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Hitting it close with long irons

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Wed, Dec 15 2010 5:45 PM (3 replies)
  • nellyg
    402 Posts
    Wed, Dec 15 2010 8:21 AM

    Ok so I've been on here a while now and like to think I've got pretty good. Not great but better than average. Like most people master level and above, within 100 yards I'm pretty deadly.

    Where I really struggle, and it worries me if I get to be a Legend, is judging spin and distance from anything over say 160 yards. I'm ok with wind but anyone got any tips (that don't need a math degree) that might help?

  • WGTicon
    12,511 Posts
    Wed, Dec 15 2010 2:57 PM

    Hitting long irons requires practice. Remember, you will need to allow them to run enough to get close and that will depend on green slope and such.

    Just yesterday I holed out from 189 yards on kiawah #13 from left light rough. Hit there and then see how tough it is.

    It is 100 time more rewarding to hole out from that spot than your typical 60 yard wedge:)

    Good luck!

  • andyson
    6,415 Posts
    Wed, Dec 15 2010 4:49 PM

    WGTicon:
    Hitting long irons requires practice

    A couple of ideas for you nelly on how to practice long irons.

    -play ranked rounds without your driver, hitting 3w or hybrid off the Tour Master tees to tournament speed greens.  A high score won't raise your average.

    -play practice rounds from the champ, black tees.  Unfortunately we can't practice hitting to tournament speed greens and very fast will need to suffice.

  • CharlemagneRH
    1,054 Posts
    Wed, Dec 15 2010 5:45 PM

    When I first started, I thought I would do really well and have an advantage over pretty much everyone if I took into account, not only the normal stuff (distance, wind, etc.), but also the elevation change (e.g. 3 ft up, 10 ft down, etc.) and the slope of the green.

    I quickly noticed that the results for iron shots didn't really follow any mathematical formula.  Of course, there are mathematical formulas for this or that -- for example, formulas work exceptionally well with putting -- but at the end of the day, memorizing certain adjustments (e.g. adding 5 yards onto your shot, subtracting 4 yards from your shot, etc.) produces far better results for iron shots than trying to plug every iron shot into some master equation.

    Of course, you will never be able to get exceptional left/right aim with your long irons, and they will rarely stop on a dime like a PW+, but if you memorize certain distance adjustments (which you will have to figure out on your own), then distance will almost never be a problem.  There will be shots that are impossible from really far out, where if you hit it too soft, you land in a bunker, or if you hit it too hard, you roll off the green, but you have to do the best that you can, and sometimes the best you can do is 15-30 ft away from the pin.

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