Many high handicap golfers have trouble hitting long iron shots. They have seen Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, etc on TV hitting high towering long iron shots using a three or four iron. But when they try to do the same, they can’t because they can’t create the power and the spin necessary to get the ball up in the air.

If you have a three or four iron in your hand which you are using off the tee or off the fairway, expect the thing to go low. So don’t try and hit it high!

Most golfers over a mid-teen handicap probably should not have a three and four iron in their bag. You should use fairway woods which are much easier clubs to hit, with a lower centre of gravity. High handicap golfers should not be using long irons if they are still struggling with long iron shots.

Having said that, a long iron such as 2 iron is sometimes needed to hit shots long and low when a higher-numbered wood won’t do the job as effectively. Although many golfers tend to avoid 2 irons because they have a 3 or 4 wood that will cover roughly the same distance, there are situations when encountering long holes or second-shot hazards where this will be the club of choice for an experienced player.

To hit long iron shots effectively under such circumstances, the following steps should be considered:

1) 2 iron could cover a distance of between 180 and 200 yards, making it a club primarily used for a second shot on extremely long holes i.e. mostly par 5s. Make sure you practice with it on the driving range to gauge the distance and accuracy within your capability.

2) Set up properly. Unlike when hitting a driver, you should address the ball in the middle of your stance. This will guarantee a solid strike that hits the ball low heading towards the green. If you position the ball just inside your left heel, the ball would be lifted.

3) You want to attack the ball with the club head coming from inside the target line. A shallow arc also allows you to sweep the ball with your long irons as opposed to the steep swing you use with the shorter irons to hit down and through the ball.

4) Hit the 2 iron in the same manner you would any iron by using a descending, even stroke that takes advantage of the iron’s angle to carry the ball for the required distance.

5) Finish the swing with a long follow-through. Do not make the mistake of topping your swing after you make contact. Remember Tiger Wood’s follow through is as long as his backswing. By doing this, his swing is fluid and stays the same every time.

6) Keep the ball low to get out of trouble while covering nearly the same distance as a 3 wood or 4 wood. This is very useful when hitting long iron shots from areas where tree branches could be present between you and the green.

By: John Woon

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One of the golf swing basic you must master is to control you slice. Fully more than 70% of golfers hate to slice the golf ball because it is almost impossible to control the direction of the ball. This article will help you to fix your golf slice.

In fact, if you are a right hand golfer your golf ball will most probably curve to the right. To help you cure your “banana ball”. You must first understand your slice. Following are the 3 types of slice you might encounter.

Type 1: The straight slice

Your club is open when applying a bit of spin to the ball. Normally, you ball path will look straight initially and then curve to right. This is known as the straight slice.

Type 2: The Pull Slice

This kind of slide result from which your club facing outside in (clubhead facing slightly to the left). The result of this slice is first the ball will travel to your left and then curve to your right.

Type 3: The Push Slice

The opposite of pull slice which is club facing inside out (club head facing slightly to your right). The ball will first travel to your right and then curve to the right giving you a nice (as intended?) banana curve.

Now, you can judge your slice by looking at your ball path. You should have a better idea why your ball go in those directions. To fix your slice, follow these few tips.

Tip 1: Fix Your Swing

Chance are you have a bad habit of slicing the ball outside in creating a left spin on the ball. When enough left spin applied your ball will curve to the right naturally. To fix this, you have to hit your ball inside out.

Try to drop your right foot to about 10 inch (for right hander) to the back, this will allow you to swing outside in easier. Adopt this swing to your normal stance, you’ll be amazed.

Tip 2: Throw A Bag?

This is a simple yet effective practice. Get something with decent weight, perhaps an impact bag. Swing and drop the bag to the direction you want your ball to land on. Remember to choose something light enough not to hurt your back but heavy enough to control your swing motion.

This practice helps grooves an anti-cut motion. Keep your left arm connected to your chest as you swing back, and maintain that connection until you release the bag to the right of the target line.

Tip 3: Fix your direction

If your swing is straight, ie, not swinging outside in, chances are your clubface it facing the wrong direction. To fix your direction, get a small magnet with the size of a calculator battery and a tee. Glue the magnet to the tee and place the tee onto your clubface.
Place your DIY magneted tee to your clubface with the tee pointing out. Make a few slow-mo swings, and study your clubface to see whether the tee pointing to the direction you intended?

As clubs get longer and as players swing faster, it is quite impossible for beginners not to slice their shots without clear instructions. However, with proper practice and analysis, any golfer can slash his handicaps by 3 to 7 within a short amount of time.

By: Eason Chan

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Golf slice is one of the most common problems every golfer experiences. Surveys show that more than 86% of the golfers are experiencing golf slice dilemmas. What is even worse is that most of them do not even know how to fix it.

The problem with most golfers is that they do not even know what causes golf slice problems. Some players have even gone to the extent of getting some advanced training utilities, golf lessons, and even performed more than a few drills. But in spite of all the help, they continue to strike a golf slice.

So where the problem does lies?

Know the Culprit

Golf slice takes place when the clubface makes a “side-spin” on the golf ball. In most cases, people will instantly consider it as a reflexive problem. What they do not know is that it is more on the corporeal matter.

The reason behind this matter is actually based on the coordination of the mind and body. Normally, the mind will command the body to sway the club well.

However, due to some physical restrictions, the output may not correspond to the expected action, thus, causing a swing error.

Experts have already identified the main reasons why golf slice takes place. Based on some research, golf slice are usually caused by four problems, namely:

1. Inappropriate arm stroke

2. Unfitting grip or hand grip was too stiff

3. Improper stance

4. Inappropriate “weight shifting”

All of these things may contribute to golf slicing problems.

What most golfers fail to realize is that the body should sway along with the club, after hitting the ball. If the shoulder fails to make the correct turn, slicing will take place. If your hand is too tight on the club, same problem will happen.

Everything is coordinated with the ball. If you were not able to project the correct physical condition that the game needs, you will most likely end up slicing the ball every now and then. This can be pretty frustrating.

Now that you know the real culprit, it is time for you to fix the error and start making a swift shot. No more golf slices this time.

Here are a few tips for fixing a golf slice:

1. Create the right posture

Ever wonder why some golfers are trying to project a perfect stance before hitting the ball? That is because proper golf posture is important to create a meaningful and correct shot.

Your shoulders should be able to make the right turn after swinging the club and hit the ball. Experts say that it is best to make one’s shoulder parallel to the mark. Be natural and keep your elbows on its normal mode. This will ensure correct posture.

2. Give the club some space

One of the common reasons of golf slice problems is based on the inappropriate grip on the club. Most beginners tend to hold the club too tight. It will immobilize your hand for making a good rotation after hitting the ball.

Gripping the club too strong will trigger your right hand to deliver the ball to sway towards the left side. On the other hand, too loose grip will also create a problem.

To solve the problem, it is best if you will try rolling your hands moving backwards. This will instigate proper handling.

It is all dependent on the proper coordination of the upper and the lower body to deliver the right posture and hand actions.

Keep in mind that a good golfer has already experienced almost all of the known golf problems. Hence, it takes dogged determination to perfect those skills and hone your craft to improve your game.

By: Tim Lee

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