How to Hit Irons: 8 Steps, Ball Position and Drills
How to hit irons? Hit the ball first, then the ground. Set up with the ball in the right spot for the club, keep your weight slightly forward, start the downswing with your lower body and arrive at impact with your hands a little ahead of the clubhead so the club strikes down and takes a shallow divot after the ball.
Below is a step-by-step guide to hitting irons, the setup chart for short, mid and long irons, the common mistakes (fat, thin, slice) and three drills. If you're new to the full swing, start with our golf swing basics for beginners. Heading to the range? See our best-selling golf shirts.
Why hitting irons is different from hitting a driver
With a driver the ball sits on a tee and you sweep it. With an iron the ball sits on the ground, so you need a slightly descending blow. As RotarySwing's guide for beginning golfers puts it, "you must hit the little ball before you hit the big ball (the ground)." For tee shots, read how to drive a golf ball farther.
How to hit irons step by step
These steps follow the beginner sequence in Embers Golf's how to hit irons guide.
1. Grip in the fingers
Let the club run diagonally across your fingers, not your palm. Grip pressure should be firm but relaxed, like holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing any out.
2. Stance and posture
Feet about shoulder-width for mid irons, slightly narrower for short irons and slightly wider for long irons. Soften the knees and bend from the hips. With short irons, set about 60 percent of your weight on your lead foot; with mid irons, 50/50.
3. Ball position
| Irons | Ball position |
|---|---|
| Short irons (8, 9, PW) | About one ball-width back from center |
| Mid irons (5, 6, 7) | Center of stance |
| Long irons (3, 4) | One to two balls forward of center |
4. Aim with an intermediate target
From behind the ball, pick a spot a couple of feet in front of it on your target line. Aim the clubface at that spot, then set your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to the line.
5. A controlled backswing
Take the club back low and slow for the first foot or so. A compact three-quarter backswing usually gives beginners more reliable contact than a full one.
6. Start down from the ground up
Begin the downswing with the lower body: lead hip turns toward the target, then torso, arms and clubhead. Throwing the club from the top with the arms causes an over-the-top move, slices and pulls.
7. Hands ahead at impact
At impact your hands should be slightly ahead of the clubhead (forward shaft lean). RotarySwing explains that if the shaft is vertical or releasing early, "the club will typically bottom out behind the ball." A good strike leaves a shallow divot after the ball, not before it.
8. Balanced finish
Finish with your weight on your lead foot, chest facing the target and trail foot up on its toe. If you can hold the finish for three seconds, your balance is good.
What is the 7-iron rule?
There's no official "7-iron rule," but beginners are often told to learn with a 7-iron or 8-iron first. Embers Golf recommends starting every practice session with one of these because mid-to-short irons are the most forgiving. Many golfers also replace hard-to-hit 3 and 4 irons with hybrids.
Why can't I hit my irons? Common mistakes
- Fat shots (ground first): usually weight stuck on the trail foot or wrists releasing early. Keep weight forward through impact.
- Thin shots (ball at the equator): usually trying to scoop the ball up. Trust the loft and keep your eyes on the back of the ball.
- Slice: clubface open to an out-to-in path. A slightly stronger grip and a feeling of swinging toward right field (for right-handers) helps.
- Casting: the wrists unhinge at the start of the downswing. Pause briefly at the top so the lower body leads.
Drills to hit your irons better
- Towel drill: put a folded towel about four inches behind the ball. If you hit the towel, you're bottoming out too early.
- Alignment-stick gate: two sticks just wider than the clubhead train an inside path through impact.
- Lead-arm chips: RotarySwing suggests small chip shots with only the lead arm to feel the shaft leaning toward the target.
Short game next? Read how to chip a golf ball.
Golf shirts for range days
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FAQ
How do you hit your irons correctly?
Ball in the right position for the club, weight slightly forward, lower body starts the downswing, hands ahead of the clubhead at impact, and a shallow divot after the ball.
Should you hit down on irons?
Yes, slightly. A descending blow with forward shaft lean makes contact with the ball before the ground.
Where should the ball be for a 7-iron?
Mid irons like the 7-iron are usually played from the center of the stance.
Why do I hit my irons fat?
Most often your weight stays on the trail foot or your wrists release too early, so the club bottoms out behind the ball. Try the towel drill.
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