When golfers are trying to improve, they tend to focus mainly on two aspects of their games? the drive and the putt.
After all, the more distance you get off the tee, and the more efficient you are near the cup, the more likely your scores will lower. That may be true, but equally as important is the ability to place the ball around the course with your irons. Your irons are what allow you to execute your strategy on every hole. They keep you on the fairway and put you close to the pin. Knowing the distances you can hit with each of your irons is almost like having a secret weapon on the course. Here’s how you can begin to gauge the proper distance for each of your irons.
Knowing the right distance for your irons is crucial to success on the golf course.
Knowing the right distance for your irons is crucial to success on the golf course.
three irons are equal. Various elements of the club can affect the distance your swing will provide. The length of the club, the flexibility of the shaft and the loft of the clubhead will all have an impact on the distance you can achieve. If you are playing with a new set of clubs, it would be best to test them out on the driving range before you get to the course. Every range has distance markers that can give you a feel for what your average distance will be with each club.
Gauge your swing speed — You may have heard another golfer say on the course, “This shot requires an easy 6-iron.” What the golfer means is that they would rather swing a bit more slowly and take a bit of distance off their usual 6-iron shot, than try to swing harder with a 7-iron to achieve the same result. By taking a more relaxed swing, the golfer is more likely to make an accurate shot, even though they have the potential to get greater distance from the club. By having a feel of your natural swing speed, you can begin to adjust when you need more or less distance than your average distance with the club.
Factor in the weather — Hopefully, you are playing in wonderfully warm weather. But if it gets a bit colder, your golf ball will not compress as easily when your club strikes it. That means shorter distances. Even if you store your balls in a colder place like a garage or basement, it can affect the distance, which may mean going up an iron for a little more distance.
Check the course — When the course is dry and the ground is hard, the course itself will add distance to your shot. If you’ve ever hit the cart path with an errant shot, you know firsthand how a hard surface can propel your ball like a pinball. Conversely, a little rain might make your ball stop on impact with the fairway, giving you no extra roll.
Figure out your fitness level — It may seem obvious, but to most golfers it’s not as apparent while your playing. If you haven’t been working out lately, it can have a major affect on the distance of your ball. Even some simple stretching will help your flexibility, which will allow you to fully rotate during your swing and get better distance. You may have played a round just last week, but if you haven’t exercised at all in between, you may find yourself coming up short on some shots.
Knowing the distance of your irons may help you improve your scores dramatically. Excessive knee pain will make the scores seem irrelevant. If knee pain is preventing you from performing at your best, you might be suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee.
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