10 / JANUARY 2018 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZAhree simple drills we teach
at the Jim McLean Golf
School are going to help
you hit better iron shots. I say three,
but eventually you’ll blend them
into one.
turn checkLay a club down
just inside your right foot, and
grip a longer iron upside down
with your right hand. Now touch
your chest with your left hand so
your elbow juts out (1). Mimic a
backswing, and keep turning until
your left elbow passes over the shaft
on the ground (2).This is the coiled
feeling you want as you swing to
the top. Keep in mind, the longer
the club, the more time you need
to square the face at impact. Give
yourself a decent chance with a full
backswing.
step and goGet into that top-of-
the-backswing position you created
in the first step, but this time with
your feet slightly closer together.
Feel that coil. Now, sidestep towards
the target, and plant your left foot
(3).This lateral shift puts you in great
position to swing the club down. It
shallows the angle of attack into the
ball and creates room for a longer
club to swing from inside the target
line. If your attack angle is too steep
or from out to in, the ball won’t fly
high or straight.
fast point Still holding the club
at its neck, go back to that good
backswing position, and practice
swinging down and over a ball on
the ground (4). Try to get the handle
to make a loud whoosh as it passes
over the ball. This improves the last
part of the sequence: getting the
club moving its fastest through the
impact area.
master drill Once you get used
to each step, put them together into
one exercise. Don’t forget to start
from a narrower stance than normal
to allow for the sidestep. Keep
working through all three parts in
succession until it feels as if they’re
blended into one fluid motion. Then
it’s time to turn that club over and
hit some shots using your new skills.T
1234Play Your Best
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IRON SHOTS