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Adjust your iron swing for true value

By T.J. Tomasi

Most good iron players use a three-quarter swing to make the solid, clean contact that produces the distance and direction built into the club at the factory. It’s termed the “true value of the club,” and each of your irons has a different true value because the length varies (usually by a half-inch), as does the clubface loft (usually by 4 degrees). Thus, depending on your swing speed, the true value of your 5-iron might be 170 yards, give or take, while your 8-iron flies about 140 yards.

Since most iron sets have 4 degrees of loft between each club, and each degree equates to roughly 2 1/2 yards, there is about a 10-yard difference between each of your irons. To determine the true value of each iron, simply measure how far your normal swing sends an 8-iron, then add or subtract 10 yards. If your 8 flies 140 yards (pace it off or use a range finder), then the 9-iron flies 130 and your 7 goes 150.

These differences in length and loft allow you to cover adequately most of the distances you face during a round. So the key to playing your best is to know the true value of your clubs and then swing them all with essentially the same swing force, allowing the specs of the club to turn that force into various distances.

This is what is meant by the adage “Let the club do the work,” i.e., you provide the energy and the clubs turn it into the required distance. You’ll foul the true value concept and lose control when you overswing, trying for more power, or underswing, trying to steer the ball.

The one swing change that will help you protect true value is gaining control of the club by adjusting to a three-quarter swing. Notice I didn’t say swinging easier; I said swinging to three-quarters.

The benchmark for controlling your swing is your target arm (left for right-handers). Imagine you are standing inside a large clock with 12 o’clock at your head and 6 o’clock at your feet. You produce the three-quarter swing by stopping your target arm at 10 o’clock. This allows you the power and control to achieve true value a high percentage of the time. If you need more distance, change clubs instead of swinging harder.

Dr. T.J. Tomasi is a teaching professional in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Visit his website at tomasigolf.com.

For most players, adjusting their iron swing to three-quarters leads to consistent production of the true value of the club.

An under-control backswing produces the true value of the club, and therefore gives you the distance you planned for.