Golf Swing Tips

Getting the Most out of your Irons

Here are some golf swing tips to help you with your iron shots.

Iron play is key to a solid round, but because each iron plays differently it can be difficult to get a repeatable golf swing that is dependable across the spectrum of clubs in the typical golf bag. Here are some ways to make sure your swing is suited to getting the ball where you want it to go.

Check your Stance

The first thing to do is get comfortable with your stance. You want to bend from the waist and flex your knees, with your arms bisecting the center of your body. Practice this setup in front of a mirror if you can, and practice swinging in slow motion. It should feel very natural and well-balanced.

Determine Golf Ball Setup

Another good tip for you to improve your golf swing is when you’re setting up on the course, make sure the ball is set up correctly for the iron you are hitting. If you’re hitting a wedge or an 8-9 iron, put the ball back in your stance. Mid-range irons (5-7) should see the ball in the middle of your stance, while long irons should have the ball placed forward. The point is always to make contact with the golf ball just before it hits the ground.

Golf Swing Tips - Length of Backswing

One way to get more control of your iron is to watch the length of your backswing. A more controlled backswing and follow-through will naturally lead towards a more controlled shot, so make sure that you’re swinging calmly rather than trying to kill the golf ball.

Golf Swing Tips - Weight Transfer

The other key element of the iron swing is the weight transfer. The golf swing starts off with your weight on the back foot, but should be transferred to the front foot by impact. That’s what helps the ball get in the air. If that transfer doesn’t happen, the result is an awkward golf shot that leads with the hands and doesn’t generate solid contact with the golf ball.

Check your Divot

A good way to check on whether you’re swinging the golf club well is to check the divot. It’s a good sign when you’re connecting with the golf ball before the ground, and when the shape of the divot is aimed at the target. If your divot gets taken before contact was made with the golf ball, that’s a sign that you need to fix your setup the next time you break those golf clubs out of the bag.