The average golfer has about fourteen clubs in the bag. One of the most often overlooked clubs is the 6-iron, generally because it doesn’t have a loft. With a 6-iron, you must be able to hit the ball cleanly and here you can find some tricks and tips to do just that.
When Should I Use My 6-Iron?
There are many reasons to use your 6-iron. For example, when you are playing in the middle of the golf course, meaning that you are about 150 yards out. Reach for your six iron to hit the ball closer to the hole.
This is also a useful club for when you are in the rough with about 140 yards left to play.
The 6-iron can even be used off the tee when you’re on a third par. Just carefully examine the green and the kind of shot that needs to be played. In short, a 6-iron is usually played with a flatter trajectory than other irons.
You can use your 6-iron regardless of where you are on the golf course, but then again the most important part is to think about the yardage it can pull through.
If you have a shot that needs you to hit the ball about 150 yards or more, this iron should be your weapon of choice.
Let’s just look at some nifty ways you can get better shots before you just go reaching for it though.
Right-Hand Release and Backspin
When you hit a 6-iron, play close attention to your right-hand release.
While you follow through the swing, hit the ball and follow all the way through forcefully with your right hand. This ought to lift the ball off, providing it with a lot of backspin. Backspin is vital to a 6-iron shot. Also, holding your right arm straight assists in your shoulder turn.
We almost forgot, you also need to cast off from your right foot. Doing this gives your arms more room to swing into impact.
Aim at Your Goal
A good idea would be to keep your eyes on where you want the ball to land and hand over control to essentially increase control.
Start by having an exact goal and concentrating on that goal during the swing.
Don’t think so much about where your hands, shoulders or your head is. Make your swing more natural and athletic by allowing gravity to assist you and getting the delight back into your game.
Learn your ball flight
Regardless of your handicap, you have to familiarize yourself with your shot shape tendencies with every single club you own.
While you make steady progress in your golf game, these propensities will become more even and foreseeable.
A lot of golfers will start their round with some slice or fade shape hits. This is completely fine and normal. There are quite a few golfers who nit-pick at their slice, however they hit the ball with a snugger dispersion but fail to aim for their shot shape.
As you improve on your play with longer irons, you could become aware that the shot shape may change with them.
A six iron possibly will fly at a slightly lower angle than other clubs, just take that into consideration. Some players rely on their 6-iron to whack the ball from areas with a lot of shrubbery. This is a great way to get and stay out of trouble on the course.
Swing Hard Not Fast
Do you know the difference between hitting the ball hard and swinging fast? There are those who would say that you can never swing at a speed which is over the top.
What some golfers lack to understand is the difference between speed and tempo. Have you ever seen a pro golfer hit the ball in close proximity?
This may look easy, but the pros know that they have to create some serious swing and club head speeds. They control their body and swing and are capable of hitting the ball hard in a seemingly effortless way.
Sometimes we get the idea that when Tiger Woods said “swing as hard as you can while guaranteeing a center strike on the clubface.”, there were a few golfers who just heard “swing as hard as you can” and that bit about the perfect center strike flew right over their heads.
Trust the Loft
When the loft of the club face declines, some golfers do a lot of weird things to hit the ball into the air.
For instance, there are those who place the ball close to their front foot and then try to scoop the ball upwards using a swing that looks weird on the wrist.
Don’t do that. It’s just not natural and may result in you injuring your wrists. A 6-iron’s loft is typically between 24 and 28 degrees. We can pretty much guarantee that it has enough loft to get the ball flying through the air.
Resist the Urge to Decelerate
There seems to be a tendency from high handicap golfers to slow down their swing in the impact area.
This doesn’t just happen when they use the six-iron, this tends to happen with every club in the bag.
This could be because of a lack of trust in the loft of the club to get the ball into the air. Didn’t we just discuss this?
Many golfers simply aren’t confident about their swing speed- they are not convinced that they don’t have enough power to hit the ball. Don’t pay any attention to that little devil on your shoulder; you can do this.
What you really need is to make a firm swing with an adequate amount of speed to get the ball flying. With the rise in up-to-date technological advancements and extra features, lifting the ball in the air has become easier than ever before.
FAQ
How far should you hit a 6 iron?
On average you should be able to hit a 6-iron at about 150 yards. Where a typical golfer will get more than 150 yards with their 6-iron, those with a faster swing speed will get as much as 170 yards with their 6-iron.
What Aspects Determine A 6-Iron’s Distance?
In case you haven’t guessed it, one of the biggest aspects that determine the distance of your 6-iron’s distance is the swing speed. Golfers with a particularly fast swing speed will most likely be able to hit a 6-iron at a greater distance than most golfers.
However, it has been determined that the typical club head speed for the most casual golfers has been measured at between 80-90mph for men and 65-75mph for women. So to start with, you should get 150 yards with your 6-iron.
Something else that you need to think about, is the type of clubs that you are playing your round with.
If you find yourself armed with bladed irons, you will typically be able to hit a 6-iron further away than a golfer who plays with a cavity-backed club.
As a final point, you have to think about the weather and playing conditions. For example, if the ground is hard and dry, there is a potential for you to get an added 10 or even20 yards out of your 6-iron. On the other hand, if you are playing in rainy conditions the ground can be much softer and wet, here you won’t be able to go much further than 150 yards we’re afraid.
How Far Can the Pros Hit a 6 Iron?
Just in case you were curious, many PGA Tour pros have been able to hit a 6-iron between 180 and even distances of 230 yards have been recorded. This means that they can theoretically hit the same club as casual golf players more than eighty yards further away.
Where Should the Ball Be When Hitting a 6-iron?
Positioning the ball on the back foot or in the center of your stance will make it problematic to get the ball flight that you may need. We have seen a lot of golfers get better results by moving their weight forward and getting the added height and ball flight when they play the ball a little forward off the center.
What can you use instead of a 6 iron?
If you find yourself a little short of a 6-iron in your bag, you can use a 28-degree hybrid instead.
Conclusion
The 6-iron is a club that a lot of casual golfers dismiss. They typically choose a 5 or 7. Don’t be fooled, this is a brilliant club to carry around, and it can be beneficial in a range of challenging circumstances out on the green.
You might be tempted to go beyond the 150-yard mark in the beginning, but this takes time and a lot of practice. Don’t break your head trying to imitate the tour pros. Execute a decent amount of practice and don’t be afraid to trust the reliability of this handy club.
