one of the single greatest golf tips I ever received was from the first time you mentioned this "line in front of the ball" thing, and not looking at the ball. Ever since then, my iron strikes have been SO MUCH BETTER. It truly does help to prevent that behind the ball nonsense and trying to add loft to the shot.
I'm very new to golf having only ever picked up a golf club in May but I just cannot for the life of me get an iron in the air Ive watched countless videos from all the top people on UA-cam and they all make it so effortless. Every iron I shot i take just rolls along the ground whether it's 5 iron or 9 iron and everything in between The ONLY time I can ever get height with an iron is if I purposely point my club face into the sky. It goes high then but I'm 101% sure this isn't how I should be striking an iron
I have been playing this way the last 2 yrs. No longer looking at the ball but finding a spot in front of it on the ground and trusting it. It really has helped me find consistency and confidence. However my playing mates don't get it. 😉
I want to tell you, this video LITERALLY dead honest just won me a scramble tournament, I can't thank you enough and I need other people to know, do what he says, be patient, and this WILL work for you! 😀😀😀 Sweep is the key, sweep and it will be PERFECT.
My 5i is the same as 6i so opted for 4hybrid. I do use my 5i as a practice club however. I also swapped out 3W to 5W for same reason, 3W im reserved but 5W I swing faster with confidence. Build the bag that works is key.... Well explained vid again Ali...
Great video, I just started golf and Iam hitting my long irons better but not great, I try and look at the front of the ball when I swing and Iam still working on my swing for now.I will try looking a little further out to see what happens when I am able to put a good swing on the ball! Lol! Frustration level was very high when I started but now I don't let the bad hits get me down, I just laugh and try to get better at being more consistent.
Hi Ali, thanks for the detailed instruction. For those of us that used to carry these clubs, let me simplify the hitting of a 4 to 2 iron. You better do it perfectly or forget it (ha ha ha). When you see tour pros hitting those slightly low, short and to the right shots, you know what I am talking about.
I play only irons PW - 2iron. I just get on better with irons vs hybrids and woods. I feel roll and bulge more difficult to control. I spent 3 years working on being able to play a draw which I find much easier with irons. So many videos recommend ditching long irons for hybrids yet my irons are fitted for me + with a shorter shaft than a comparable hybrid or wood, they're easier to control. Also an iron has a higher toe which can save skying the ball.
What's the minimum club head speed to hit a 4 iron well? Mine doesn't have enough lift. My speed with driver is around 102 so I suppose 4i is around 94. Should I to buy an hybrid?
I got a 23 degree 4H because I could not hit my 5i 24 degree consistently or with good distance. I will continue to work at the range with it but in the meantime I can bomb the 4H.
Great video. I was fitted for a new set of irons recently and the longest was a 6 iron. I really missed my old 4 so ordered a great 2nd hand Ping 4 iron. I love firing it in to greens - I feel as though I can be more accurate with irons than with a hybrid... 😅
I carry one hybrid - 3 hybrid (19deg) club and I rarely take it out of the bag. I can’t really play it well and would much prefer to use a long iron. Currently the best club in my bag is a 5 iron (23.5deg standard loft). My favourite clubs many years ago were always my long irons 3 and even 2 iron, as I always struck them well. I’m tempted to put them back in the bag, even though it’s a great many years since I used them.
I played golf as a kid (13-14) and could hit long irons well. Came back to golf after 30 years and can’t hit long irons reliably at all. I know all the theory but I haven’t been able to implement it. Club head speed is decent and when I do catch one it gets decent distance but it’s far too rare. Some day I will just keep hitting balls at the range with a 3 iron until it clicks.
When people hit short irons well with decent carry but not long irons the most common issue i see is they’re so used to having their head/sternum over the ball they think they need to do the same with long irons and end up leaning way to their lead side. I always just setup with head and sternum in the center of my stance regardless of ball position. then as long as you have the speed you’re good to go.
I just purchsed a new Titleist U505 3i. I hit my other irons fairly well but can't get the hang of the 505. I'm a new golfer so that definitely doesn't help. I don't know what I need to do to fix whatever may be causing the problem, but I can't get the ball up in the air. The few times that I do, it doesn't go very far. I can reliably hit my 7 iron further and straighter lol. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
FWIW, the longest iron in Freddie Couples’ bag now is his 7, no kidding. Me too. If your 7 keeps you in play, ain’t nothing wrong with hitting it off the tee; three decent 7 irons and you’re chipping or pitching onto a par 5 green. Two, and you’re chipping or pitching on to most par 4’s. Want more off the tee, a 5 wood is money but don’t kill it, just put a nice easy swing on it. Easy game…until we let our ego or our buddies’ remarks get in the way. Play your game, hit your money club and let your buddies look for their lost balls in the woods.
Good video. Why does nobody in golf seem to understand the interconnected relationship between shaft angle and low point? The Tour average shaft lean at impact is 12°, and the low point is 4 inches after the ball. These are essentially the same thing if you consider the handle is pivoting at the top through impact.
One thing when you demonstrate your club face on backswing always opens towards the camera . You kinda even wrap your wrists on your backswing. But when you actually hit the ball you keep club face down. You hit it very straight and have great ball control im just wondering where the club face needs to be on the backswing for irons and wedges. Same with driver club face downright ??
Noticed most of your strikes are between center and heel. Doesn't seem to effect distance or accuracy. My strike pattern is identical but it bothers me and gets into my head that perhaps a center strike would be even better. Strikes toward the heel don't seem to be an issue with you ?
I NEVER try to add loft (I hit all of my clubs too high). Nevertheless, I still hit some shit shots with my long irons (weak cuts out of the heel, etc.). Not looking at the ball is a TERRIBLE idea! Mac O' Grady, legendary ball striker, said that one should always keep BOTH eyes on the ball. Stands to reason, doesn't it?
Imagine a 5 iron classed as a long iron today? Wow,i use a 2 iron and love it p,us the 3 onwards. Even have a 15 degree utility iron which replaced my driver. I adore the control plus feel.
Cant hit anything higher than my 6 iron. But I don't care. Because my hybrid and wood game is pretty decent. Ego goes out the door when I'm on course. And its allowed me to drop 6 strokes in 2 minths
I had the same exact problem. The trick i used was to address my ball as normal and then move closer about a half inch or so. With your feet, not your arms. This has helped me greatly!!
Without clear explanation there is no understanding and so golfers will not stick with something. To change and improve takes time in understanding and practice.
Agree! I can’t stand hitting off carpet! You’ll never chunk it, can get a lot more false compression, hitting balls all winter at the sim made me kind of have to relearn some ball striking this spring
My golfclubs teachers use Special carpet which comes really Close to normal grass, For example: If you fat it, the carpet slows you down WAY more than the normal one Ranges use. It feels Like the ground can absorb much more of your bad swing than the usual carpet. These Things are very expensive so you wont really See them on ranges
This bs....is why people use hybrids or a 7 wood. There is no use in changing up your iron technique...thinking that longer irons are suddenly supposed to have a different technique...that is supposed to vary on each club. Better to stick to solid compression on irons...and then hit a club that is easier when longer distance is required.
Controlling low point is probably one thing that most golfers are poor at and they don't compress their irons. Low point should be consistent and ball position changes to alter angle of attack. Sorry if you misunderstood the video.
@@AliTaylorGolf I agree with you then. It didn't seem to come across that way in the video.....as something was said about not always having to hit down on the ball....i.e. don't need to compress. Agree that ball position moves forward as iron loft decreases.,,,,adding some loft to the lower irons.
For 196 carry, that's a club head speed of about 98 mph. That's better than the men's senior tour and almost PGA level speeds. That's unreasonable for the average golfer. Most people cannot hit long irons because you need a certain club head speed and they can't do it no matter how many videos they watch. You need to tell them to get hybrids instead. That's what they're for. They're extremely easy to hit and go really long. Terrible video.
@@AliTaylorGolf That's not the point. The point is that this video is for people struggling to hit long irons. Those people are likely not able to produce the club head speed required to hit long irons. But you don't mention that anywhere. The only good video I've seen on long irons is by Chris Ryan where he mentions that you need a certain amount of club head speed otherwise, there's simply nothing you can do to hit them properly. Hybrids ARE for those people. They have no choice. There's nothing else they can use. Just to bring home the point, most people don't even get 90 mph on their driver, much less their irons.
If golfers don't get their low point forward enough with short irons then moving the ball forward will cause poor strikes. Looking at the comments for the video, not useless for everyone.
one of the single greatest golf tips I ever received was from the first time you mentioned this "line in front of the ball" thing, and not looking at the ball. Ever since then, my iron strikes have been SO MUCH BETTER. It truly does help to prevent that behind the ball nonsense and trying to add loft to the shot.
I'm very new to golf having only ever picked up a golf club in May but I just cannot for the life of me get an iron in the air
Ive watched countless videos from all the top people on UA-cam and they all make it so effortless.
Every iron I shot i take just rolls along the ground whether it's 5 iron or 9 iron and everything in between
The ONLY time I can ever get height with an iron is if I purposely point my club face into the sky. It goes high then but I'm 101% sure this isn't how I should be striking an iron
I have been playing this way the last 2 yrs. No longer looking at the ball but finding a spot in front of it on the ground and trusting it. It really has helped me find consistency and confidence. However my playing mates don't get it. 😉
@@SL0409get a lesson brother. Before you develop bad habbits
I
I want to tell you, this video LITERALLY dead honest just won me a scramble tournament, I can't thank you enough and I need other people to know, do what he says, be patient, and this WILL work for you! 😀😀😀 Sweep is the key, sweep and it will be PERFECT.
My 5i is the same as 6i so opted for 4hybrid. I do use my 5i as a practice club however.
I also swapped out 3W to 5W for same reason, 3W im reserved but 5W I swing faster with confidence.
Build the bag that works is key....
Well explained vid again Ali...
Great video, I just started golf and Iam hitting my long irons better but not great, I try and look at the front of the ball when I swing and Iam still working on my swing for now.I will try looking a little further out to see what happens when I am able to put a good swing on the ball! Lol! Frustration level was very high when I started but now I don't let the bad hits get me down, I just laugh and try to get better at being more consistent.
Hi Ali, thanks for the detailed instruction. For those of us that used to carry these clubs, let me simplify the hitting of a 4 to 2 iron. You better do it perfectly or forget it (ha ha ha). When you see tour pros hitting those slightly low, short and to the right shots, you know what I am talking about.
I play only irons PW - 2iron. I just get on better with irons vs hybrids and woods. I feel roll and bulge more difficult to control.
I spent 3 years working on being able to play a draw which I find much easier with irons.
So many videos recommend ditching long irons for hybrids yet my irons are fitted for me + with a shorter shaft than a comparable hybrid or wood, they're easier to control. Also an iron has a higher toe which can save skying the ball.
What's the minimum club head speed to hit a 4 iron well? Mine doesn't have enough lift. My speed with driver is around 102 so I suppose 4i is around 94. Should I to buy an hybrid?
I got a 23 degree 4H because I could not hit my 5i 24 degree consistently or with good distance. I will continue to work at the range with it but in the meantime I can bomb the 4H.
Great video. I was fitted for a new set of irons recently and the longest was a 6 iron. I really missed my old 4 so ordered a great 2nd hand Ping 4 iron. I love firing it in to greens - I feel as though I can be more accurate with irons than with a hybrid... 😅
I hit my 5 iron much better than a hybrid. My trail foot a little back and the ball forward in the stance.
I carry one hybrid - 3 hybrid (19deg) club and I rarely take it out of the bag. I can’t really play it well and would much prefer to use a long iron. Currently the best club in my bag is a 5 iron (23.5deg standard loft). My favourite clubs many years ago were always my long irons 3 and even 2 iron, as I always struck them well. I’m tempted to put them back in the bag, even though it’s a great many years since I used them.
As always, excellent instruction videos…
I played golf as a kid (13-14) and could hit long irons well. Came back to golf after 30 years and can’t hit long irons reliably at all. I know all the theory but I haven’t been able to implement it. Club head speed is decent and when I do catch one it gets decent distance but it’s far too rare. Some day I will just keep hitting balls at the range with a 3 iron until it clicks.
I promise you, SWEEP the balls off the ground and you will hit DISTANCE 😀😀😀
When people hit short irons well with decent carry but not long irons the most common issue i see is they’re so used to having their head/sternum over the ball they think they need to do the same with long irons and end up leaning way to their lead side.
I always just setup with head and sternum in the center of my stance regardless of ball position. then as long as you have the speed you’re good to go.
I just purchsed a new Titleist U505 3i. I hit my other irons fairly well but can't get the hang of the 505. I'm a new golfer so that definitely doesn't help. I don't know what I need to do to fix whatever may be causing the problem, but I can't get the ball up in the air. The few times that I do, it doesn't go very far. I can reliably hit my 7 iron further and straighter lol. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
FWIW, the longest iron in Freddie Couples’ bag now is his 7, no kidding. Me too. If your 7 keeps you in play, ain’t nothing wrong with hitting it off the tee; three decent 7 irons and you’re chipping or pitching onto a par 5 green. Two, and you’re chipping or pitching on to most par 4’s. Want more off the tee, a 5 wood is money but don’t kill it, just put a nice easy swing on it. Easy game…until we let our ego or our buddies’ remarks get in the way. Play your game, hit your money club and let your buddies look for their lost balls in the woods.
@ thank you!
Good video. Why does nobody in golf seem to understand the interconnected relationship between shaft angle and low point? The Tour average shaft lean at impact is 12°, and the low point is 4 inches after the ball. These are essentially the same thing if you consider the handle is pivoting at the top through impact.
Grabe yur iyan folks!
That first 1.5 minutes sums up my long iron experiance 😂
One thing when you demonstrate your club face on backswing always opens towards the camera . You kinda even wrap your wrists on your backswing.
But when you actually hit the ball you keep club face down. You hit it very straight and have great ball control im just wondering where the club face needs to be on the backswing for irons and wedges. Same with driver club face downright ??
Noticed most of your strikes are between center and heel. Doesn't seem to effect distance or accuracy. My strike pattern is identical but it bothers me and gets into my head that perhaps a center strike would be even better. Strikes toward the heel don't seem to be an issue with you ?
Good mid and short iron player, but the lak of swing speed due to a bad shoulder puts pressure on my game. I hit hybrids ok but they feel dead to me.
I NEVER try to add loft (I hit all of my clubs too high). Nevertheless, I still hit some shit shots with my long irons (weak cuts out of the heel, etc.). Not looking at the ball is a TERRIBLE idea! Mac O' Grady, legendary ball striker, said that one should always keep BOTH eyes on the ball. Stands to reason, doesn't it?
Imagine a 5 iron classed as a long iron today? Wow,i use a 2 iron and love it p,us the 3 onwards. Even have a 15 degree utility iron which replaced my driver. I adore the control plus feel.
I tend to get the height and distance but I push my shots to the right, why is that?
Weirdly enough I can hit the long irons but cannot use my PW. That now does not come out my bag and use a 9I instead 🤷♂️
I just bought a 2 iron and have been trying to hit it off the mat. It’s been a nightmare. And I can hit 4 iron well.
I’ve got a new long iron video coming on Monday.
Sing a song, loose grip, slow takeaway, steady head, the rest takes care of itself
Cant hit anything higher than my 6 iron. But I don't care. Because my hybrid and wood game is pretty decent. Ego goes out the door when I'm on course. And its allowed me to drop 6 strokes in 2 minths
I'm always hitting the ball off the toe what causes that
I had the same exact problem. The trick i used was to address my ball as normal and then move closer about a half inch or so. With your feet, not your arms. This has helped me greatly!!
I hit shit strikes everytime on my 5 iron and when I do catch it I only get the same distance as my 7 iron 😂
Thanks for the video
Captain: "what does a pirate say?"
Pirate: "arc", Captain!
You just explained perfectly at the start
Why would you not care about the carry if you're a links course player? Thanks
Have you been spying on me? Great lesson.
Speed is not “slower”; it is “lower”. Club head is “slower “!
i can hit my long irons but i cant hit a hybrid or a fair way wood to save my damn life toe it shank hook it chunk it
Slice and top it.... Technologic... technologic
Aiming in front of the ball does not work for me...
How often did you try it?
So Nicklaus was right…big surprise
I’m confused
man ppl not coming here to watch hit and track your shots why cant these guys just get to the point without all the extra talking
Without clear explanation there is no understanding and so golfers will not stick with something. To change and improve takes time in understanding and practice.
Because he's British
First go find grass , hitting on carpet is a complete waste of time and isnt remotely close to the real deal. Then make a video
Facts everything is false feel off carpet an hard floor
Agree! I can’t stand hitting off carpet! You’ll never chunk it, can get a lot more false compression, hitting balls all winter at the sim made me kind of have to relearn some ball striking this spring
My golfclubs teachers use Special carpet which comes really Close to normal grass,
For example: If you fat it, the carpet slows you down WAY more than the normal one Ranges use.
It feels Like the ground can absorb much more of your bad swing than the usual carpet.
These Things are very expensive so you wont really See them on ranges
I agree based on my experience, definitely an adjustment is needed from mat to grass!
Lol i carry 225
This bs....is why people use hybrids or a 7 wood. There is no use in changing up your iron technique...thinking that longer irons are suddenly supposed to have a different technique...that is supposed to vary on each club. Better to stick to solid compression on irons...and then hit a club that is easier when longer distance is required.
Controlling low point is probably one thing that most golfers are poor at and they don't compress their irons. Low point should be consistent and ball position changes to alter angle of attack. Sorry if you misunderstood the video.
@@AliTaylorGolf I agree with you then. It didn't seem to come across that way in the video.....as something was said about not always having to hit down on the ball....i.e. don't need to compress. Agree that ball position moves forward as iron loft decreases.,,,,adding some loft to the lower irons.
For 196 carry, that's a club head speed of about 98 mph. That's better than the men's senior tour and almost PGA level speeds. That's unreasonable for the average golfer. Most people cannot hit long irons because you need a certain club head speed and they can't do it no matter how many videos they watch. You need to tell them to get hybrids instead. That's what they're for. They're extremely easy to hit and go really long. Terrible video.
Hybrids aren't suited to everyone, but just for you a hybrid video coming next week!!!!
@@AliTaylorGolf That's not the point. The point is that this video is for people struggling to hit long irons. Those people are likely not able to produce the club head speed required to hit long irons. But you don't mention that anywhere. The only good video I've seen on long irons is by Chris Ryan where he mentions that you need a certain amount of club head speed otherwise, there's simply nothing you can do to hit them properly.
Hybrids ARE for those people. They have no choice. There's nothing else they can use. Just to bring home the point, most people don't even get 90 mph on their driver, much less their irons.
@@alienrendershe literally talks about that for like a whole minute if you watch the whole thing…
@@alienrenders thats why in the end of the video, he said about low swing speed golfers should opt to hybrids and fairway woods.
@@alienrenders yes....he does mention that and says those people need to switch to hybrids......
you set up every swing like a 8-7-6.If you think that, then the whole point is people not hitting it on the button. This video was useless.
If golfers don't get their low point forward enough with short irons then moving the ball forward will cause poor strikes. Looking at the comments for the video, not useless for everyone.