7 iron vs 5 iron

Just got back from the driving range a while ago. Finally managed to hit 95m (103yds) with my 7 iron, and was feeling a little pleased with myself considering I touched a golf club for the first time only one month ago :P Well try as I might, 103yds was the furthest I was able to hit with the 7 iron.

So I thought, why not give the 5 iron a try - and I read in another post that on average that should give me about 24 yds more, coming to about 116m (127yds). But no way, I wasn't even able to hit as far as I did with the 7 iron

The 5 iron actually felt better, longer and I could feel more flexibility in the club, which I thought should therefore let me impart more energy to the ball on impact. The grip and swing felt pretty good too, but I just couldn't hit the ball any further than with the 7 iron. What could be the problem here???

Im no expert so cant give advice but if your only hitting 100 yards with a 7 iron your doing something wrong

You must be hitting from the top, IE, casting.start downswing by dropping arms and hands as one unit. Feel you are retaining wrist cock until after impact.This in fact is not possible, centrifugal force will kick in quite natuarally.Feel you are driving back of left hand square through the ball ,good luck and keep swinging.

You guys are good! My coach took a video of my swing and that's exactly what he said! Well he said the swing is too steep, and it's quite obvious on the video that I am standing too straight and upright. I am guessing the steep swing is what you all refer to as casting from the top, right?

My coach said the steep swing is a direct result of my standing to upright, and if I work on the stance/posture, it should correct itself. The next lesson is supposed to be the full swing (we are learning 3/4 swing currently), so I am not sure if that means we will be using the woods? Frankly I only feel ready to practise with my 7 iron and nothing more, until it feels more right. Will touching the woods now just screw things up even more? :P

I wouldnt worry about it at this stage Simon, concentrate on your technique on the range and keep with the lessons. The 5 iron is a less forgiving club to hit therefore it will expose your inconsistencies more than a 7 iron. Get your swing nailed, then talk to your pro about longer irons and maybe in the future dedicate a lesson on just those clubs for confidence sake.

And dont worry about hitting 100 yards with a 7 iron, I used to until I had my first lesson.

I wouldn't worry either. It will all come. It takes time to work on your swing. It's taken me 5-6 months to get rid of my slice and in that time I've worked with drills. My long game now is solid, but I wish I could say the same for my short game. My chipping and my putting is awful (well putting is for sure). Two good shots, a 3 putt and I'm left with a miserable bogey or a missed green, a thinned chip and it's the same result. I'd recommend, take your time and be patient, the swing will come, practice short game and enjoy the game.

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Thanks for the encouragement guys! Guess what, I've already decided to bring only the 7 iron when I go to the driving range tomorrow :P I still find myself making a lot of changes to my swing with every visit, so I think I better get it all sorted out first

Hi Simon,

Don't worry too much about distance at the begining, this will come as your swing speed increases and your swing improves. Remember, golf is a game for life and sometimes it feels like it can take a full life time to get to grips with - pardon the punn !

Regards,
Steve

When I first started to get the ball in the air I only got my 7 iron 100 metres myself. Now I get it around 150metres (165 yards). Only 18 months, of practice.

Really appreciate all the encouragement from you guys. Just came back from the range, and yep I am still hitting around 90-100m (99-110yds) at best :P But I'm not too concerned with that now, just want to get my swing fixed. I guess I still don't feel too comfortable with it, so I'm not giving it all I've got when I swing :P

BTW, I am using the Maruman Proliner G1. Hope the pic link works?

I'm also trying to put up my swing video so you guys can help give some comments, but it doesn't seem to be working?

Cheers!

Attached Images

Maruman Proliner G1 9-iron.JPG (128.4 KB, 8 views)