I can hit 150-160 yds with my 7 iron but I have a problem hitting my 5 iron further than 160 yds. Why?

Question

I can hit 150-160 yds with my 7 iron but I have a problem hitting my 5 iron further than 160 yds. Why?

Answer 1

Check the loft of your 5 iron at a pro shop.  It might be only a 6 iron loft.  This happens when you hit off hard pan or driving range mats.  Mizuno for example can be bent easily.

Answer 2

Check your address position. Ball should be further left along your left heel if you're right handed..

Answer 3

I have the same problem. Your 5 iron is probably 1-2" longer than your 7 iron. Try choking up on the 5 iron so that it is virtually the same length as your 7. Also, it might have something to do with your grip. Ask someone at your local driving range to look at your grip and see if they cant tweek it. They did for me and i started hitting the ball alot further.

Answer 4

A golf swing is a product of rhythm. If all your equipment is in good working order, then the only thing that changes is how you swing the club.

If you're hitting your 7 iron well, then you're halfway home, and the main difference is likely the quality of contact with the 5 iron. Considering that the 5 is about 1/2 to 3/4 inches longer than your 7 iron, you'll need to be more patient when swinging it back before making the transition to your forward swing. Forcing the swing down before you've completed your backswing will likely result in a choppy motion which kicks up a lot of turf and disperses a lot of the power that should be going to the ball.

The smooth transition at the top of your swing will result in better ball contact and a more consistent yardage.

Answer 5

If the brand of clubs is the same, it's the way your hitting it. It's tougher to make solid contact with lower irons. If you keep practicing and take a lesson, your problem should go away

Answer 6

Just because you hit your 7 iron 150/160 it doesn't always mean you should naturally hit the next club further. It all depends on how the clubs feel in your hands.

I hit my PW 135 Yards, which is longer than I hit my 9 and 8 irons!!! I always feel confident with my pitching wedge so I swing better and thus get a lot better connection.

Just concentrate on getting a smooth swing with all your clubs and don't worry about distances, after all if you hit your 7 iron 160 yards thats above average so your doing something right!!

Answer 7

Try choking down on it and hitting it like a 7 iron this may help you utilize the xtra loft the 5 iron provides. A 5 iron should go 185 for you if you hit it 160 with you 7 and a 6 iron should go 175 max use the loft it is the force on all clubs.

Answer 8

That's very common, you have good swing speed but you are not contacting the ball on a downward path. As you decrease the loft on your clubs, you need more backspin (downward contact) to allow the ball to carry a longer distance than the previous club. Work on bottoming out your swing just after contact.

Answer 9

I would say its because you are not making pure contact. The five iron is a tough club that I still have problems with. My 4i and 3i as well. I can hit the club 190, but consistently no more than 180. The swing is longer, and must be slightly wider. You still must attempt to get the ball in the air.

Answer 10

i could be just your cofidence with that club. i hit my 3 iron 180+ yards, 5 iron 170+, but my 4 iron only about 120. its just confidence. try avoiding that club untill you hit it on the range and become more comfortable with it. or just dont carry it. my 4 iron satys at home alot

Answer 11

you have a severe lack of talent

Answer 12

You might be trying to overpower your 5 iron to make it go farther than your 7iron. Just swing your 5 iron smooth and that could help.

Answer 13

OK check these first, A. is the shaft the same name brand and stiffness and so on. B. Have a golf pro check your loft and lie(it takes a second and he will probably not charge you more than a buck or two) Alot of times especially with five irons they get used more than sevens and get whacked on the ground more which tends to charge there elevations and causes a lower or higher ball flight that is evident in length. I worked for a club fitter last year, I would be willing to bet that one of these two items are your culprit. Good luck.

Answer 14

Its kinda hard to tell w/o seeing your swing. But try this. I used to try to scoop the ball w/ every club that i wasent comfortabel hitting, or didnt think that i could hit it well. You start to try to scoop the ball when you want to hit it higher and farther. So just feel like the hands are ahead of the ball at impact.

Hope this helps.

Answer 15

These are all great comments here, but here's what I recommend. First place the ball up in your stance, with good contact the ball will get up in the air on a solid swing. This is due to you getting contact with your 5 iron on the upswing which will probably increase your distance. I used to hit the same way with my low irons but placing the ball further up in the stance has fixed that. Good luck!

Answer 16

the face of your 5 iron is more horizontal than your 7 so you could not be hitting the ball right

Answer 17

I also used to have this problem.  For me it was that I was trying to hit the club further instead of letting the loft of the club make the ball go more distance.  Try a lighter grip pressure and try to maintain a smooth swing with the 5 iron and you should see improvement.

Rick