problems with long irons

i seem to hit my short irons okay, but when i go to hit a long iron i have a hard time setting up to the ball, i'm either to close to the ball or to far away. any help on this problem would be appreciated. thanks

When setting up to the ball the arms should hang down in a comfortable position with the weight just behind the balls of the feet. For many people this means that with the club behind the ball if you place the top of grip agianst your left leg it should be about 2 inches above the knee. Hope this helps you set with a bit more confidence.

A tip that really helped me over come hitting long irons was this ... THERE IS NO difference in the way you swing your short and long irons. A lot of people try to hit their long irons harder usually causing you to come over the top of their swing plane, just try and relax and keep your 4 iron on the same plane that you took it back on and don't try to hit it with every single muscle in your arm. Just let the club do the work.

Here is a simple way to determine the correct distance from the ball. Stand erect with a golf club (gripped) in your hands with your arms in front of you. Now let your arms rest on your chest until you feel a slight pressure from your arms touching your torso. Now bend forward from the waist until the clubhead touches the ground. This will establish the correct distance from the ball.