Create a New Forum Admin Login Member Login Contribute to Voyager Search VoyForums Help Desk VoyForums Exchange VoyForums Directory/Categories VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5 ]

[ Edit | View ]

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: My 1 Iron journey -- Steve P., 06:49:52 01/18/08 Fri

Went to the range yesterday afternoon and hit a couple of buckets. 2 trips to the range so far, about 500 balls total. These 1 Irons are really something special. As you groove your swing on the range, you just pick up another club and boom, no transition to worry about, just put the same swing on it and watch it track to your target.
At this point I am very commfortale with the 5-LW and after another trip to the range today, I should be comfortable with the 4 and hopefully the 3 also, we will see.
My wife asked me how I liked my new irons and all I could do was smile and say I love them, the transition to 1 Irons has been much easier than I was anticipating, in fact much easier than switching to a new set of conventional irons.
The biggest issue I will have this weekend on the course is how far the ball will fly. The range I hit at has poor yardage markers and lots of wind. So I will anticipate and except losing a few strokes from missclubbibg myself the first few rounds I play.
This is fun...
Steve P.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: My 1 Iron journey -- David Lake, 19:21:01 01/20/08 Sun

Steve,

What you are experiencing is the learning curve that is disscussed in the Playability Tips that you received with your 1 Irons. The hardest part in acclimating yourself to single-length irons is using the same swing and ball position with every iron. This sounds very easy but in reality the mental adjustment takes time and repetition at the range to fully kick-in.

The fact that you have a #3 or #4 iron in your hands makes it very difficult to not try and hit the ball as hard as you can. However, the key to success with the 1 Iron #3 or #4 is to use the same controlled swing that you would use with your #7 or #8 iron. Simply use a center of stance ball position and try to just nick the turf with the sole of the club at impact using a controlled swing. The important point is that if you let the club do the work and you will see a perfect trajectory with increased distance.

David Lake

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: My 1 Iron journey -- Steve P., 06:59:02 01/21/08 Mon

David,
Thanks for the re-iteration of the learning process. I have approached this process as per the playability tips, but have found that I really need to focus when I set up to the ball as the ball seems to creap up in my stance all by itself with the longer irons. As with anything new, I realize it will take time to ingrain.
Now, onto the course I went, 1 Irons in tow.
Stats;
8 fairways
12 greens
35 putts(ouch)
3-Birdies, 2-Bogies, 2- DBL's, 11 Pars
3 over 75
2-LW, 4-SW, 1-GW, 3-9I, 1-8I, 1-7I, 2-6I, 1-5I, 2-5W, 1-3W
As I expected , I miss-clubbed myself many times. These 1 Irons are long, compared to my Hogans, as much as 2 clubs longer on the shorter clubs. Spent most of the day on the back or over the greens. Had a heck of a time chipping with the longer shafts. I will be spending most of my practice time this week chipping, I think the full swing will take care of itself.
Practicing tip...work on the weakest area of your game to gain confidence, if you practice what you are doing very well at the time, it is very easy to work youself into bad habits and lose what you had.
Steve P.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: My 1 Iron journey -- Steve P. (David Help!), 06:36:05 01/23/08 Wed

This may be a stupid question but here goes. My WTF 36.8. What I am finding is that I am consistantly hitting my 1 Irons as follows;
LW,SW left @ 6 ysrds
GW left @ 4 yards
PW left @ 2 yards
9-8-7 Straight
6 right @ 6 yards
5 rigth @ 12 yards
4 right @ 15 yards
3 right @ 20 yards
Seems like a lie issue but what is causing it?
Question, The most common fault when transitioning to the 1 irons would be,
a- I am subconsiously changing my swing plane.
b- I am changing my distance from the ball.
c- I am moving the ball up and back in my stance.
D- I just suck.

Since you use geometry to determine shaft length based on a predetermined lie angle and the constant of human physiology, with my WTF and shaft length, what is the predetermined distance I should be from the ball at address for these irons. Also, is this distance from the toe or heel line. Please assume I am set-up square to the target line and provide a precise number.
I appreciate any advise as I feel like I am forcing and manipulating and guiding the ball right now. Just need the confidence that I am set-up properly so I can groove my swing from there.
Thanks David,
Steve P.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: My 1 Iron journey -- David Lake, 08:02:10 01/23/08 Wed

Steve,

You have fallen into the trap of over-analysis. You are hitting your #7, #8, and #9 straight but are hitting the higher lofted irons to the left and the lower lofted irons to the right. What you have to remember is that all of your irons are identical in every respect with the exception of loft angle. Therefore, if you use the same swing, set-up, and ball position with all of the irons you will get exactly the same directional results. If not then you are unconsciously making swing changes based on the particular iron you have in your hands (a deeply rooted mental carryover from using conventional irons).

I would strongly suggest that you go to the range three days in a row and only take your #3 iron with you (taking any other irons will tempt you into using them). Your #3 iron is your lowest lofted iron and will produce the least amount of backspin. This lesser amount of backspin will make any swing flaws show up immediately (a high degree of backspin will mask most swing flaws). Once you become proficient with your #3 iron you will have automatically become exponentially more proficient with all of your other higher lofted irons without even practicing with them (this is another benefit of single-length irons).

After this point it is extremely important to use your new #3 iron swing, set-up, and ball position with every other iron in your set. By practicing with only one iron you are not confusing your unconscious mind with all of the different set-ups and swings associated with a conventional set of irons. This allows you to ingrain your single efficient swing deeply into your muscle memory.

David Lake

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> I hope you keep posting your progress. -- Cub, 10:14:05 01/23/08 Wed

This is a very interesting thread.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Oops! Above message meant for Steve P, not David (n/t). -- Cub, 10:16:28 01/23/08 Wed

n/t

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Oops! Above message meant for Steve P, not David (n/t). -- Steve P., 11:05:54 01/23/08 Wed

Thanks David,
I am an engineer and unfortunatly this comes with the territory. I will do as you suggest and only hit the 3 iron until I hone it in. In regards to the distance from the ball, I am 6'3" with 34" inseam. I would think that there would be a specific distance I should be from the ball for the 63.5 D lie of the heads.
Off I go with the 3 iron, wish me luck.
Steve P.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Distance from ball -- David Lake, 11:33:55 01/23/08 Wed

Steve,

A simple way to determine your correct distance from the ball at address would be to take your normal set-up and then extend your arms fully so that your left arm and the shaft of the golf club form a straight line. Make sure that the score lines on the clubface are parallel with the ground to ensure a proper posture. Where the sole of the clubhead touches the ground is where you want to place the ball at address.

David Lake

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Distance from ball -- Steve P. (Thanks David), 06:57:47 01/24/08 Thu

OK, to be honest, I have never been one to go to the range and pound 3 irons, I much prefer hitting the majority of my practice shots from 100 yards in and as such, I am a very good wedge player. But, I am committed to giving these 1 Irons a run for their money so I went out yesterday in the wind and rain, 3 iron in tow and hit a couple hundred balls. It was a very revealing experience.
Firstly, I realized I was crowding the ball, by about 6".
Secondly, I realized I was comming too far from the inside, either blocking it right or if I was able to flip through it, hitting a low sniper to the left.
I proceded to work on getting my plane in order and by about 100 balls I was hitting torwards my target, for the most part. Not a pretty trajectory yet, but straight.
I started to feel comfortable and began trying to hit golf shots, working the ball higher with a nice cut or hitting a low draw that runs forever (A shot I would use on a short par 4 off the tee).
By this time I had a smile on my face and I was pretty worn out, but, I had to see how I would hit another club after all these 3 irons, so, I went to my car and grabbed a wedge.
David, you are so right when you say focus on your 3 iron and all the other clubs will benifit, which is contrarian to standard length clubs. I hit about 10 wedges and was hitting them so high and so far it was ridiculous. I was basically hitting the ball about 120 yards with what I would call a half wedge. As pure as the driven snow....
I am so excited...
Steve P.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Distance from ball -- Steve P. (Should I continue?), 09:14:26 02/04/08 Mon

All,
Not sure how this thread is going, I don't want to tie up the space if this is going nowhere. I will update this thread going forward when I feel I have something interesting to offer.

My observations so far;
I have hit @ 3000 range balls, chipped for a few hours and played 5 rounds with my new 1 Irons.

Ball flight is higher than I would prefer but I am hesitant to make any adjustments until I groove my "One" swing with all the irons.
It is very easy to hit a draw with these irons, not so for the fade, this I would expect with the head design.
My biggest problem on the course has been with the wedges, the sharp leading edge and the added length of the shaft make it very easy to hit the ball fat, of which I've done too many times. I don't seem to have the same trouble on the range, so this has been very frustrating.
I am playing a new course(to me) with a new group of guys Friday, this should be a very good indication of how I am comming along with these clubs.

At this point, I am confident that I made a good decision going with the 1 Irons....
I will let you all know.
Steve P.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Distance from ball -- michael, 11:10:59 02/04/08 Mon

yes steve you should keep posting.this is a very interesting thread plus i am on the fence about ordering these clubs.thanks for all the posts,i hope they keep coming.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Distance from ball -- Len (Interested), 19:47:58 05/08/08 Thu

Steve keep posting. This is a very interesting and informative thread. Keep playing and posting.

[ Edit | View ]