| Hitting the Fairway |
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In 1997 I won Shot of the Year for my drive on the 18th at Valderrama in the Ryder Cup. It was a high-pressure drive to the narrowest of fairways - yet I nailed the shot. It set me up for a crucial par which allowed us to retain the trophy.
I've been labelled a great iron player, but the only reason I hit so many greens is because I hit so many fairways. Part of this is because a full shot for me is only about 90%. Amateurs often give the driver everything, but never should you drive a car to its absolute limit. I also put my accuracy with the driver down to the fact that I turn a lot less than most players. This allows the club to swing down the target line for longer; my action is two-dimensional compared to many pros who rotate strongly from in-to-in either side of the ball. This action gives me the longest hitting area on tour - and keeps my ball on the mown areas. |
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1. Rhythm comes from soft hands
When you look at my grip, see how there is almost no pressure from my right palm down on to my left thumb. My hold is as light as possible, while keeping control of the club. It promotes a wide, full and rhythmic swing and allows me to swing through the ball, not at it. When you see a short, snatchy action you can bet your life a tight grip is at the core of it.
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2. Wide backswing, no turn
This picture shows you exactly how my two-dimensional swing is set up. The club has moved quite a long way but my shoulders are still basically in their address position. There's no great body pivot, no rotation that will throw the club way back inside the line. Purists may argue, but I like the fact my club moves back along the line for as long as possible. |
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3. Long impact zone
A - That first move away from the ball sets up the path and plane of my swing - and these images show its benefits. My club is pretty much swinging down the ball-to-target line from shortly after hip-height, and it stays there until the equivalent point on the way through. That's an awfully long time for the club to be swinging through at the target.
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| B - Contrast this with an action where the club attacks the ball sharply from the inside, then returns inside quickly after impact. Your swing must be perfectly timed to catch the ball at the right moment. My wide hitting area has, no doubt, allowed me to get away with countless badly timed swings. |
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We've already looked at how my club stays on line for linger, giving me increased accuracy with my driver. But this swing has another crucial benefit to me - it allows me to control distance with my irons. How? Well, with a more in-to-in swing the clubface rotates hard through impact. An open face has extra loft, meaning a shorter shot, and a closed face has reduced loft, meaning the ball travels further. Your timing must be pinpoint to present the club's true loft of the ball.
But with my club swinging square through square, my clubface is also able to keep square to the target line for longer. That allows me to strike the ball with the club's correct loft on a consistent basis - which means control of distance. I know my 7-iron is going to fly 158 yards on cue. And this is how I've managed to make so many twos on par-3s through the course of my career. |
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1. Left hand keeps going
I definitely feel that my left hand controls impact; I like to feel the back of my left hand driving through the ball and on into the follow-through. For one thing, it helps me hold the clubface square; but it also promotes the wide and free-flowing throughswing which I feel is crucial to good iron play. If you let your right hand take over its wrist will tend to fold, which shortens your follow-through and narrows your arc. You can't send the ball away down the target line with the same authority. So put the back of your left hand in control. As well as preserving the width of your action it also keeps your weight moving forward, which holds you on line through the ball. |
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2. Swing to a finish
Most instruction is based around set-up and backswing, but for me great iron play is all about what happens from the top down. From the top of your attention should not be on the ball but on the finishing position you wish to attain. Your swing through the ball; it just gets in the way. Next time you stand over an iron shot, forget technical thoughts - just focus on making the long, flowing follow-through that sends the ball away on target and leads to a high, confident finish. |
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Why my chest lefts up at finish
If I have a trademark, it's my chest puffs out as I reach the end of my follow-through. This is more body language than technique - it's a gesture of confidence, a sign that I have not stopped at the ball by swung through purposefully towards the target. I'd definitely urge you to develop your own positive body language in your iron play. It's amazing how you can boost your game simply by acting confidently. |
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| Golf World - Monty Special |
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