Driving & long irons good / short irons wedges terrible

bamfur · 06-24-2009, 01:09 PM

Can someone please help me figure out what is happening to me? I started out hitting my short irons and wedges very consistently, but like other beginners had a hard time with longer irons and woods. I've slowly improved to where i can really hit my woods well. However, now i cannot hit my short irons to save my life! i am hitting them off the toe and they are pushing sharply low right at 45 degrees... i just can not figure it out... i have not bought new clubs, these are the same that i used to hit very well. Has anyone else experienced this or know what my problem is? Please help I have a big round on Saturday that i really want to play well for.

Jim Kobylinski · 06-24-2009, 01:25 PM

It sounds like you have worked yourself to someone who is probably under plane on the downswing which is something you can save and recover from with long clubs like driver, long irons, etc but because of that you have lost too much of the "down element" with the short irons and are having trouble.

Have you seen Brian's NHA?

bamfur · 06-24-2009, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the response Jim. I havent seen NHA as I am still working with NSA as i'm still fighting a slice. I'm pretty sure i'm not underplane tho. I've recently seen my swing (down the line view) on video and I have a steeper downswing than my backswing plane.

I've recently incorporated a new feeling that has really allowed me to hit my woods well, a 1-2-3 tempo, where 1 is the backswing, 2 is the hips, and 3 is delayed arms. So on 1, i take a wide stretched backswing and feel the stretch along the underside of my left shoulderblade and down my left side. On 2, I pull that stretch even more with my lateral hip shift and turn. On 3, I let my arms be pulled down by my hips. This has been working great for my driver and woods. I have never hit them better, really compressing the ball with what feels like a less-army relaxed tempo swing. However, could this be the explanation for my "toe-shanking" of my short irons/wedges?

Jim Kobylinski · 06-24-2009, 03:21 PM

If possible please send me the video or post it.

Burner · 06-24-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamfur

Thanks for the response Jim. I havent seen NHA as I am still working with NSA as i'm still fighting a slice. I'm pretty sure i'm not underplane tho. I've recently seen my swing (down the line view) on video and I have a steeper downswing than my backswing plane.

Steepening your down swing will have the effect of moving your static ball position back up plane. This is causing you to contact the ball above the equator with the leading edge of the open club face, as the club head travels downwards. This squirts the ball out low and off sharply right.

Flatten the down swing approach or move your ball a little more (down plane) towards the target.

dsmith2296 · 06-24-2009, 05:22 PM

You may be too far away from the ball and/or too flat with your shoulders.assume your address posture. now take the club back like you were going to hit a baseball from a pitcher 60'6" in front of you. Are you now in a good position to hit a baseball? You should NOT be for a golf shot. - not a wedge anyway.

perhaps try standing over the golf ball in a position such that you are jutting your rear out while your nipples shoot lasers at the target line the ball lay on. and with the butt of the club pointing thru the belt buckle.

If that does not work, ignore this post.

bamfur · 06-24-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burner

Flatten the down swing approach or move your ball a little more (down plane) towards the target.

How can I achieve a flatter downswing approach? Should I focus on widening my backswing and shifting more of my weight over my right leg? I think this would widen the arc, if i'm thinking about it correctly...

swingobsessed · 06-24-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamfur

Can someone please help me figure out what is happening to me? I started out hitting my short irons and wedges very consistently, but like other beginners had a hard time with longer irons and woods. I've slowly improved to where i can really hit my woods well. However, now i cannot hit my short irons to save my life! i am hitting them off the toe and they are pushing sharply low right at 45 degrees... i just can not figure it out... i have not bought new clubs, these are the same that i used to hit very well. Has anyone else experienced this or know what my problem is? Please help I have a big round on Saturday that i really want to play well for.

I had this exact problem. It started when I went from slicing and flipping, to hitting down on the ball with a flat left wrist and coming from the inside. I can tell you what works for me when I have this problem; concentrate on opening the hips as I bring the right shoulder down plane. Also, I concentrate on not getting bent over too much and keeping my arms nice and loose. Anyway, I am no golf guru, but this works for me. Good luck.

Burner · 06-25-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamfur

How can I achieve a flatter downswing approach? Should I focus on widening my backswing and shifting more of my weight over my right leg? I think this would widen the arc, if i'm thinking about it correctly...

Stand a dinner plate on its edge and then angle the top edge towards yourself. That will give you a rough idea of an angled swing plane.

The further right your ball is from the point on which the plate rests, the further up plane it is and the steeper the plane angle required to make contact.

Just moving the ball more towards the left (down plane) will flatten the plane angle. You may, however, also need to stand a little further away from the ball at address.

In any event, there is no magic fix and you will have to fiddle about until you find what works for you.

06-24-2009, 01:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
bamfur Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 36	Driving & long irons good / short irons wedges terrible Can someone please help me figure out what is happening to me? I started out hitting my short irons and wedges very consistently, but like other beginners had a hard time with longer irons and woods. I've slowly improved to where i can really hit my woods well. However, now i cannot hit my short irons to save my life! i am hitting them off the toe and they are pushing sharply low right at 45 degrees... i just can not figure it out... i have not bought new clubs, these are the same that i used to hit very well. Has anyone else experienced this or know what my problem is? Please help I have a big round on Saturday that i really want to play well for.

06-24-2009, 01:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jim Kobylinski Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,820	It sounds like you have worked yourself to someone who is probably under plane on the downswing which is something you can save and recover from with long clubs like driver, long irons, etc but because of that you have lost too much of the "down element" with the short irons and are having trouble. Have you seen Brian's NHA? __________________ My new "scooter", click me

06-24-2009, 03:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jim Kobylinski Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,820	If possible please send me the video or post it. __________________ My new "scooter", click me

06-24-2009, 05:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
dsmith2296 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: USA. Posts: 267	You may be too far away from the ball and/or too flat with your shoulders.assume your address posture. now take the club back like you were going to hit a baseball from a pitcher 60'6" in front of you. Are you now in a good position to hit a baseball? You should NOT be for a golf shot. - not a wedge anyway. perhaps try standing over the golf ball in a position such that you are jutting your rear out while your nipples shoot lasers at the target line the ball lay on. and with the butt of the club pointing thru the belt buckle. If that does not work, ignore this post. Last edited by dsmith2296; 06-24-2009 at 05:25 PM.

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06-24-2009, 02:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
bamfur Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 36	Thanks for the response Jim. I havent seen NHA as I am still working with NSA as i'm still fighting a slice. I'm pretty sure i'm not underplane tho. I've recently seen my swing (down the line view) on video and I have a steeper downswing than my backswing plane. I've recently incorporated a new feeling that has really allowed me to hit my woods well, a 1-2-3 tempo, where 1 is the backswing, 2 is the hips, and 3 is delayed arms. So on 1, i take a wide stretched backswing and feel the stretch along the underside of my left shoulderblade and down my left side. On 2, I pull that stretch even more with my lateral hip shift and turn. On 3, I let my arms be pulled down by my hips. This has been working great for my driver and woods. I have never hit them better, really compressing the ball with what feels like a less-army relaxed tempo swing. However, could this be the explanation for my "toe-shanking" of my short irons/wedges?

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