7 tips to improve your iron play
Strong iron play is the core of a solid golf game. Whether your sights are set on the pin, or you're looking to tee yourself up for a birdie putt, the irons are clubs that will either make or break your scorecard. If your swing requires a spot of tender loving care, look no further. Without further ado, let's hit the fairway and dive into 7 actionable tips to help sharpen up your iron game.
1. Focus on Ball-Then-Turf Contact
One of the main mistakes golfers make when playing their irons is trying to “scoop” the ball in the air. The key? Hit down on the ball. The aim is to compress the ball against the turf, taking a clean and straight divot after the impact. One practise drills that can be particularly beneficial is placing a towel a few inches behind your ball and avoiding it during the swing. This should help you train to strike the ball first, rather than the turf.
2. Mind Your Setup
A clean shot always starts with a tidy setup. Make sure your stance is shoulder-width apart, you weight shifted slightly on the lead leg (left leg for right-handed golfers), and the ball positioned marginally ahead of center (for mid-irons). Your hands should end up just in front of the ball at address, creating a downward strike, ensure the you are compressing the ball.
3. Control Your Tempo
Irons are NOT drivers, thus you do not have to crack them as hard. Focus on achieving a better swing, not a harder one. A smooth, controlled tempo - an even backswing and steady acceleration through the ball - will ensure that your connection to the ball at address will be clean and precise.
4. Remain Centered
If you watch pro golfers, you’ll notice that when they play a shot with their iron, their head remains completely stable throughout the swing. Excessive movement will cause inconsistency, especially swaying off the ball. It helps to think about the swing as like rotating around your spine, rather than shifting from side to side.
5. Club Up
One thing to note is that you definitely do not always have to hit your iron at full speed. If you’re between clubs, club up and take a smoother swing. Better distance control is achieved with a more relaxed motion.
6. Get To Know Your Distance
Knowing your distance with each iron is so important. Use your time on the range, with a help of launch monitors or apps, to figure out and track how far you hit your irons. This will help you on the course with club selection, and it shows you what clubs are appropriate for the distances ahead.
7. Practise With Purpose
Random range sessions won’t get you that far with actually improving your irons. So start setting up small games like “hit three balls within 10 feet of the 150-yard marker” or something along those lines. This will help with your course play, and help you zone in on where you want the ball to land.
At the end of the day, improving your irons takes consistency, smart practise, and a strong setup. If you work towards these tips, you will gain confidence and hopefully start making your scorecard look that little bit more respectable.
Thank you, and as always, keep it in the short grass! 🏌️