Long irons are tougher to hit than short irons but that doesn’t mean you should avoid them. If you’re struggling to transition from a short iron to a long iron or vice versa, a few simple setup and swing tweaks can make a big difference. Let’s break down what you need to know about long irons and short irons and what adjustments you can make to hit both with more confidence.
Why long irons feel harder to hit
The longer irons have longer shafts and less loft. The lower loft and extra length magnify mishits and require more clubhead speed for the perfect launch. Short irons are more forgiving in terms of launch but you’ll need to learn to control distance and hit precise shots.
With longer irons, aiming for the middle of the green is a smart strategy. Short irons allow you to get more aggressive and go at the pin when the situation is right.
Small differences in setup
When switching from long irons to short irons, remember to make the adjustments subtle. You are not building an entirely different swing just to hit a short iron shot. These setup differences are subtle but they matter.
Swing differences
Like the setup differences between long and short irons, the swing differences are also subtle. For me, it’s more of a “feel” or a swing thought than being overly focused on swing mechanics.
Long irons – Speed, width, full release
Long irons are designed to hit the ball a long way with minimal loft. To get this to happen, you must create speed and launch through a wide arc and a full release of the club.
You want the club’s toe to pass the heel through impact, allowing the face to close naturally. This full release promotes proper rotation, face control and height
Feel Cue: “Big turn back, big turn through—let the club go.”
Short irons – Control, compression, face stability
Short irons have more loft so you don’t need to help get the ball up in the air. The goal is precise distance and directional control. Raw speed doesn’t help you here.
That’s why the release is more passive and the clubface stays quieter through impact.
By holding the face square longer, you reduce rotation and see shots with less dispersion. The finish tends to be shorter. Tommy Fleetwood is a great example of a player who does this perfectly.
Feel Cue: “Stay on top, compress, hold the face.”
One drill for each
Depending on your weakness (long irons or short irons), try one of these two drills to help. The drills are outlined below and can be found in this video.
Long irons drill: Trail-hand only release
Take half swings with just your trail hand on the club. You can start this drill without even attempting to hit a ball. Focus on letting the trail hand naturally rotate the clubface through impact.
Tee up a few golf balls and make contact using the trail hand only. Once you feel a good release, go back to two hands on the club. Try again with half swings until you gain confidence and can get the same feeling with a full swing.
This drill helps you gain confidence and work on hitting the center of the face with a long iron.
Short iron drill: Anti-flip iron drill
This drill helps train a passive release and stable face through impact and ensures you don’t try to flip the club or exaggerate the release.
For this one, you will choke up dramatically on the club and grip the shaft just a few inches above the clubhead. Let the shaft of the club rest across your lead side. Make a backswing, then swing through while keeping the shaft from hitting your body. If you release at the wrong time or flip your wrists at impact, the shaft of the club will hit your side.
Common issues and quick fixes
If you still have trouble switching from long to short irons, consider some of these common issues.
Ball too far forward on long irons – Move it just slightly forward of center, not as far up as fairway woods and driver
Overswinging the long irons – Focus on a full turn and weight shift instead of trying to force the shot with a big swing.
Stance too wide on short irons – Narrow up so you don’t sway and can compress the ball easily.
Flipping through impact on short irons – Focus on the hold-off finish using your chest and hips more.
Final takeaway
Use these quick tips and drills to smooth the transition between your long irons and short irons. Long irons are not about perfect accuracy, just a solid strike to a big target. Short irons are where precision and tight dispersion come into play.
The post Long Irons vs. Short Irons: What Changes In Your Setup/Swing appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
