April 1, 2025
Use The Right Club
Touring pros are very good at hitting the ball the right distance. They could hit as many as three different clubs to go the same distance, depending on the height or amount of spin they want to impart on the ball. Generally, they are not fooled on how hard to hit the ball, but if they do error, they will hit as many balls long and they do short.
I asked a student recently, "how far do you hit your seven iron?". The answer was 160 yards. I knew him well, and his evaluation of his length was, in my opinion, overly optimistic. During his lesson I watched about ten shots with his seven iron and the longest was 150 yards and most between 140 to 145. Yes, he was there for a lesson and wanted more consistency and more length, but 160 yard length for him was pushing his limits as far as clubhead speed and athletic ability. I'm sure, occasionally, with great contact he got a 160 yard shot, but that was the exception and not the norm.
In recently years the most consistent ball striker has been Scottie Scheffler. His distance control is noticeable better than his playing competitors. On par threes, where all players are hitting from the same distance, his iron selection is many times one club more than his playing partners. He could hit the same club as them, but he takes a long club and swings either easier or three-quarters to dial in the right distance. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Hogan were great examples of controlling distances and using the right club to do the job.
Using my student as an example. His average or standard seven iron would be 145 yards. However, his range for his seven iron is between 150 and 140. Could he press it to 155 in certain situations, yes, and that also means he could use the same club to go 135 yards. When calculating your distance for each club, your parameters should be the range, or in this case 140 to 150. Most amateurs gage their distance on their maximum distance and constantly are short to dramatically short of their target.
Practice smart. Don't just randomly hit seven irons at one speed. Pick a target that is in the middle of your range for your seven iron. Then hit one five yards short and then one five yards long. Get used to having a club in your hand that can go beyond the pin if stuck properly. The discipline that you show in your practice will soon become evident on the golf course. Bobby Knight famously said that, "Everybody has a will to win. What we need to talk about is the will to practice to win." Your goal is to make the ball go the right distance. Be like Scottie Scheffler and don't let your ego dictate your club selection.
