Conference 7.286::golf

    
    
    hi Derek,
    
    	When I want to hit a high shot, I make sure my head is behind the
    	ball through the swing... to hit it low, I lean my head ahead of
    	the ball. The lower body must still perform it's weight shift to
    	avoid cutting the ball.
    
    	Walta

    Gee, I wish I could hit the ball lower !!! I get tremendous
    height which always plays havoc when the wind blows. Usually
    I play the ball a couple of inches back from my left heel so
    maybe that is why I get so much air time. Since changing to
    p-w irons my average height on shots has increased also .
    
    Mad Hacker

    Derek, also check your clubface.  An open clubface can pick the ball up
    faster.  You may also be playing the ball too far forward, making
    contact as the club is climbing up.
    
    -dwight

    I must respectfully disagree with my learned colleagues.  Teaching
    professionals today talk about the angle of attack.  If you remember,
    the angle of incedence is equal to the angle of reflection.  This is
    true with a golf shot also.  If the club approaches the ball at a steep
    angle, the ball will be 'launched' at the same angle thus producing a
    higher shot.  If the angle is shallow, the shot is lower.  So to hit
    the ball higher hit down on the ball don't try to sweep it up in the
    air.  One way to visualize what I'm talking about is to imagine
    that the clubhead (when your swinging) is making the letter U for a low
    shot and the letter V for a high shot.

    
    Thanks chaps for your replies, 
    
    I will now head for the practice area.
    
    
       cheers..... Derek.
    
    

    Hey Derek,  
    
    Let us know how it went!
    
    -dwight

    
    I've spent time on the practice fairway and have no problem hitting
    6/7 irons as I wish, the problem starts with the 3/4/5 irons.
    I'm hitting the 6/7 irons with the ball in line with my left heel
    should I be hitting the 3/4/5 irons from further on in my stance
    or possibly standing slightly further away from the ball ??
    
    The problem is 6/7 irons go straight and at a goog height, the 3/4/5
    irons go low and "cut" to the right.
    
    Someone cure me please !!
    
    Derek.
                       
    

    Derek,
    
    	>>    The problem is 6/7 irons go straight and at a goog height,
    	>>	the 3/4/5	irons go low and "cut" to the right.
    
    Just a guess but it might be that you're trying to hit the ball too
    hard and/or trying not to hit it right.  Since it's only practice, try
    to hit 60% of the club and see what happends.  Like I always say, it's
    better to hit it solid than to hit it hard.
    
    
    						KO

    A wag...
    
    I'd like to see if Derek is coming thru the ball with an upward swing
    plane and see if he's getting his body "out of the way" to allow the
    swing... AND if he's finishing high with the follow thru...
    
    -dwight

    
    I sort of agree with .5, though did not major in geometry or 
    angular motions.
    
    One of the pros at Stow has "adopted" my son Mark and said his left
    hand grip is extremely weak, so weak that his knuckles almost
    face down! And he hits exteremely high  2 through 5 irons.
    
    I'm sure this has a lot to do with how open or shut the blade comes
    through at impact. He turned his left hand over "a little" more like Hogan/
    Vardon  teach and his driver has now come down a good 20 feet with
    more of a line drive look rather than " a Williams home run".( You
    young guys don't know what I'm talking about!)
    
    Also sqeezing his elbows in at "set up"  seems to give a square
    take away  .
    MTCW, Ang
    

Chances are you are swaying through the shot, bringing your hands 
ahead of the clubhead and releasing AFTER striking the ball. The 
reason you may be hitting it well with the lofted clubs, but are 
struggling with the long irons is that you (and most of us amateurs) 
tend to press on the long irons (maybe because our target seems so far 
away, or maybe because we're intimidated by the shot). To press is to 
lunge, and if you lunge you'll probably sway.

Two swing thoughts I have used have helped me battle this tendency: 
concentrate on a slow, deliberate transition at the top; and try to 
keep your head from moving toward the target on your downswing. You 
may hit a few fat shots at first, but stick with it.

Good luck.

     
    Thanks for the input.
    
    I shall now head for the practice area again.
    
    cheers Derek.