How to hit irons

The situation

You have a row of irons and every one seems to go the same distance, or none of them goes where you expect. Often the club is fine and the setup changes from one to the next, or the longer irons are simply harder to hit for now.

The fix

1. 01
   Use the ball position for the club Shorter irons sit nearer the middle, longer ones a little forward. The landmarks are on ball position.
2. 02
   Swing them all at the same speed The club changes the distance. Do not swing the long iron harder to help it. That often makes it curve.
3. 03
   Hit down a little and let the loft lift An iron meets the ball first, then the ground just after it. Scooping to help it up is the thin shot.
4. 04
   Swap a long iron that never passes If a long iron fails the ten-ball check, a hybrid is easier to hit for many players. That is a choice, not a confession.
5. 05
   Learn one mid-iron first Pick one mid-iron and learn how far it goes. The others are steps up and down from it.

How to hit irons: the strike

Irons are designed to hit the ball first, then the turf. That means the bottom of the swing is just in front of the ball, so the divot starts after where the ball was. To get there: ball in the middle of the stance for short irons and centered or up to a ball-width forward for mid irons, weight slightly favouring the lead foot, and hands level with or just ahead of the ball at address. Then turn through so the weight finishes on the lead foot. Trying to lift the ball into the air does the opposite and causes thin and topped shots; the loft does the lifting.

Iron yardage table

These are rough ranges; your own numbers matter more. A gap of about 10 yards between irons is normal. If two irons go the same distance, check your strike first, then the lofts.

Irons or hybrids?

If you struggle to get a 4 or 5-iron airborne, replace it with a hybrid. Hybrids have a wider sole and launch higher, so they are easier to hit from the fairway and rough.