Best Swing Path For Irons (Tip and Drills)

Written by Todd in Online Golf Instruction

Ideally, the golfer will have a swing path is inside to out and measures around 2-4 degrees in to out.  This helps keep the shot shallow and allows the golfer to hit a slight push draw or a slight push fade.  Both shots are easy to control and play consistent golf with.

If you ask any group of golfers what they are seeking with their golf swings, chances are the majority will say consistency.

During our rounds, regardless of our ability level, we all want to hit shots that are the following:

  • Well struck
  • Consistent ball flight and curve
  • Far enough

Today’s topic can help you with all three of the above, but most specifically the 2nd item of a consistent ball flight and curve.

If you have played golf with a really good golfer, you will note that their ball flight always seems to start on a similar line with a predictable curve.  So how can you go about creating that?

It starts with the swing path!

What is the best swing path for irons?

My Journey: For years, I played with a golf swing that was 7-8 degrees to the right or inside to out. I didn’t realize this until I starting playing simulator golf with my Skytrak Launch Monitor. I was also hitting down a decent amount with my irons, which produces even more side spin draw than a standard angle of attack. Recently, I have been able to level out my irons and now played a slight draw vs an overly aggressive draw.

This swing path allows the golfer to strike the ball solid, send the ball down a consistent start line and high the ball the intended distance.

If your swing becomes outside in, oftentimes the golfer fights a steep angle of attack, which leads to poor ball striking.  They will also over spin the ball and lose distance as a result.

Top 5 Tips/Drills to have a quality swing path for irons

  • Use your visualization
  • Swing to a target
  • Understand ball flight laws
  • Use a launch monitor
  • Use a stock shot drill
Developing a consistent swing path makes the game so much fun! Check out the tips and drills below!

#1: Use Your Visualization

If you are struggling to develop a swing path that is inside to out, there are several different visualization tips you can use:

  • For Former Baseball Players: Visualize or feel swinging out over the 2nd baseman’s head.  Or try to hit one into the right center.

Oftentimes, the golfer becomes too ball bound and will not complete the swing.  Instead, make a full swing out towards right center or the 2nd baseman.

#2: Swing To A Target

Our number 1 instructor for helping a golfer with this approach is Shawn Clement.  He is truly incredible for the golfer that is struggling to hit the inside to out swing path with the irons or the driver.  He promotes using many of the natural movements in life and keeping things athletic.  He doesn’t promote trying to hit certain positions.  

When you can pick a target way out in the distance and swing towards that target, the golfer can start to better get the results with the swing path that he or she desires.

Here is what you will want to do:

  • Set up to your shot and aim your club face at the final target.
  • Go ahead and drop your right foot back to where the toes of your right foot are even with the heel of your left foot.
  • Go ahead and let your shoulders close slightly.
  • Next, make the swing along your feet and shoulder line to help produce an inside out swing path.
  • The ball should start to the right and draw left.
The golfer utilizing a target might select the cell phone tower in the background. This would be a start line for someone that plays a draw.

#3: Understand ball flight laws

The best golfers are able to read their ball flight during a round of golf and make some minor or simple adjustments.  Here are some keys.

Ball Flight Laws: A Basic Overview

  • The ball will start in the relative direction of where the clubface is aiming at impact.
  • The ball will then curve away from the swing path.
  • So if your clubface is left of the swing path at impact, the ball will curve left.  If your clubface is right of the swing path at impact, the ball will curve right.

Here is how you can read your ball flight through several examples:

  • Shot: Ball starts right and draws left (Push Draw).  This is a clubface that is slightly open at impact with a path further to the right.
  • Shot: Ball starts right and fades right (Push Fade).  This is a clubface that is slightly open at impact with a path that is left of the clubface.
  • Shot: Ball starts left and fades right (Pull Fade).  This is a clubface that is slightly closed at impact with a path that is left of the clubface.
  • Shot: Ball starts left and draws left (Pull Draw). This is a clubface that is slightly closed at impact with a path that is right of the clubface.

Some key items to point out:

  • If the curve is extreme, there is a large gap between your clubface and your swing path.
  • If the curve is soft, there is a small gap between your clubface and your swing path.
  • Arguably the most difficult shot to hit in golf is the straight shot.  This requires a perfectly square clubface with a 0 degree path.

Our recommendation is to develop a stock draw or a stock fade that will have a path that is right or left of the club face by 1-2 degrees.

What is the best swing path for a driver?

#4: Use A Launch Monitor

The quickest and easiest way to get immediate feedback after every shot is through a launch monitor.  While not everyone can afford a Trackman, there are some great alternatives that are much more affordable.

5 Trackman Alternatives: Get Started Today!

Could you imagine playing golf in a simulator setup or taking your launch monitor with you to the driving range or course.?  You can get the following information after every shot:

 The two most common are the Skytrak and the Mevo+. On both of these devices you can see your shot tracer and get the following data after every shot:

  • Swing Path
  • Spin Axis
  • Club and Ball Speed
  • Carry and Total Distance
  • Launch Angle

This provides you with the ability to have data after every shot for immediate feedback.  We know to maximize learning, timely feedback is essential to the growth process.

In a golf simulator setup, you can get to your favorite par 3 and hit mid iron after mid iron, working on your swing path and the curve of the ball.

A stock draw is ideal for this shot. Aim more to the center and work it towards the pin. It all starts with an inside out swing path.

#5: Use A Stock Shot Drill

One of my favorite drills of all time is the stock shot drill.  When you can pair the stock shot drill with a launch monitor you truly have the perfect setup to develop a consistent ball fight with every club in the bag.

Stock Shot Drill

  • At the driving range, set up an alignment stick about 6-8 yards in front of you, straight down your target line.
  • If you have a second alignment stick, set the stick 3-4 feet right of the first stick (for a draw) or left of the first stick (for a fade).
  • Complete your initial assessment see how many times out of 10 you can start the ball to the right or left of your target.  Pick one side and measure your game at this point.
  • The goal is to eventually get 7 out of 10 shots to start to the correct side and draw back towards the target.

We believe the swing path is only 2nd in importance to the clubface in the golf swing.

Check out this post: What is the most important part of the golf swing?

Need other drills for the driving range: 11 Drills for the Range!

Final Thoughts: Have Fun!

The journey in golf is supposed to be fun.  Trying and working to develop a stock shot can lead to more stress free and fun rounds.  I really enjoy the practice portion and working on little minor adjustments to get that stock shot back on line and hit consistent shot patterns time and time again.

Wish you hit the ball further?  Here are two great resources:

I recently hit a 117 mph swing speed with the driver after years in the low 100s. SuperSpeed Golf Works!

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About four years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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