at an app I use, recommended by people here (golfshot Lite) it tells me the last three rounds ( all sub 79) I have a 57% GIR stat. That is from a small sample, only three rounds. I'd say that will drop as I put more rounds into it, just the way stats work.

Now if you think about it, that is 1 in 2 greens missed. That doesn't mean I'm spraying irons all over the place. Last three rounds I know were tough winds and dryed out the greens. Some shots were comfy on the green just didn't spin and rolled off, some were pins tucked into corners I attacked and just overhit, sitting in the fringe but still gave me a birdie putt.

Point I'm making is that app tells me my GIR is 57% which I guess doesnt "appear" to be a good stat, but we have to be realistic. We are amatuer golfers, we arn't going to be stitching pins. And I play of 7 Don't be too hard on yourself.

But at the same time I get you want to improve which is a good thing. It's tough to make a good call without seeing you play,and even that while there are guys that are good at giving advice, nothing beats an actual coach. I appreciate though not everyone has the money for lessons, or maybe doesn't want too. I went through two very damaging coaches as a youth that made my game very uncomfortable. You want to focus on ball striking, and getting a good strike. Youtube is a wealth of information now.

Mark Crossfield is a PGA coach very active on youtube that does some really good stuff. But try do some searching on ball striking. Being a good ball striker inherintly give you a decent swing, and really good opportunities with ironplay. Also I think the most common problem in amatuer golf when it comes to irons is underclubbing. I know I was a fiend for it. I wouldn't factor in slopes and gradients and how that can affect distance and never club properly for it. An example, if you are in the fairway that looks down on a green, drop a club, if your on a fairway that hits into an elevated green, go up a club. Stuff like that.

I took the time out to measure my clubs and distance one evening, and recheck the numbers every few months (I'm getting stronger etc from the odd workout and swing improvement). We make grand assumptions as average golfers.

7 iron for 150yards.
5 iron for 180 yards
p wedge for 100 yards

But in fact we all hit the ball differently and different lengths etc. So having a check of your distances might be a thing to look into.

When you say your not hitting greens, does it appear to be distance control, or is your ball flight throwing you off. And I mean, do you fade the ball and maybe miss greens to the right? Do you draw the ball and miss greens to the left? Are you hittin in low trajectory shots that maybe shoot through the green?

ironkiwi

First of all thank you for your advice, much appreciated.

I feel my ball striking is improving all the time and hitting the sweetspot with way more consistency now. I too have measured out my distances and now very comfortable in club selection for all shot towards the green, therefore my distance control would be very good, my problem could be setting up for my shot as the majority of my approaches go right of the green, there doesn't seem to be any fade on it though, my swing is throwing it off line.

I shall have a look at Mark Crossfield on youtube, and if that fails I will get a couple of lessons, I think that will sort out my problems, bit frustrating knowing I can hit the majority of fairways and putting is solid.

TheDoc

ironkiwi wrote: »

First of all thank you for your advice, much appreciated.

I feel my ball striking is improving all the time and hitting the sweetspot with way more consistency now. I too have measured out my distances and now very comfortable in club selection for all shot towards the green, therefore my distance control would be very good, my problem could be setting up for my shot as the majority of my approaches go right of the green, there doesn't seem to be any fade on it though, my swing is throwing it off line.

I shall have a look at Mark Crossfield on youtube, and if that fails I will get a couple of lessons, I think that will sort out my problems, bit frustrating knowing I can hit the majority of fairways and putting is solid.

Ok so your clubface is facing right of target on impact it sounds like. This can come from 1) Actually being slightly open at address or 2) Your shoulders and feed being a little off. So your feet might be on target, but your upper body isn't.

If the ball is going striaght right, sounds like a good strike. If the ball was fading it might indicate something more. So sounds like alignment is the problem.


Obviously there is the age old putting a club at your feet. This is a good start for your alignment and aim.
Then place an iron across your shoulders, even better get someone else. Then step away and look.

You will probably notice one is aiming towards the target, with the other aiming right. If you can get your feet and shoulders aligned, the rest takes care of itself I find.

I try to find a spot or marker in front of the ball, something, that I use as an immediate marker. From this I align my feet, then my clubhead, and my shoulders. Everything else falls into place. That is the purpose of my preshot routine, identifying the target in full, then a shorter target immediatly in front of the ball I can use to align myself.
Some people also stand upright before they set into the shot, and try look down their left shoulder to make sure they are aligned.

Some people hold their club out and all that jazz, try fit a routine that helps you keep feet, shoulders and clubhead aligned ( training stix are class for this btw, or jsut get some old clubs and snap the clubhead off and use the shaft. )

Seve OB

The thing about books and Youtube is unlike a lesson from a pro, Youtube can't put his arm on your shoulder and re-align it by an inch, or can't move your thumb around your grip, or can't kick in your heel to align your stance better, or move the ball closer to your feet so it's not to far away.... the list goes on, but I think I've made my point.

Youtube etc, is great for learning things, but when it comes to something which demands you to set yourself up in a way that you can't actually see what you are doing (be it right or wrong) it can be very difficult to follow the instructions!

The only possible way of using these as real aids is to set yourself up with a Video Camera, so you can analyse your own swing and pick out the errors (if you can... not an easy thing to do). So now you need to bring a tripod and camera and probably laptop with some sort of swing analyis software on it to the range with you. that way you can analyses each shot as you take it.

otherwise you can analyse it at home, but not really conducive to a proper session... you will just be hitting balls, not knowing where your mistakes are till you get home to analyse, and don't bother with camera phones, the screens are way to small to be able to analyse your swing properly.

feck all that... just get a lesson

ironkiwi

Thanks for all the advise,

I will look up some vids AND also get a lesson, setting up video cameras and analysing my own swing seems like a lot of work :eek:

spacecoyote

Have you done any work on your alignment?

I had a lesson earlier I'm the year. The pro had me hit some 7 irons & pointed out pretty much straight away that I was pointing right of target almost every time. The result was me hitting balls right or coming at the ball out to in as my body was compensating for the misalignment

Try sticking down some alignment sticks or even just a golf club after you address the ball & take a look. Clubface should be set up in line with target & your feet should be set up parallel but left of target (assuming you're right handed). If feet are pointing at the target you know your alignment us off!!

ironkiwi

Alignment is one thing I have not worked on too much and probably needs a lot more attention. I'll play a few holes tonight and focus on this and report back. I always line up my feet in the direction I want the ball to go but don't know what the rest of my body is doing?

TheDoc

Possible that we might be onto something, and it sounds like alignment

TheDoc

ironkiwi wrote: »

Alignment is one thing I have not worked on too much and probably needs a lot more attention. I'll play a few holes tonight and focus on this and report back. I always line up my feet in the direction I want the ball to go but don't know what the rest of my body is doing?

Shoulders should be on the same alignment as feet, and clubhead. Everyone else takes care of itself



To help and check, lay a club across your toe to toe at address and stand back and see where its aiming. Then you can also put a club across your chest from shoulder to shoulder and check aswell.

Normally though if your feet and clubhead are good, you are good. You should feel a weird twisty sensation if your shoulders are off, although some people don't.

I'd also advise making sure that on impact, you put the clubhead through straight a few inches towards the target. Some players have a tendancy to go into their finish to early, which leads to hooks and slices, by turning their body too quickly. So make that clubhead extend through the shot for a few inches then go into your finish. I've a horrible nack for moving into my finish to quickly with my driver, which ends in a slingshot hook.

gcurran97

TheDoc wrote: »

Yeah so we have something here that I think is worth mentioning.

Your talking about 7 and six irons 7irons and 6 irons. So I'm having a guess we are talking about 150-160 yards.

Your 7-8 iron are your bread an butter in a sense that when you hit them comfy, you should in theory be able to hit all the rest of your irons comfortable. But at the same time you need to be realistic.

What sort of handicapps are you guys on? Do you keep any sort of stats on how frquently your hitting the green and how much your missing?
Is it a case your making the greens, but you just want to be closer?

Be good to get ideas of what is the real problem and what you really want to improve, and then keep realistic goals in check. I did ALOT of work on what I would call "approach" shots, but I call them from about 120 yards in, maybe I use the wrong term

What sort of practice facilities do you have around? Club range, driving range? I for example use Portmarnock driving range to work on ****. €10 for two hours unlimited balls. Two times a week ( usually go in the evening) and I can really work on something with my game.

Do you have the cash to maybe grab a lesson? As above, a lesson can be invaluable, even just one. Most pro's/coaches can indicate a major flaw pretty quickly and maybe sort it out for you, and give you something to work from. Most single sessions are from 20-30 euro.

I also mentioned in another thread, be an idea if we had "pools" of players that lived nearby, played in the same area or even visited the same driving ranges. Could organise some meetups, or get someone to come with you to maybe have a look at your swing etc. I do this with mates, and its a godsend, it's tough to tell whats "actually" going on with your swing, when your not surrounded by video recorders

i am playing off 12 and i generally hit the greens but just not getting it close enough to the pin

PARlance

ironkiwi wrote: »

With my 6-7 irons we are talking 150-160 yrds, I have a 18 handicap and would hit greens in regulations about 25% which imo is dreadful. Its not to get close to the pin for me, its actually get on the green and give myself a great chance for birdie/par.

I do have driving range near me and don't get out as often as I would like and maybe a lesson would sort the problem out.

For someone playing of 18, 25% GIR isn't that bad really (it's actually very good for someone off 18)
It does sound bad I know but.... if you're a decent putter, then you should be 2 putting these on average.
If you are 2 putting (parring) your 4 or 5 GIR's then you'll be well on your way down the handicap.

See the OP here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=85237484
He's off 11 and hitting less than 20% GIR's

newport2

ironkiwi wrote: »

With my 6-7 irons we are talking 150-160 yrds, I have a 18 handicap and would hit greens in regulations about 25% which imo is dreadful. Its not to get close to the pin for me, its actually get on the green and give myself a great chance for birdie/par.

I do have driving range near me and don't get out as often as I would like and maybe a lesson would sort the problem out.

Have you got a GPS to give you front, middle and back of green distances?

When I'm not playing great and struggling to hit green, I switch to playing for the back of each green.
Say you're 135 from the front, 150 to the middle and 165 to the back. Instead of reaching for the club you hit x yards, just reach for the longest club you know you cannot go long with. So if a flushed 7 iron goes 160 for you, hit that in this case. You flush it you're towards the back of the green, catch it reasonably well you're in the middle of the green and quite poor you should still be at the front of the green.
This way, more often than not, I'll end up in the middle of the green. It takes the pressure off quite a bit too knowing for every approach shot that you have plenty of club in your hands.

Good luck

spacecoyote

newport2 wrote: »

Have you got a GPS to give you front, middle and back of green distances?

When I'm not playing great and struggling to hit green, I switch to playing for the back of each green.
Say you're 135 from the front, 150 to the middle and 165 to the back. Instead of reaching for the club you hit x yards, just reach for the longest club you know you cannot go long with. So if a flushed 7 iron goes 160 for you, hit that in this case. You flush it you're towards the back of the green, catch it reasonably well you're in the middle of the green and quite poor you should still be at the front of the green.
This way, more often than not, I'll end up in the middle of the green. It takes the pressure off quite a bit too knowing for every approach shot that you have plenty of club in your hands.

Good luck

+1 on this. It's advice a pro have me.

Too many guys who've hit an 8-iron 150 yards once then make 8-iron their 150 yard club. How often do you hit the perfect shot (Nicklaus said he hit 2-3 perfect per round), give yourself enough club to get to the back & off 18 you'll prob find yourself sitting in the middle of the green more often than not

GreeBo

maybe its just me, but with a 6/7 iron Im happy with middle of the green....they are not scoring clubs at our level.

TheDoc

ironkiwi wrote: »

Alignment is one thing I have not worked on too much and probably needs a lot more attention. I'll play a few holes tonight and focus on this and report back. I always line up my feet in the direction I want the ball to go but don't know what the rest of my body is doing?

How did you get on ?

SEORG

gcurran97 wrote: »

i am playing off 12 and i generally hit the greens but just not getting it close enough to the pin

If I was generally hitting the greens & playing off 12 I would be looking to improve my putting tbh.

2 putts on each hole is par.........handicap should fall quick enough (if you hit the greens)