Help with a long iron mental block

[Razor4888]

Hi guys.

 

I apologize for not having a video, but I hope I can articulate the issue enough where you can help. I was out at the range today and was hitting my short irons extremely pure. I was working on turning my chest away from the target during the backswing, and then dropping my right shoulder down and hands into the slot. I was getting tremendous compression with the 8 iron, and even the 6 iron. I switched to the four iron and things completely fell apart because it felt like I was standing too far away from the ball (because the club is longer obviously), and I wasn't able to get the mental confidence like I was coming down right on top of the ball to make impact.

 

With shorter irons I have a lot of confidence because I am standing closer to the ball, and I just drop my hands right down to the ball and make great contact. With my longer irons, I feel like I have to sweep it more since the ball is further away, and my confidence falls apart.

 

I KNOW THIS IS ALL MENTAL!!!!!

 

Please help! =) Thank you in advance!

[Atrayn]

"I KNOW THIS IS ALL MENTAL!!!!!"

Chances are it's not really. Longer irons bring out the swing flaws more dramatically. Post a video.

[MadGolfer76]

[quote name='barrett14' timestamp='1395096528' post='8893097']
Hi guys.

I apologize for not having a video, but I hope I can articulate the issue enough where you can help. I was out at the range today and was hitting my short irons extremely pure. I was working on turning my chest away from the target during the backswing, and then dropping my right shoulder down and hands into the slot. I was getting tremendous compression with the 8 iron, and even the 6 iron. I switched to the four iron and things completely fell apart because it felt like I was standing too far away from the ball (because the club is longer obviously), and I wasn't able to get the mental confidence like I was coming down right on top of the ball to make impact.

With shorter irons I have a lot of confidence because I am standing closer to the ball, and I just drop my hands right down to the ball and make great contact. With my longer irons, [b]I feel like I have to sweep it more since the ball is further away,[/b] and my confidence falls apart.

I KNOW THIS IS ALL MENTAL!!!!!

Please help! =) Thank you in advance!
[/quote]

Sounds like you were ingraining a pretty steep move on those short irons. You sure that is what you want?

[dcr147]

I agree, video will help. Tell me about your club lengths and lie angles compared to your short irons. Were you fitted? If not, go get fit... for reassurance.

[TB07]

Can't go by feels. If a video is not possible then describe the things that "fell apart" with long irons. What's the shot shape (start direction and curve) and what's the contact like (are there divots, location and depth)? And how is that different from the short irons?

[Razor4888]

"[color=#282828]I agree, video will help. Tell me about your club lengths and lie angles compared to your [/color][url="http://viglink.pgpartner.com/rd.php?r=5316&m=777622856&q=n&rdgt=1395066128&it=1395238928&et=1395670928&priceret=8.99&pg=~~3&k=4511b830ff55d67debe3a9cd353d7e1a&source=feed&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamazon%2Ecom%2Fdp%2FB002ZQ4X9G%2Fref%3Dasc%5Fdf%5FB002ZQ4X9G2789756%3Fsmid%3DA1MBKLYXMHF9Z2%26tag%3Dpgmp%2D1443%2D01%2D20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creative%3D395109%26creativeASIN%3DB002ZQ4X9G&st=feed&mt=~~~~~~~~n~~~"]short irons[/url][color=#282828]. Were you fitted? If not, go get fit... for reassurance."[/color]

I was fit for my Mizuno MX300 irons. It was so long ago though that I cannot remember if its 1 degree upright or flat... but its one or the other. Shaft is S300.

"[color=#282828]Can't go by feels. If a video is not possible then describe the things that "fell apart" with long irons. What's the shot shape (start direction and curve) and what's the contact like (are there divots, location and depth)? And how is that different from the [/color][url="http://viglink.pgpartner.com/rd.php?r=5316&m=777622856&q=n&rdgt=1395066128&it=1395238928&et=1395670928&priceret=8.99&pg=~~3&k=4511b830ff55d67debe3a9cd353d7e1a&source=feed&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamazon%2Ecom%2Fdp%2FB002ZQ4X9G%2Fref%3Dasc%5Fdf%5FB002ZQ4X9G2789756%3Fsmid%3DA1MBKLYXMHF9Z2%26tag%3Dpgmp%2D1443%2D01%2D20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creative%3D395109%26creativeASIN%3DB002ZQ4X9G&st=feed&mt=~~~~~~~~n~~~"]short irons[/url][color=#282828]??[/color]

I will work on getting a video. The shot shape with shorter irons is dead straight to a five yard draw. Contact is very pure and the height is great. Divots are in front of the ball, and straight.

Longer irons however, I am hitting it fat behind the ball. If i don't hit it fat, contact isn't that great and the ball flight is low. It is so weird having 100% confidence standing over the ball with an 8 iron, and zero confidence standing over it with a 4 iron.

I am trying to turn back around my spine where my chest is pointed away from the target at the top of the back swing.. and then I drop my right shoulder and hands down into the slot. Clearly I am getting too steep.

I will also say - I know for a fact that my takeaway is too inside and thus I come down over the top... I know this but have not been able to break it. The times I have tried has resulted in horrible on course results.

[pmcuk]

I too have a mental block about using a 4 iron.

Am I normal or should I see a doctor?

[bman58]

[quote name='barrett14' timestamp='1395107986' post='8894493']
"[color=#282828]I agree, video will help. Tell me about your club lengths and lie angles compared to your [/color][url="http://viglink.pgpartner.com/rd.php?r=5316&m=777622856&q=n&rdgt=1395066128&it=1395238928&et=1395670928&priceret=8.99&pg=~~3&k=4511b830ff55d67debe3a9cd353d7e1a&source=feed&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamazon%2Ecom%2Fdp%2FB002ZQ4X9G%2Fref%3Dasc%5Fdf%5FB002ZQ4X9G2789756%3Fsmid%3DA1MBKLYXMHF9Z2%26tag%3Dpgmp%2D1443%2D01%2D20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creative%3D395109%26creativeASIN%3DB002ZQ4X9G&st=feed&mt=~~~~~~~~n~~~"]short irons[/url][color=#282828]. Were you fitted? If not, go get fit... for reassurance."[/color]

I was fit for my Mizuno MX300 irons. It was so long ago though that I cannot remember if its 1 degree upright or flat... but its one or the other. Shaft is S300.

"[color=#282828]Can't go by feels. If a video is not possible then describe the things that "fell apart" with long irons. What's the shot shape (start direction and curve) and what's the contact like (are there divots, location and depth)? And how is that different from the [/color][url="http://viglink.pgpartner.com/rd.php?r=5316&m=777622856&q=n&rdgt=1395066128&it=1395238928&et=1395670928&priceret=8.99&pg=~~3&k=4511b830ff55d67debe3a9cd353d7e1a&source=feed&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamazon%2Ecom%2Fdp%2FB002ZQ4X9G%2Fref%3Dasc%5Fdf%5FB002ZQ4X9G2789756%3Fsmid%3DA1MBKLYXMHF9Z2%26tag%3Dpgmp%2D1443%2D01%2D20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creative%3D395109%26creativeASIN%3DB002ZQ4X9G&st=feed&mt=~~~~~~~~n~~~"]short irons[/url][color=#282828]??[/color]

I will work on getting a video. The shot shape with shorter irons is dead straight to a five yard draw. Contact is very pure and the height is great. Divots are in front of the ball, and straight.

Longer irons however, I am hitting it fat behind the ball. If i don't hit it fat, contact isn't that great and the ball flight is low. It is so weird having 100% confidence standing over the ball with an 8 iron, and zero confidence standing over it with a 4 iron.

I am trying to turn back around my spine where my chest is pointed away from the target at the top of the back swing.. and then I drop my right shoulder and hands down into the slot. Clearly I am getting too steep.

I will also say - I know for a fact that my takeaway is too inside and thus I come down over the top... I know this but have not been able to break it. The times I have tried has resulted in horrible on course results.
[/quote]

I used to have the same problem. Without video,I can just say what helped me. Try standing a bit farther from the ball and bending more at the waist.