The Masters at Augusta National puts a huge necessity on the iron game more than any other major golf tournament. Here's how to build an iron golf swing by copying what the pros do at Augusta!
The lightening fast greens and mind bending slopes of Augusta National put so much emphasis on quality iron golf shots that even the most seasoned pros can get rattled (see Greg Norman). The most demanding aspect about August National is the absence of flat lies, with it's sloping landscape and bikini waxed greens, you will encounter one of the most challenging tests of iron play on the planet!
To help you master your iron golf swing and thus improve your enjoyment of this great game of golf, let us go through some of Augusta National’s toughest iron shots and explain how to execute them properly. If you already strike your iron shots perfectly every time, then use these tips on solid iron play as a course guide while you watch the Masters on TV. But if you’re like the widespread majority of golfers, you probably battle with many of the risky shots the pros see at the Masters. If this is you, read on...
With the right kind of practice along with a good fundamental understanding of what constitutes a solid iron game, you CAN build a great iron game just like the pros!
Draw On #16
The 16th hole at Augusta is often the deciding factor on who will win the Masters. Perhaps the most dramatic moment ever on the 16th hole at Augusta is of Jack Nicklaus hitting a pure iron shot he nearly holed out on his way to his sixth Masters victory in 1986. What makes Nicklaus' accomplishment on the 16th hole so incredible was the Sunday pin placement. Because the hole was placed in the back left corner of the green, this called for Nicklaus to shape his iron shot from right to left, a draw was never one of Nicklaus' strong suits. However, like all the great golfers of the past, Nicklaus knew how to execute a draw when he really needed to. It’s also interesting to note while Nicklaus came through with birdies on 16 in ’75 and ’86 on his way to victory, others who struggled to hit a draw (see David Duval) lost their chance to win The Masters on this hole. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Mastering the Draw: Since the vast majority of amateur golfers fight a slice, the idea of hitting a draw seems daunting at best. However, there are really only two simple factors that must be present to produce a right-to-left ballflight: the golf club must attack from a slightly inside-out path and the club face must be free to rotate on plane through impact. A good way to visualize this path is to imagine the club hitting the ball on the inside quadrant closest to the golfer. This visual will help the club stay behind your body longer during the downswing, allowing the correct path into impact.
Another good way to visualize the proper path is to imagine the club staying behind the hands while approaching impact. This prevents you from starting the downswing with your shoulders and arms during the downswing and keeps the club swinging on the proper plane. One last thing to remember is it’s much easier to draw the ball off the tee than it is off the ground. Be like Jack Nicklaus’ and always put the ball on a tee whenever possible, even on the par-3s.
About The Author:
John Lynch is owner of BestGolfBooks.com and has published hundreds of golf articles. To read expert reviews on The Simple Golf Swing By David Nevogt, John recommends you visit: SimpleGolfSwingReviews.com
