Bren,
I agree with Gord on the ball position. A check point is take a few practice swings and take a divot next to a ball (don't hit the ball). See where your divot is compared to where the ball is. You have to take more than 1 swing in the same place. Place the ball or shift your setup so the divot is at the target side (front) of the ball.
Please follow this mental picture. The golf swing comments will be in brackets.
Another point is swinging through the shot. With your
irons, players have a tendancy to slow down through the shot. Picture a rollercoaster, going up the hill is the backswing even tempo. At the top the change from uphill to downhill occurs the pressure is relieved a bit as you come over the top [this is the transition or weight shift that occurs). The upper body is completing the backswing and the lower body is shifting to the left.] As the front cars go over the top the back cars are still coming over so it is a slow even transition. As the last cars come over the the speed increases rapidly from the force of gravity and the steepness of the hill. [This in a golf swing is the activation of the upper body in the down swing. The right arm straightening the left arm remaining straight.] There is a point at the bottom of the hill where you start uphill and slow down again. But there is also a point prior to this were the cars are going their fastest. [This is impact the point where the clubhead meets the ball. The wrists are both straight at this point, the arms have fully extended, a crack of the whip so to speak.] The coaster comes up the next hill and slows as it come to the next hill. [This would be the follow through. The left arm folds, the right arm is extended. You are facing the target, and the ball is on line.]
During the downswing, swing through to a finish. If you release the club you will hit the ball hard. The ball will have alot of backspin and it will go high but long as Gord described. They will also land soft. To achieve this you must be relaxed, tension slows you down. You can make some setup adjustments to hit the ball lower if you are playing in the wind but this mental picture would still hold true.
Sometimes painting a mental picture of the swing will help you understand the mechanical details.
Please post with your progress!!!
GolfBald