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Core 4

The 4-step process to hitting better iron shots

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STEP 3: THE TRANSITION


Once you've learned how to properly load your weight at the top of your swing, the key is to shift that weight toward the target while maintaining the hinge in your wrists as you transition down and into impact. See above? My hinge is holding as I shift and rotate my body toward my left side. There's no need to fling the club and cast it out—the club will fall on its own by properly shifting your body first! The early release of the hands can kill both your power and your solidity of contact. Instead, to hold the angle in your wrists for as long as you can, try this "Pump Drill" that I learned from Jim McLean. Do what I'm doing here in slow motion, and pump your downswing correctly by holding your hinge as your arms drop and your body shifts and rotates. Try it; I bet you'll put an end to any early release of the hands.

STEP 4: UNDERSTAND IMPACT

First of all, if anyone tells you your impact position should resemble your setup, don't listen to that person. The left picture is that of a good position at impact—you can see it's completely different than the position at address.
Here, the proper impact position with your irons is one where the head is above or even slightly ahead of the ball, the shaft is leaning toward the target (with the iron, you need to hit down in order for the ball to go up) and the upper torso/hips rotated open. My shoulders are square to slightly open, and my weight has already shifted about 60%-70% to my left leg. This is the type of impact position that will lead to solid ballstriking where your divot is out in front of the golf ball. From here, finish the swing to a well-balanced followthrough where just about all of your weight is on your left leg. Do this and you'll start hitting better shots.

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