Ironing Out Your Game: Simple Advice For Better Iron Play

Ever watch Ben Hogan striping iron after iron with that perfectly controlled ball flight? Or see how effortlessly players like Annika Sorenstam hit those laser-straight 6-irons? There’s something almost magical about how these legends made iron play look so simple.

What did they know that we’ve sometimes forgotten in our modern pursuit of distance and technology?

After three decades of teaching, I have come to deeply appreciate modern technology and utilize it in my own coaching, from the forgiveness of modern iron design to launch monitor data and ground force analysis, which have significantly advanced our understanding. But here’s what I’ve learned from studying the greats and teaching thousands of lessons: sometimes the breakthrough isn’t found in more data or another swing thought. Sometimes it’s a simple feel that the master teachers understood intuitively.

These aren’t revolutionary concepts. They’re the same fundamentals that built every great iron player, from Byron Nelson to Tiger Woods, from Mickey Wright to Jin Young Ko. They often get lost in the complexity of modern instruction—when what golfers really need is one clear thought that transforms their ball-striking.

Hit down to make it go up

This remains the most misunderstood concept I encounter. Your iron’s loft gets the ball airborne—your job is to strike down through the ball with a descending blow. Think of pinching the ball against the turf, taking a divot after impact, not before.

Most amateurs try to help the ball up, creating thin and fat shots. Trust your club’s design and hit down confidently, like Scottie Scheffler’s crisp, penetrating strikes.

Ball first, turf second

Great iron players understand the impact sequence. The clubhead hits the ball first, then continues down to take a divot. This creates crisp contact and proper trajectory.

Practice making contact with the ball before the ground. Your divot should start where the ball was sitting, not behind it.

Hands ahead, shaft leaning

At impact, your hands should be slightly ahead of the clubhead, creating forward shaft lean. This delofts the club naturally and ensures solid contact. Watch any tour player—from Rory McIlroy to Lydia Ko—and you’ll see this position every time.

Think of your hands leading the clubhead through impact, not catching up to it.

Swing with quiet hands

Old-school pros knew that great iron play comes from body rotation, not hand manipulation. Your hands hold the club, your body swings it. Modern players like Viktor Hovland demonstrate this beautifully—all body turn, minimal hand action.

Focus on turning your chest through impact while keeping your wrists firm. This eliminates timing issues that plague inconsistent ball-strikers.

Pick a spot, not an area

Precision iron play requires precise targets. Instead of aiming at “the green,” pick a specific spot—a sprinkler head, fringe section or putting surface quadrant. Tour players like Brooke Henderson approach every iron shot with this laser focus.

This gives your subconscious something definite to work toward and naturally improves commitment.

Tempo never changes

Whether hitting a smooth 8-iron or an aggressive 5-iron, your tempo should remain constant. Distance comes from club selection and swing length, not speed. Great players from different eras—Ernie Els’s languid rhythm or Inbee Park’s metronomic consistency—all share this trait.

Find your tempo and stick with it.

These principles work because they address the core elements of consistent iron play: proper strike, predictable ball flight, committed execution. They’re not quick fixes—they’re building blocks every great iron player has relied on, regardless of era or equipment.

Great iron play isn’t about hitting every shot pin-high or working the ball like a tour pro. It’s about solid contact, predictable ball flight and the confidence that comes from knowing exactly what your ball will do when you swing.

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