7 Keys to hitting a 5 iron:
- Control the bottom of the swing.
- Control the start line of your shots.
- Control the curve of your shot.
- Have enough distance to play a realistic 5 iron.
- Improve your ball striking from different lies.
- Forward shaft lean.
- Ensure you have the proper 5 iron.
One of the difficulties that many golfers have is hitting a green from 175 yards and out.
Some struggle and lose shots to the course or the field with their inability to hit solid mid to long irons that hold the green.
One of the greatest struggles and some of the stats have shown the importance of being able to hit greens from 175 yards and out. If you want to be a single digit handicap golfer, this is a shot that golfers need to get better at.
We often hear about the importance of driving the ball or putting. The higher the handicap the more important driving the ball is. The better driver of the ball, the better chances of having a lower handicap. This is based on both the total distance and accuracy.
The bottom line is that distance is key, but as you get to the elite level in golf, the importance of hitting shots between 175 yards and 225 yards become vital. In the end of a season, there is great importance in this distance between 175 yards and 225 yards. It is clear that the more distance you have the better chance you have of being successful from 175 yards.
Utilizing proximity to the pin and measuring your own distance, you will have a sense of your ability to hit these shots.
One can always tell the quality of a golfer when the group steps up to a 175 yard par 3 and the quality of the strike that happens with a mid or long iron!
Can you hit it to 30 feet or closer from 175 yards? This is a measurement of an elite golfer.
For a complete overview of these concepts, check out this video by Be Better Golf:
How To Hit A 5 Iron
Key #1: Control the bottom of the swing
Some have argued that the first fundamental of golf is being able to control the bottoming out of the club. The best golfers are able to strike the ground in the same spot 100 times out of 100. In fact, you can often measure a golfers handicap by their ability to strike the grund consistently.
While the elite golfer may be able to do this 99-100% of the time, the worse golfers may only do this less than 50% of time. In order to control your distance, start line and curve of the ball, the first key is hitting the ball solid and striking the ground in the same spot every time.
Before you can do this, it is difficult to worry about too much. I know that as my game was progressing I measured most of my rounds on the quality of my ball striking. With my irons I am now in that 99% range from the many thousands of golf balls hit.
Drill to Help:
Here is a drill you can use to assess your current ability and to help you get better.
- Use some yard paint and pant a 3-5 foot line.
- Use a wiffle ball and place that ball on the target side of the line.
- Go ahead and see how many times out of 20 you are successful.
- Repeat this drill until you can do this successful 99% of the time.
Tips:
- If you are struggling, start with 60% of your weight on your front leg.
- Be smooth in your transition and allow the club to work.
- Stay centered with your head and do not slide too far back or too far forward.
You will want to use this drill everyday that you can until you reach the level you want. Success with the 5 iron or golf as a game starts with this simple, but difficult to accomplish fundamental. We must be able to control the club face and where it is as it gets near impact.
Key #2: Control the start line of your shots
Once you are striking the ball solid, it is time to now focus on the start line. The best golfers can hit their start line at least 7 times out of 10. This allows a golfer to manage the course and play the angles and play to the correct spots of the green.
Some may choose to work the ball both ways, while others will hit a stock shot. The key however is to start the ball on your intended line as often as possible.
I would recommend building a stock shot. Get comfortable hitting a draw or a fade 90% of the time. Learn to hit the ball on your intended start line a high percentage of the time and the game will become much easier.
Drill to Help:
- Setup an alignment stick 6-8 yards on your target line.
- If you have a second alignment stick set one up 3 feet right of the first alignment stick.
- See how many times out of 10 you can hit it between these two sticks.
Tips:
- Start behind each shot and make sure you think about staying on the inside on the downswing.
- Your club face has to be slightly open to the target line to hit the ball right of the target line.
Mastering this start line will go a long way in improving your game, regardless of your current level. This is my go to drill when I am struggling and it helps get me back on track.
With my wedges I am at 90%, with an 8 iron about 75%, with a 5 iron around 70% and with a driver around 60%. I need more work on my driver!
Here is a video explaining this drill:
Key #3: Control the curve of your shot
Once you get the start line down, now we want to focus on the curve of the ball. Understanding ball flight laws can help reduce the frustration often associated with the curve of the ball.
We want the ball to start right of the target line and draw back without over drawing. This is the key to any solid iron shot, but especially the 5 iron and longer irons.
Understanding The Ball Flight Laws
Why? If you understand the ball flight laws you can start to become your own swing instructor and make corrections on the range or the course by reading the flight of your golf ball. Too often golfers turn to the video of their swing when everything you need to know can be read off of your ball flight. Did you know that your ball flight can tell you the following:
- Where your club face was at impact.
- If your swing path was left or right of the club face.
Once you know these two items you can make the corrections by checking out our 2nd Tip on understanding what swing thoughts can help you get the proper matchups.
So let’s dive into the ball flight laws:
- Generally speaking, the golf ball will start where the club face is aiming.
- The golf ball will then curve away from the swing path.
There are two different lines that we must understand. The target line and the start line. The best golfers start the ball left or right of the target line and then curve the ball back towards the target.
Let’s go over some examples to help you better understand the ball flight laws.
Example A: Let’s say that the club face is 3 degrees right of the target line and the swing path is 5 degrees right of the target line. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start right of the target line and draw back towards the target. This is known as a push draw.
Example B: Let’s say the club face is 3 degrees right of the target line, same as in example A, but the swing path is only 1 degree right of the target line. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start to the right of the target line and will fade to the right. Keep in mind that the ball will curve away from the swing path. In this example, both the club face and the swing path are to the right and the ball will curve away from the path.
Example C: Let’s say the club face is 3 degrees to the left of the target line and the swing path is 5 degrees left of the target line. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start to the left and curve to the right. This would be a pull fade or pull slice. Keep in mind that even though the face is closed to the target line, it is open to the swing path and the ball will curve away from the swing path.
Example D: Let’s say the club face is 3 degrees to the left and the swing path is only 1 degree to the left. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start left and curve left. This shot would look like a pull draw.
Hopefully, these examples help you understand the club face and swing path correlation and how they match up. Once you understand these ball flight laws, it will help you read your own shots and possibly make in round adjustments.
Key #4: Have enough distance to play a realistic 5 iron
If you are hitting 5 irons from 130 yards, golf is very difficult. First off, you don’t have enough speed to hit a 5 iron and should probably look at hybrids. Check out this post:
5 Iron vs 5 Hybrid: Which one should I carry?
Did you know that you can train to add speed to your golf swing?
Let’s face it, regardless of the current state of your game we all want more speed. It has become very clear the need for speed in the golf swing and there are ways to add speed! The analytics on all levels of golf show how important speed and additional speed are in reducing golf scores.
The additional speed with hybrids and fairway woods will give you greater height and distance, but many want to stick with mid and long irons and I understand. The precision provided by these clubs is attractive to the more elite golfer.
Related: How to hit a 5 iron 200 yards!
It is time to start training for some additional speed. This is a drill and training protocol that I would highly recommend.
SPEED DRILL: Increase your swing speed through overspeed training
- Check out SuperSpeed Overspeed Training Protocols
- Train every other day for 10-15 minutes.
- See a 4-6% increase in swing speed as early as the first training protocol.
The number one thing that has helped me gain significant distance is the SuperSpeed Training System. This overspeed based system where you train every other day for about 10-15 minutes with different swing sticks can help you increase your swing speed by 5-8% which can be 20-30 yards. Who wouldn’t want an extra 20-30 yards. Plus it helps improve your mechanics.
SuperSpeed Golf – Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 for some savings!
The analytics are pretty clear on the importance of speed in the game of golf. Would you rather hit your approach shot from 130 yards of 160 yards?
The answer is pretty simple! We know that over the course of time, we will hit shots from 130 yards much closer than from 160 yards, whether we are an average amateur golfer, a scratch golfer, or a PGA Tour member!
The key is having shorter approach shots, so we can hit the ball closer to the hole and then make more putts! Speed is king in the game of golf! Make sure you check out SuperSpeed Golf!
Related: How far should you hit a 5 iron?
Key #5: Improve your ball striking from different lies
The best golfers can read the lie and make the adjustments to hit quality shots. It’s one thing to be able to pure 5 irons from flat, fairway lies, it is another to hit them with the ball above or below or feet or even out of the rough.
The best way to learn this is to practice from different lies. There isn’t too much of a shortcut or tip to help other than to work on the bottom of your club contact point and get experience hitting from different lies.
Related: Why can’t I hit my irons: 5 common issues
Key #6: Forward Shaft Lean
If you check out any single digit handicap player to the pros, you will notice they have forward shaft lean at impact. The best golfers actually take the 5 iron loft and actually reduce the loft by a bit to help compress the ball and maximize the speed provided. On the PGA Tour the average launch angle with a 5 iron is 12.1 degrees. Meanwhile, the average loft of a 5 iron is between 21 and 27 degrees. This numbers shows that the PGA Tour players are actually presenting less loft at impact the the amount of loft on the club.
Check out this video below to see the forward shaft lean that takes place at impact
Key #7: Ensure you have the proper 5 iron
There are two major areas amateur goflers should check with their 5 iron:
- Is their 5 iron older than 10 years?
- Is their 5 iron a blade when a player improvement iron might help?
- Do they have the right shaft in their 5 iron?
Check these 3 questions above. Here are our thoughts on each one.
If your 5 iron is 10 years or older, you are giving up some of the technology that might help you in today’s game. Every 10 years, irons improve enough to make the investment and benefit. If you have the money, it might be something to do every 5 years. Technology and the ability to launch a ball higher and further continues to improve.
If you are playing a blade and your handicap isn’t 3 or better, chances are you are giving up shots with your longer irons. Blades are great for some players, but do not have shame in playing an iron that helps you get the ball in the air and to hit it further.
Finally, ensure you have the right shaft. Graphite shafts in irons continues to improve and can provide some additional swing speed, resulting in greater distance.
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Here is the reality…in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three 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:
Final Thought: How to Hit a 5 iron
I believe the single greatest tip to hitting a better 5 iron is increasing your swing speed. The good news is that there are plenty of options on today’s market to do so. Obviously, the SuperSpeed Golf is a great option and one that can bring about improvement if you are willing to put in the time.
Related Posts