Flattened swing - now I can't hit irons

golfer07840 · July 4, 2017

So early this year I was hitting some really nice iron shots, but couldn't get off the tee box to save my life. Those nice iron shots were usually my 3rd or 4th shot, depending on how badly the drive was. A friend of mine videoed a driver swing and it was evident that I was way too steep, causing either a big ole slice, or a pull hook. The dreaded two way miss. So I decided to to flatten out my swing, especially off the tee.

Well it has worked wonders. Two rounds since applying it to the golf course and I am now hitting 70% of the fairways, and the ones I am missing, are barely missing.

When you fix one thing, something always seems to give. Well now it's my irons. I've heard a million times "swing every club the same" well, I'm starting to think that's nonsense.

What's my miss with the irons? Thin, or totally topped, as if I am not hitting down on the ball.

Anyone ever experienced this? I can't believe I'd be the only one who has that happen.

Patrick_O · July 4, 2017

Yes. Are you adjusting by moving the ball back in your stance for your irons? Also check your posture.

MonteScheinblum · July 4, 2017

Sorry to say it's likely you made the wrong change to fix the driver issue.

In cAse you care, I'll be in Jersey all next week giving lessons.

golfer07840 · July 5, 2017

Sorry to say it's likely you made the wrong change to fix the driver issue.

In cAse you care, I'll be in Jersey all next week giving lessons.

Where in NJ?

MonteScheinblum · July 5, 2017

Sorry to say it's likely you made the wrong change to fix the driver issue.

In cAse you care, I'll be in Jersey all next week giving lessons.

Where in NJ?

Hillsborough

gsea33 · July 5, 2017

Move the ball more forward in your stance for the iron shots.

bluedot · July 5, 2017

I think trying to flatten your swing without a competent instructor guiding the process is one of the most difficult and dangerous things a golfer (even a pretty good one) can try. It can work ok off a tee, but making good, consistent contact off the ground can be problematic.

I'm no swing coach, to say the least, but if you are hitting your irons thin/topped, it sounds like you've made your swing more shallow, and perhaps that you have not figured out how to get fully to your left side on the thru swing. That works ok when you are hitting up at a ball in the front of your stance with a 460 cc driver; not so much when you are hitting an iron off the ground.

Get to an instructor sooner than later, rather than blundering along by yourself. Stuff like the Jim Hardy one plane swing book sound great when you read them, but implementing that without eyes on you is very tough stuff that no Tour player would EVER attempt.

Barfolomew · July 5, 2017

No reason for some people to have different swings....makes sense on paper cause such different conditions between driver way up in the air like that and forward vs off turf and close in and clubs waaay different. Could almost be 2 different sports sometimes.....meaning its easy to understand why one dude kills w driver and sucks with irons and vica versa.........Many factors are different like prob not gonna catch driver fat much. I play my driver flat and less w irons and haven't lost at golf yet!

argee1977 · July 6, 2017

Sounds a bit like what happens to me sometimes when i practice hitting up on the driver a little too much. My fix is hitting some practice shots on grass, where i feel like i am leaning a little towards the target at setup with weight more left side biased, and then making sure i don't sway at all and stay centred, it certainly helps me with the ground interaction for irons,

Failing that, i also try the moving the ball up to my left toe with a 7 iron drill works well for this.

jurr80 · July 6, 2017

If you posted a swing, everyone would have a much better idea of what is happening. Until then feel free to take some advice from some people that are doing the same thing as surgically augmenting your jaw without an x-ray.

golfer07840 · July 6, 2017

If you posted a swing, everyone would have a much better idea of what is happening. Until then feel free to take some advice from some people that are doing the same thing as surgically augmenting your jaw without an x-ray.

If I can get a video I'll certainly post it.

I re-read Hogan's book today. And while doing so I found myself going "I'm not doing that...or that...oops, forgot about that!"