Irons · Drill
Change Targets Every Ball to Learn Distance
Part of our irons programs. Build a program with it
Hitting 50 balls at one target isn't how golf works. The course gives you a new distance every shot. So practice that way. Pick one club and a few targets, maybe 20, 40, 60 and 80 yards. Hit one ball to each, in turn. You can change distance with a shorter backswing at the same speed. Or with the same swing at a different speed. Either is fine. Learn how your speed and loft create each number.
The drill
- Pick one club and three or four targets.
- Hit one ball to each in turn.
- Change backswing length or speed.
- Stay balanced on short shots.
- Track how close you finish.
Why it works
Distance comes from clubhead speed and the loft you deliver at impact. When you change targets on every ball, you can't repeat one feel, so you have to link a swing size or speed to a carry number. This builds the skill you use on the course, where each shot needs a different distance and you get no second try at the same one.
Common mistakes
- You swing at a different speed but keep the same backswing, so the rhythm jerks and contact gets thin or heavy.Choose one method for each shot, either a shorter backswing at the same speed or the same swing at a lower speed, and keep a smooth tempo.
- You hit the shortest targets with a tight, stiff body and fall back or forward as you finish.Keep your weight centered and hold your finish for a moment on every short shot until the ball lands.
- You hit all the balls without noting where they finish, so you learn nothing about the numbers.After each ball, note whether it finished short, long or on target, and adjust the next swing size or speed to match.
How you'll know it's working
- Your balls finish closer to each target, and your misses become smaller over the session.
- Contact feels the same on the 20-yard shot and the 80-yard shot, with the divot or strike point in a similar place.
- You can say before you swing how big the swing needs to be for each target, and the result matches.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use only two targets that are far apart, such as 20 and 60 yards, and hit the same one for two balls before you switch.
Harder: Mix up the order of the targets at random so that you never hit the same distance twice in a row, and count only the balls that finish within a set distance of the target.
Common questions
How do I control distance with my irons?
Change the length of your backswing or the speed of your swing while you keep your tempo smooth. Track where each ball lands so you learn which swing size gives which carry distance.
Should I change my club or my swing for short distances?
Either works, but this drill uses one club so you learn what your swing does. Once you know your numbers with one club, you can choose the club that suits the shot on the course.
