While you are on your journey in learning how to play golf, you may have been told to start playing with a 7-iron. For several newbies, the 7-iron is the go-to club in their arsenal. Given its effectiveness as a golf club, you’ll need to be familiar with the handy 7-iron so here goes.
Key Takeaways
- The 7-iron is designed as a mid-iron with between 30 to 34 degrees of loft.
- You will typically use your 7-iron in an approach shot, a par 4 or a par 3 among others.
- Mostly, an amatuer golfer will be able to strike a 7-iron from between 130 to 150 yards.
The Club that’s “easy to hit”
The 7 -iron has been described as the link between a short and long iron. If you are a beginner, the 7-iron will become your greatest ally. Compared to others, it is the most comfortable club to learn with while offering exceptional distance when properly struck. A lot of novice players can hit a full 100 yards using the 7-iron. By mastering a 7-iron, you will be ready to move on to a wedge, a hybrid, and drivers.
What Is A 7-Iron?
The 7-iron is well-thought-out as a mid-iron with somewhere between 30 to 34 degrees of loft.
By using a 7-iron in your game, you will be able to manage a bit of launch, and enough stopping power to land the ball on the green and stop where you intend it to. This club tends to be a chosen club because it is comparatively easy to hit while being able to deliver long range shots.
It’s very handy for when you get into trouble on a hole, odds are that a 7 iron can save the day. Chances are that if you learn how to hit a 7-iron, you can rely on it to score well in future.
The most important part of hitting a great 7-iron shot is becoming familiar with the steps involved with the swinging progression.
It’s also a good idea to explore what is needed to get the distance and ball flight you want.
Taking the time to rehearse your swing with a 7-iron will only help you become a better versatile golfer.
How To Hit A 7 Iron
Even though your 7-iron is not the most challenging club to swing, you must be aware of the correct first principles involved for making a good shot.
In our guide we explore all areas of the 7-iron swing and encourage you to practice with the one in your golf set.
This is important because some 7-irons are different from others. They tend to differ in loft and offset, so you might have to adjust your club as while practicing. Don’t worry too much, our techniques will help you ensure that you grasp the basics of using this club.
Good Setup
The fundamental part of hitting any golf shot is guaranteeing a steady basis to hit from. The setup and grip when using a 7-iron is rather easy and can be used as a benchmark for all other shots in your game.
Starting out with a 7-iron shot, you should position your feet about shoulder-width away from each other. Keeping them this far apart, gives you a nice amount of steadiness and you won’t feel as if you’re losing control or stability.
The line of your hips, feet, and shoulder should align to the target when you want to hit an even shot. Besides that, your grip should be neutral with your left and right hand in a neutral and focused point.
The ball placement should be at the core of your stance. Lots of golfers opt for a firmer grip on their driver for example. This is since it prevents a slice. On the flip side, when you use a 7-iron, you should not be concerned about the side spin as much as you ought to worry about your driver.
Starting Your Swing
The takeaway is the next portion of your swing.
When holding your 7-iron, you must confirm that your takeaway starts with a slight turn back of the hips. Do this while the club begins to turn to that position where it is equal to the surface. When the club is in line with your hips, check that the iron shaft is parallel to the ground. The toe of the iron head also needs to be pointed towards the sky.
Now a bit of your weight would have also shifted back to your right side if you’re a right-handed player. The takeaway helps safeguard that your golf swing ends being positioned correctly while staying on track during the entire swing. Basically, starting the swing correctly will help you end off with great impact.
Total Back Swing
Next in your swing sequence is the top of your backswing. Here your 7-iron needs to be parallel to the surface, while remaining in a stable and steady spot.
Additionally, you should see that the club is pointed directly down the line, with no angle to either the left or right of the target. Once you have reached the top of your backswing, you should be aware that your hips and shoulders have alternated.
Most of your body works in unison in your swing. This means that it is not only just your hands and wrists that brings the club to the top of your swing.
Impact Position and Divot
When you reach Impact with your 7-iron your hands will be slightly forward. You would also see a slight forward lean in your 7-iron’s shaft. Malke sure that your weight moves towards your front foot and your clubface is square.
You should also ensure that you hit down and through the ball and take a small divot. The divot is important because it helps check that the golf ball gets some exceptional ball flight while generating enough spin to stop on the green. Don’t lift a 7-iron golf shot up in the air. Instead, swing down and through and watch it soar.
High And Complete Finish
As a final but important point, you must ensure that you swing through towards a high and full finish in your swing. This entails transferring your weight to the left side while fully rotating your body. Your body completely facing your target is precisely where you want it to be.
Also, your hands should be up high next to your ear, while your 7-iron club must be fully released and pivoted. Ease up on your grip. Your grip should not be overly firm, you don’t want to feel as if your hands handle the entire shot.
If your finish position is correct, you have a good indication that the essentials in completing the swing were also spot on. Be warned though, once you’re used to getting it right, you may want to keep at it, over and over again.
When To Hit A 7 Iron
Ok so we have given you the best guidelines on how you should hit your 7-iron. Now let’s explore a few instances where you should be using this club.
The most typical spaces where you will use your 7-iron are:
- an approach shot
- on a par 4
- a par 3 from the tee
- chipping from the fringe
- a lay-up on a par 5
Approach Shot
More often than not, you will be inclined to use the 7-iron as an approach shot to a par four. On average most golfers can hit a 7-iron about 130-150 yards with using some technologically advanced clubs. If you’re aiming for the 325 to 400-yard range, there is a decent chance that you could wind up with an approach shot that needs a 7-iron club to finish the job.
A Par 3
Just like the approach shot, there are numerous instances when a par 3 yardage will set up perfectly to the space where you can use your 7-iron.
In this situation, it is crucial to go through our steps of how to hit a 7 iron. You want to get the ball as close to the hole as you can.
When it comes to a par 3 shot, you should think about the whole green. Carefully think of the obstacles behind and in front of your teeing pin. Don’t only think about the space towards your teeing pin, this won’t always be adequate to help you reach the outcomes you’re hoping for.
Chipping From Fringe
Remember when we said that the 7 iron can have somewhere between 30 to around 34 degrees of loft? So that basically means that it’s not ideal for chipping. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that your 7-iron is utterly useless here either. When you are chipping from the short grass around the fairway, you can hold down on the club, take up a putting stroke type swing, and strike a small shot onto the green. The ball will roll a lot, but it is likely to end up close to the hole.
Layup On A Par 5
If you are under the impression that your second shot on a par 5 requires a long-distance club like a 3 wood, then think again.
Fortunately, the idea for most par 5’s revolves mainly around the placement of a shot instead of the distance covered.
Many golfers don’t necessarily like the idea of striking a golf ball as far as they probably can, only to be left with just 70 yards into the green.
A better idea would be to strike two flawless 7 iron shots and land in the heart of the green.
FAQ
Knowing how to hit a 7-iron takes some learning.
On the other hand, once you have it down to a basic science, it will be the club that you keep depending on more often than you might realize.
We have answered a few burning questions often asked by amateur golfers about using a 7-iron.
Is A 7 Iron Hard To Hit?
No, your 7-iron won’t be very hard to hit provided that you have a good setup. Also don’t try to overdo your golf swing.
Sometimes players try slightly harder than they should to get distance and power from a club that is designed for reliability and enhanced performance.
Where Do You Hit A 7-Iron?
Your 7-iron is commonly used as an approach shot to the green. It is also a reliable club for a par 3 hole as well as a layup on a par 5 golf hole.
Your 7-iron is actually quite versatile, seeing that it has a very average loft. In short the uses of your 7-iron club are really extensive.
At What Distance Can You Hit A 7-Iron?
This is a question with multiple answers. The distance you can reach a 7-iron largely depends on the speed of your clubhead. On average, a newbie golfer will mostly be able to strike a 7-iron from between 130 to 150 yards.
The Pros on the other hand have been able to strike an average of over 170 yards using a 7-iron. This is only because they have mastered the art of swinging, which has also allowed them to double their swinging speed considerably more than the average player.
Conclusion
While reviewing this piece multiple times, we are certain that you have gained the confidence to strike a 7-iron golf shot with the simplest of ease. Judging by what many resources have said, we can assure you that this is a club you should really invest a lot of time to get the hang of.
Staying collected, cool and confident with your 7 iron is the key in striking shots that you can be certain will land on the green. Get the hang of this and your general scores will drop.
Don’t be hard on yourself either. This is a learning process so move step- by-step and learn every segment of the golf swing individually. When you pile everything together and perfect the chain of events to a good swing, you will be satisfied with the end results.
Overall a 7-iron is a favorite golf club for many players, don’t delay; get out there and start incorporating the 7 iron into your game.
