Fundamentals Of Iron Play
FUNDAMENTALS OF IRON PLAY
Definition: A full swing with an iron using about 80% of your maximum effort to maintain balance and control of the club.
Goal: The goal of an iron shot is accuracy and distance control. Accuracy is achieved by having a repeatable golf swing that goes back and through on a similar swing path. Distance control is achieved by striking the ball in the center of the club using a controlled swing. Strike the ball with a descending blow from the inside allowing the clubface to hit the ball first, then the ground about an inch ahead of the ball.
Setup:
- Ball position should be placed about 2 balls off your left heel.
- Stance is shoulder width apart (outside of shoulders over shoe laces) with your 6 iron. With your longer clubs, your stance will increase a half an inch per club, and it will decrease a half an inch per club with your shorter irons. This is based on the half-inch increments in length in your irons.
- Flare your feet out about 20 degrees to allow your body the ability to turn correctly.
- Bend over from your hip joints (waist), not from your knees, so the end of the grip points to your belt-line.
- Your balance should be equally distributed on your feet. If done correctly, you should be able to wiggle your toes at address without feeling your weight shift back.
- Your arms should hang comfortably below your shoulders.
- Your hands will be positioned slightly ahead of the golf ball to simulate the impact position.
Execution:
- Start your backswing with your center turning back. Turn don’t shift.
- Allow your wrists to hinge up creating a 90 angle between your left arm and the club shaft.
- Keep your right knee flexed and stable on the backswing.
- Stop your backswing where you have the most control.
- Swing down from the inside to allow you to release the club properly. You can achieve this by keeping your hands close to your body on your downswing.
- Strike the ground about 1 inch after the ball to achieve correct contact with the ball.
- Turn all the way through to a full finish. Your shirt buttons, belt buckle, right knee, and shoe laces should be facing the target at your finish.
- Hold your finish until the ball lands.
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About
KYLE VOSKA, PGA PROFESSIONAL
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from St. Michael’s, St. Xavier, and Miami University. After graduating from Miami with a Finance degree, I moved to Florida to pursue my professional golf dreams. After a few successful years and a couple of difficult years, I stopped playing full-time. After a year of caddying on the LPGA Tour for Young Jo, Kim Williams, and Angela Stanford, I moved back home to Cincinnati. Currently, I live near Sharonville with my lovely wife, Lindsay, our kids, Maclin and Ellie, and our dog, Nora.
Teaching golf for over a year in Florida and having taken and watched many lessons from PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional Carl Rabito, becoming a golf instructor was something I really wanted to do. Fortunately, I was able to find a home at Sharon Woods Golf Course in Cincinnati, my old home from the 90′s, to further this new career path. As I enter my 6th season as a golf professional, I’m excited how my role is taking shape. I assist in managing and supervising a staff of nearly 40 while teaching golf lessons to over a 100 students. Hopefully, someday I’ll have the opportunity to mentor some future golf professionals like myself.
Email: kvoska@hotmail.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- PGA Member – June, 2009
- 2008 PGA National Assistants Champion
- 43 Professional Tournament Victories
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Section Player-of-the-Year
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Southwest Chapter Player-of-the-Year
- 2009 Cincinnati Chapter Match Play Champion
- 2009 Southern Ohio PGA Assistant’s Champion
- 2001 and 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Open Champion
- 2000 PGA Buick Open Contestant
- 1998 Miami Athlete-of-the-Year
- 2-Time NCAA Division I All-American
- Mid-American Conference Sportsman and Player-of-the Year (1998)
- 2-Time Cincinnati Met Amateur Champion (1997, 1998)
- Cincinnati Met Amateur Medalist and Runner-Up (1996)
- NCAA low scoring average on Par 3′s (2.91) in 1998
- Low competitive round – 62 (3 times): Four Bridges CC (’01), Oasis CC (’09), and Juniper Hills GC (’02)
- Low non-competitive round – 61: Browns Run CC – White tees
- Won a 54-hole Developmental Players Tour event by 9 shots shooting 19 under par with no bogies (64,64,69)
- 4 career Holes-in-One and 3 career double eagles
MY PGA MENTORS:
Tom Bach – Head Professional at Sharon Woods Golf Course
George Long – Kenwood CC PGA Professional/Head Pro at The Mill Course (17 Years)
Carl Rabito – PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional (Top 100 Instructor)
Mike Bender – 2009 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Craig Shankland – 2001 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Jim Suttie, Ph.D - 2000 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Bill Madonna – Bill Madonna Golf Academy (Top 100)
Andrew Park – The David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Chris Toulson – Jim McLean Golf School at Doral
As you can see, I’ve been very fortunate to have learned from some of the best PGA Professionals in the country. I feel privileged to pass on the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained from spending time with these great gentlemen.
