Irons · Drill
Sweep Your Long Irons and Hybrids
Part of our irons programs for topped or thin, fat or chunked, weak contact. Build a program with it
Long irons and hybrids don't have much loft. So it's tempting to help the ball up. That ruins contact. What works best is a shallow, level strike. Sweep the ball, don't dig. To learn the feel, practice with the ball sitting up a little. A low tee or a fluffy lie works. You'll learn to brush through instead of scooping. Then take that feel back to normal lies.
The drill
- Don't try to lift the ball.
- Picture a flat, level bottom to your swing.
- Practice with the ball sitting up a bit.
- Sweep through it.
- Keep that feel on normal lies.
Why it works
Long irons and hybrids have little loft, so the club already launches the ball without help. When you try to lift it, your weight hangs back and the club bottoms out before the ball. A shallow, level strike keeps the low point at or just past the ball, so the loft does the work and contact stays clean.
Common mistakes
- You lean back and try to scoop the ball into the air.Keep your weight centered or slightly toward your lead side and let the loft launch the ball.
- You swing down steeply, as you would with a short iron.Think of a wide, flat arc that brushes the grass or tee at the bottom.
- You set the tee too high, so you hit the ball high on the face.Set the ball just above the grass so the club's sole skims the turf as it passes.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts on your target line and flies low to medium with a steady rise.
- You feel the club brush the turf or clip the tee, with no heavy thud at impact.
- Any divot is shallow and starts at or just after where the ball was, not behind it.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Put the ball on a low tee and use a hybrid, which is more forgiving than a long iron.
Harder: Move the ball to a normal fairway lie and keep the same sweeping strike, then try a tighter lie.
Common questions
Should you hit down on a hybrid?
Not much. A hybrid works best with a shallow, sweeping strike, so the club brushes the turf and the low point sits at or just past the ball.
Why do I hit long irons fat?
Fat shots usually come from trying to lift the ball, which sends your weight back and makes the club hit the ground early. Keep your weight centered and trust the loft to launch the ball.
