\tEvery golfer wants cleaner strikes with their irons.<\/p>\n
\tWhether you’re looking to hit the ball further, improve consistency or eliminate frustrating fat and thin shots, the quality of your impact is what ultimately determines the outcome.<\/p>\n
\tIn this latest Golfshake tuition video, PGA Professional Aaron Holtom explains why many golfers struggle with their iron play and why improving your strike isn’t always about changing your golf swing. Instead, it often starts with changing the way you think about impact.<\/p>\n
\tWhy Most Golfers Struggle With Their Iron Strike<\/p>\n
\tAccording to Aaron, one of the biggest reasons beginner and higher handicap golfers fail to strike their irons consistently is because they have the wrong concept of what good impact actually looks like.<\/p>\n
\tMany golfers believe they should help the ball into the air by trying to lift it, but modern irons are designed to launch the ball for you. Good ball striking comes from delivering the club correctly into impact.<\/p>\n
\tAs Aaron explains, a well-struck mid iron should actually launch much lower than many golfers expect, with a launch angle of around 20-21 degrees.<\/p>\n
\tUnderstanding this changes the way you approach every iron shot.<\/p>\n
\tThree Questions That Will Transform Your Iron Play<\/p>\n
\tAaron uses a simple three-question quiz to test your understanding of impact.<\/p>\n
\t1. Should You Hit The Ball Cleanly Without Taking Turf?<\/p>\n
\tMany golfers try to avoid taking a divot altogether.<\/p>\n
\tThe reality is that quality iron shots almost always involve striking the ball first, followed by the ground.<\/p>\n
\tA shallow divot after impact is a sign that the club has travelled correctly through the ball rather than trying to scoop underneath it.<\/p>\n
\t2. Where Should The Divot Start?<\/p>\n
\tThis is one of the biggest misconceptions among amateur golfers.<\/p>\n
\tThe lowest point of the golf swing should not be at the golf ball.<\/p>\n
\tInstead, Aaron explains that the club should continue travelling down after impact, with the lowest point occurring two or three inches beyond the ball.<\/p>\n
\tThis allows the clubface to compress the ball before interacting with the turf.<\/p>\n
\t3. What Should The Shaft Look Like At Impact?<\/p>\n
\tAnother key ingredient of solid iron play is forward shaft lean.<\/p>\n
\tRather than returning the shaft to a perfectly vertical position\u2014or worse, leaning backwards\u2014better players present the club with the hands slightly ahead of the ball.<\/p>\n
\tThis creates a more efficient strike, lower launch and improved distance control.<\/p>\n
\tCommon Golf Advice That Can Actually Make Things Worse<\/p>\n
\tAaron also challenges several pieces of advice that many golfers have heard countless times.<\/p>\n
\tThese include:<\/p>\n
\tWhile these ideas are often well intentioned, they can actually restrict natural movement and make it harder to rotate through the golf ball properly.<\/p>\n
\tInstead of focusing on body positions, Aaron encourages golfers to think about what the club is doing and the outcome they are trying to create.<\/p>\n
\tFocus On The Result, Not Your Body<\/p>\n
\tResearch into motor learning suggests golfers often perform better when they focus on external cues rather than internal body movements.<\/p>\n
\tRather than thinking about individual swing positions, Aaron recommends concentrating on:<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe flight of the golf ball.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tWhere the club brushes the ground.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tCreating ball-first, turf-second contact.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tProducing forward shaft lean through impact.<\/p>\n
\tThis shift in focus can help golfers learn more naturally while improving consistency on the course.<\/p>\n
\tKey Takeaways From Aaron Holtom<\/p>\n
\tIf you want to become a better iron player this season, remember these simple principles:<\/p>\n
\t\t\tStrike the ball before the turf.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tExpect your divot to start after the golf ball.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tAllow the club to arrive with forward shaft lean.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tAvoid trying to lift the ball into the air.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tFocus on the outcome of the shot rather than trying to control every body movement.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tUse launch data or training aids where possible to monitor your progress.<\/p>\n
\t\tWatch The Full Lesson<\/p>\n
\tIn the video above, Aaron Holtom demonstrates these concepts in more detail and explains how changing your understanding of impact can quickly lead to more consistent strikes, improved distance control and better iron play.<\/p>\n
\tIf you’ve been battling heavy or thin shots, these simple changes in mindset could be the breakthrough your game needs.<\/p>\n
\tAbout the Author<\/p>\n
\tAaron Holtom is an Advanced PGA Professional with an MSc in Sports Coaching and has been a full-time teaching professional at Morley Hayes Golf Club for more than 17 years. Working with golfers of all ages and abilities, Aaron combines expert coaching with industry-leading technology, including Trackman, BodiTrak pressure mats and 3D motion capture, to help players improve faster. Alongside individual coaching, he also runs his popular ‘Golf Not Golf Swing<\/a>‘ group coaching programme, focusing on practical skills, course management and lowering scores.\u00a0<\/p>\n