Consistency: The Key To Lower Golf Handicaps

By Jack Moorehouse

Pro golfers are known for many things. Some are known for driving. Others are known for putting. And then there are those known for chipping. Phil Mickelson, for example, is known for his wedge play. Regardless of what they’re claim to fame is, professional players are top-notch in all phases of the game. They’ve achieved a level of consistency well beyond that of the average player. For weekend golfers, achieving consistency like that is the key to lower golf handicaps.

Good iron play, for example, cures a multitude of golfing woes. Hitting an iron is about controlling three things: trajectory, spin, and distance. Control these factors with consistency when hitting irons and you’ll find yourself playing from the fairway more and in a better position to hit approach shots. You’ll also stay out of trouble. Below are seven golf tips that will help you not only increase consistency with your irons, but also chop strokes off your golf handicap.

Keep Your Shoulders Level
When addressing the ball with a driver, your shoulders are slightly tilted. But when addressing a ball with your irons, your shoulders should be level. Level shoulders position you to hit crisp iron shots, like they teach in golf lessons. To achieve this position stand with a club in front of you and push downward with both palms on the butt end. This centers you.

Pre-Set Your Wrist Hinge
You need a compact swing to hit solid irons. In fact, the more compact your swing the easier it is to hit solid irons. To eliminate wasted motion, pre-set your wrist hinge then simply turn to the top. Feel this sensation when starting from your normal address position. Before long, you’ll find yourself hitting crisp irons like they show in golf instruction sessions and videos.

Maintain Your Spine Angle
Maintaining a consistent spine angle is critical to good iron play. Your spine angle enables you to hit down on the ball. Weekend golfers often rise up when hitting an iron in an effort to lift the ball in the air. Lifting leads to poor contact, producing thin and fat shots. To correct this tendency, swing to a finish position and hold it for a second. Then bring the club back down, as if someone hit the re-wind button. You should be back in your address position. If you are, you’ve maintained your spine angle.

Rehearse Your Impact
To achieve the correct pinching action, like that described in my golf tips newsletter, rehearse an exaggerated impact position at address. You want to feel the clubhead meeting the ball and then descending into the turf. To encourage this, lean the shaft forward with your hands well ahead of the clubhead. Make your normal swing. Try re-creating this feeling when striking the ball. Work on this often and before long you’ll be hitting solid irons.

Bow Your Left Wrist
Professionals hit their irons solidly because they deloft the clubface to a degree when hitting the ball. Maintaining your wrist hinge keys this move and produces a penetrating ball flight. Keep your left wrist bowed through impact for a solid hit. To ingrain this move, pretend you’re holding a club and practice bowing your left wrists so your knuckles point downward.

Focus On The Basics
Weekend golfers sometimes try to do too much. They try to make shots their not capable of making. Attempting a miracle shot often throws your swing off. Instead, focus on the basics: Hit the ball hard and straight, without getting too fancy about shotmaking. Concentrate on three things: focus on your target, swing freely, and try to hit the ball solidly. This approach simplifies the shot and helps you hit crisper irons.

Consistency is the key to lower golf handicaps. The seven golf tips described above will help you achieve consistency with your irons. Hitting crisp irons puts you in good position for your next shot, keeps you out of trouble, and helps generate better approach shots more often than not. That in turn will help you chop strokes off your golf handicap and take your game to the next level.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 17th, 2010 at 12:58 pm and is filed under Golf Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.