Luke Says: Before you play each par 4, know where the pin is located and what angle gives you the best approach into the green. That's where you want to land your tee shot.
Set up with your body on an upslope [right shoulder and hip lower than left] and swing your arms on a downslope, keeping your head behind the ball through impact. Your arms make a descending blow, not your body.
Iron play: How to hit more greens
Pat Goss and I worked on widening my swing arc and quieting my legs on the downswing, so I could better control the trajectory of the ball. My long irons are a particular strength. I feel fairly confident that I can knock a 3-or 4-iron inside anyone's 6-iron. You can feel that confidence, too, by following these tips.
My Iron Keys
Look for the Arches: Always check your distance from the ball. When you stand too far away, your weight starts toward your toes and you'll have a pretty tough time maintaining your balance. If I'm set up correctly, my weight is evenly distributed over the middle of my feet and my arms hang directly under my shoulders, not away from my shoulders. Here's how to make certain you're the proper distance from the ball: Take your normal address position, close your eyes and hover the club off the ground. Next, rock back and forth between your toes and your heels until you find a balance between the two--over the arches of your feet. Then sole the club.
Get Wide: To create the full extension of the arms you want at impact, make the biggest circle you can with your arms as you start down from the top. Swing your right hand away from your right shoulder while keeping your back to the target. From the very top of your backswing, you will swing your arms more underneath your shoulders, instead of out toward the target line.
Stand Tall: You need good rhythm and balance to make solid contact. A good indication of both is your finish position. You should finish tall, with your belt buckle facing the target and the club shaft resting down the back of your neck. You should be able to stare the ball down for several seconds without losing your balance.
