I'm hitting my short irons too high, I'd like to hit them lower with more spin, what's the secret?

Question

I'm an 8 handicap and hit the ball from tee to green fairly well. My short game is pretty solid, although I continue to work on it. But when I get outside 60 yards or so, up to about 160 yards, I tend to hit the ball way too high, I lose a bit of distance, and I don't spin it as much as I would like. Any coaches out there understand what I'm dealing with? I'd be willing to email a snapshot at impact to you. Thanks!

Answer 1

You could move the ball back in your stance which is a fix to the loft issue.

You also need to make sure you're making a descending blow to the ball, which helps with the spin.

Answer 2

At impact you need to maintain the forward leaning angle of the shaft that you have at address. You need to lag the club head so it does not approach or pass the grip at impact. No conscious activation of the arm, instead let the turning of your body swing a passive, tension free arm and wrist.  

Answer 3

Im no professional as I play off 15.

It's hard to tell why you are hitting the ball high without seeing what you are doing in your swing.

Check your setup, if you are playing wedges for example off the front foot then this will be getting it higher.

Check the ball is in the correct place (middle to back foot)

Since I would be only guessing with other stuff just take a quick lesson with a pro, or just ask if they can check your swing and hitting of the ball from 60yards

Answer 4

The only problem with hitting the ball high is loosing distance control. Hitting a high ball with short irons is a very good thing. You can attack pins. But if you are trying to hit a low ball and can’t or miss it high and short, that’s a problem. The point is, play your high ball, don’t try to hit low and depend on spin for the ball to stop.

To answer you question; to hit a low iron you need to sweep the ball, shallow out you plane of attack, instead of hitting down on it, like you would a wedge. Also try closing you stance.

Answer 5

The type of club you are playing may have a lot to do with hitting it so high.  Most modern sets are designed with a lot of weight in the sole of the club to get the ball up, and it is hard to hit them low.  If you are an 8 and are hitting cast perimeter weighted game improvement clubs, you might look into getting forged irons - but that is a whole other matter.  To hit the ball lower, take one or two more clubs, move it back in your stance, keep you lower body pretty quite, make an abbreviated back swing (1/2 to 3/4), don't fully release your hands at impact (hang on to it a little), and make an abbreviated follow through.  That is how you hit a "knocked down" iron shot that flies low and has a lot of spin on it.  It will take practice, and is difficult because you don't go at it full bore, you want to decrease the club head speed from a normal shot, but once you learn this shot you will find it invaluable.

Answer 6

I can tell you how to hit a low draw with your irons. The answer is your follow through. You likely bring the club too steep when following through and finish with it all the way around your back. You need to follow through low and  I know this is hard to explain but a low follow through that favors left will get a lower loft and a higher follow through will result in a high cut.