The best way to hit a 7 iron straight is to ensure your swing path and your club face are at the same angle at impact. If there is any variation in the swing path or club face the ball will curve. The straight shot can actually be the most difficult shot to hit in golf.
Find yourself struggling with your mid irons, especially your 7 iron?
All you want is to make solid contact and hit the ball straight, right?
The best golfers make it seem simple and they are able to stick those approach shots from 150 and 160 yards with their 7 iron!
Like most golfers you are probably seeking consistency in your game!
We have all been there and struggled at one point or another on our golf journey. Do not worry, we are here to help and will get you headed in the right direction.
Golf can be a complicated game, but if you understand some key elements like the Ball Flight Laws, the game becomes easier to understand and you can make adjustments between rounds and even during rounds the more you study and understand the ball flight laws and what you are trying to accomplish in your golf swing.
All golf courses have their own element of difficulty, the ability to control the straight line of a shot is the key to playing quality golf.
Update: Over the past 5 years of owning a launch monitor, I have learned a lot about Ball Flight Laws and how to hit different shaped shots. The bottom line is that on every shot I am trying to hit a draw or a fade and move the ball one way or another. The most difficult shot in golf is the straight shot for me.
How To Hit A 7 Iron Straight
Below we will dive into the following topics or questions and help you better understand the golf swing and provide some tips to get you to the level you want for your game!
The topics and questions we will dive into consist of:
- What Has to Happen to Hit a Straight Shot in Golf?
- Should We Even Try To Hit A Straight Shot in Golf?
- What the Ball Flight Laws in Golf Tell Us?
- How to Focus on the Three Fundamentals in Golf (3 Tips included)
- Managing Your Golf Game
What Has To Happen To Hit a Straight Shot in Golf?
The game of golf and the way your ball reacts to the club is the key to understanding the straight shot. In order to hit a straight shot in golf, the club face must be perfectly square with your target line and the swing path must be at 0 degrees to the target line as well.
What this means is that hitting the straight shot in golf leaves very little room for error.
I know what you are thinking, no wonder why I am struggling. But hang around, we have a solution for you!
The straight shot is in fact the most difficult shot to hit in golf because it leaves no room for error. If you are trying to hit the ball straight down the target line there is a very good chance your swing path and club face won’t be perfectly aligned causing your ball to curve away from the target!
So what should a golfer do about this?
Should We Even Try To Hit A Straight Shot in Golf?
No, because the straight shot is nearly impossible to hit and any variation will cause the ball to move away from the target as it falls to the ground. Instead, the golfer should work to develop a stock draw or stock fade that they can rely on in all situations.
Many golf pros talk about the difficulty of hitting the perfectly straight shot. Instead use the angles provided to us to create margins for error and the slight draw of fade that works towards the target or the center of the fairway.
I prefer the stock draw shot because it is superior in the wind and the ball flight high and low is easier to control. The standard stock draw shot that starts right of the target line and draws back towards the target has an slightly open club face at impact with a club face that is even further open.
For example, if your club face is 2 degrees open and your swing path is 4 degrees to the right, your ball will start right and curve towards the flag. This allows you to work the ball towards the flag on approach shots and towards the middle of the fairway on tee shots.
What the Ball Flight Laws in Golf Tell Us?
Why is this important? 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.
How to Focus on the Three Fundamentals in Golf (3 Tips included)
The Stack and Tilt Instructors said it best when they described what they believed were the fundamentals of golf. They explained it somewhat similar to this:
- The first fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the bottom of the golf swing. The best golfers will hit the ground in the intended spot, close to 100% of the time.
- The second fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the curve of the golf ball. The best golfers are able to start the ball to the right or left of the target line and have the ball curve towards the target without the ball over curving past the target.
- The third fundamental is the golfer’s ability to have enough power to play the golf course. This means they are able to hit the ball far enough to play the course in regulation.
They explained that among the greatest golfers of all time there were different grips and different aim points. The fundamentals in golf are not grip, and alignment.
Ben Hogan played with a weak grip, while Lee Trevino had a strong grip. Lee Trevino and Fred Couples aimed way to the right, while Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer aimed well to the right.
We explain all of this to help understand the importance of controlling the curve of the ball. Read your ball flight and start to get better today.
Tip #1: How to Build A Stock Shot
A stock shot allows you to control your start line and your curve, which is the 2nd fundamental in golf. I would recommend the stock draw shot. Here is a drill you can practice at the driving range:
- Setup an alignment stick about 7 to 10 yards in front of you on the target line.
- See how many shots out of 10 you can start to the right of the target.
- Track this data over time and continue to work on your start line.
The goal here is to get the club face pointing in a similar direction as many times out of 10 as possible. Once we get the ball starting the right spot, we can then move onto the curve of the ball.
If your ball is starting to the right and curving to the right, let’s work on getting your swing path more to the right, which will then help you hit a draw.
Practice this every range session you have for at least 20-30 golf balls. Don’t just stand at the range and aimlessly hit golf balls. This drill can be a game changer for many golfers.
Building a “Go To” Stock Shot
Tip #2: How to Increase Swing Speed
We know that fundamental #3 is to have enough power to play a course. Did you know that with SuperSpeed Golf you can see a 5-8% increase in swing speed in your very first session.
*Use discount code Golfjourney365 to save money!
This could be 20-30 yards for some golfers. Even 10 would be great for most, right? This system is based on three different swing clubs all of different lengths. The training takes place every other day and the entire protocol only takes 10-15 minutes.
The science behind the increase is built on overspeed training and training our minds and bodies to be able to safely swing at these increased speed. One of the great benefits is that it also helps improve your mechanics!
My average swing speed use to be between 98-101 and now I am swinging between 104 and 109 miles per hour. The increase has been noticeable on the course, not only with my driver, but with my approach shots as well!
Check out our full SuperSpeed Swing Review Here
Tip #3: How To Make On Course Corrections
When you hit a bad shot, make sure you watch the entire flight and know what the ball actually does. Too many golfers turn in frustration instead of connecting the feel or the swing with the result.
If you hit a pull hook, did you feel your hands and your body come through too much. Do you need to feel the push to the right and stay patient through contact? Read your ball flight! Know what feels get your start line to be hit and control that club face.
Awareness of the face and the path will help you become more consistent and make on course adjustments.
Managing Your Golf Game
Once you can build the golf swing that starts the ball on the correct side of your target line and curve back towards the target line even 5 out of 10 times you are starting to play more consistent golf.
Every golfer dreams about being consistent in their golf game. Too many people have no idea where the ball is going. Instead make sure you practice Tip 1 and practice that drill.
You will be grateful and feel like you can actually start enjoying the game when you can control your shot patterns.
Spraying the ball all over the course is no fun, unless you have a magical short game and can get up and down for par 7 out of 10 times, but what is fun is sticking that approach shot inside of 20 feet and giving yourself putt after putt to make those birdies.
These three fundamentals are truly important to your progress as a golfer and to become the most consistent and best golfer you can be! Don’t give up and keep working at the game.
When you combine this with some SuperSpeed Training, the potential is impressive and you can get your game where you need to!
Here is a complete series I did on taking your golf game to the next level!
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, we are busy people trying to find time to sneak in a round of golf or practice to get better. Several years ago, I made the leap and purchase a golf simulator package and created my own golf lab right in my garage.
No longer am I stopped or held back by the weather or time of day. The location is great to sneak in a quick 40 minute round of 18 holes or to head out and hit approach shots on number 11 at Augusta.
The possibilities are endless and your game will almost certainly improve. The features are amazing, the golf is realistic and the amount of fun is difficult to beat!
I purchased a SkyTrak Package from Rain or Shine Golf. They provide some amazing offers including impressive financing deals. Check out the links below for more information.
You might be surprised that the cost to setup a home golf simulator has decreased and can now be accomplished for between 5-7 thousand dollars and you will be the envy of your golfing buddies!
At the bottom of this post I have linked many posts written about golf simulator and many How To’s to be your go to resource for all things golf simulator related.
If you want to take your game to the next level, check out our recipe below for your game improvement!
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:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.