Golf Tips - 9 Iron Approach

Ruth: John, how do you know when to use the 9 or the 7? John: Well, very simple, very-very simple. Do you remember, just a little while ago, when we had those super exciting shots, where you were holding them all over the place, but we were using about one meter from the edge of the green and we used the 7 iron from just here. It could also be the 5 or the 6; it really wouldn't matter, just sufficient loft on the club to lift it up over here, put it on the green and run. The same thing applies now, exactly the same, but the exception is this, the club or the choice of club now, has to be one with a face more open, more loft, and more angled. So I'm choosing the 9 iron. The 9 iron is a nice simple little club to use and is going to pitch the ball up into the air. It's going to take you over this fairway, it's going to pitch on the green, and it's going to have the same effect as the little 7 iron as we played a little one again. Ruth: So you mean, it's a little question of angle. I thought it was the width that came into play. John: Now just the angle of the club, it's a tiny bit shot of course. The 9 iron is a little bit shorter than the 7, but the basic reason that we're using it is because it has an increased loft, increased angle, okay? So imagine we use the 7 iron now, what would happen? We chipped with the 7 iron, it will probably land here. If we're lucky and it didn't hit a bump, it would run straight; but if the grass were uneven or a piece of dirt or something, it could go there or there, or it could even stop quite quickly, we will never get it up. Mostly, you must remember that later on, this could be a bunker, this could be a little tree, it could be a little mount, so we have to go up and land on the green. Okay, alright, let me do one for you and you will see what it looks like. Stand back a tiny bit Ruth. Okay, now I'm trying to do the same thing as we did little earlier. There is no change with regard to the type of shot, you do exactly the same, same grip, same movement, and must impress upon your little bit of wrist action on the backswing. So here we go. Oh! I thought it was going to be my turn this time. We do one more, and John try and a get bit closer with you because you have to impress your students. Well, it's a one path, so it's not too bad. Okay, off you go. Same thing, change clubs, we will make use of -- you still have the 7 iron Remy. Now be very, very careful, very, very careful, it's only a short distance closer to the ball. Let the angle of the club, get the ball in the air, off you go Ruth. Well, I suppose the success is going to your head off to holding the last shot. No, no, no, no, common concentration. Hey, what are you using out? Rolling into long the ground, could miss me. Well, the teacher wasn't too happy with the Ruth and Remy that time and this was the reason. Like most beginners, you are trying to scoop the ball into the air, trying to get it up off the ground, not necessary with a 9 iron like this, there is sufficient loft for it to go up by itself. So remember, no scooping. Let's try it again. Now stand up a bit Ruth, that's right, little action. Okay, well there is our famous top shot again. Good shot Remy, beautiful, that's a nice one. It's too stiff, too stiff. I'm going to do this way with you, watch, we do it like this, a little bit of wrist action here. Your swing got much too stiffly when hitting it up. No footwork, just relax your knees. We've done it, we've done it, we've done it. Hey! This is exciting, I really like it. Remy, common do some good stuff. I don't want to work with you there, like I did with Ruth, I want to do on your own. Good shot, that's better. You see how nicely it just chipped up over the fairway. Again play, just a small approach, getting the ball up over the first part of fairway. Well done. Excellent! That's fine. Okay, Ruth, oh, you are nearly in the hole again. Now you're getting the idea. Not too jerky, keep it nice and smooth. You're stabbing into the ground. You're doing it like this. Look, now follow through. Well, I can't really say that that was a very successful 9 iron shot, in fact both of them had trouble. I can't kids tell you that it's going to be very easy to split a shot, it's more difficult than it looks. Practice it hard, in fact, I'm leaving Remy and Ruth on the practice ground now for an hour, because I wasn't very happy with it, but that's to be expected. We're not here to do miracles every time, we've had moments of excitement and it was fun, but now, a little more hard work.