02 / Approach shots / Practice guide

Irons.

Build ball-first contact and predictable carry distances with drills that show you where the club meets the ground.

Start the free drills ↓
BALLLINEBRUSH POINT
For a ball on the turf, brush the ground after the ball.
Understand the shot

Find the low point before adding speed

When an iron shot is played from the ground, the club should meet the ball before its lowest point. A mark on the turf helps you see the brush point. Short, balanced swings make that feedback easier to use.

Set up your session

Choose a mid or short iron and a level practice area. Draw a line in sand or use a removable mark on grass. On a mat, a small towel several inches behind the ball can reveal early contact.

What to measure

Pick one of the drills below and write down its score. Repeat it on another day before changing your practice plan. A small trend is more useful than one perfect shot.

Free practice

Three drills you can use today

Choose one drill for your session. Each gives you a clear result to compare next time.

Line drill

20 balls · Make the brush point visible.

  1. Make five half swings with no ball, aiming to touch the ground beyond the line.
  2. Set the ball just behind the line and hit 10 half shots. Count ball-first contact.
  3. Hit five fuller shots while keeping the same brush point.

Towel feedback

10 balls · Notice early ground contact on a mat.

  1. Place a small towel a few inches behind the ball, away from others.
  2. Hit short shots without touching the towel. Move it back farther if you need an easier start.
  3. Progress to a longer swing only when contact stays consistent.

Carry ladder

12 balls · Learn three useful distances with one club.

  1. Choose three reachable targets at increasing distances.
  2. Hit four balls to each, changing target after each shot.
  3. Record how many carry to your intended landing area.
Practice note: Do not force the club into the turf with your hands. Use the line as feedback and build a balanced motion.
When shots go wrong

What your miss might tell you

These are starting checks, not a diagnosis from a swing video. Make one small change and compare several shots.

Fat shots

Use half swings and count where the club brushes relative to the line.

Thin shots

Check whether you stay balanced and make a light brush after the ball.

Shots start offline

Pick a small target and check face direction after contact becomes repeatable.

Inconsistent distances

Use the carry ladder and record the landing point rather than total rollout.

More to come

Member lesson previews

These expanded lessons are planned for the $7.99/month Basic membership. They are previews only; subscriptions and access are not live yet.

MEMBER LESSON · PLANNED

Iron contact course

A progressive plan from half swings to on-course approach shots.

MEMBER LESSON · PLANNED

Distance mapping

Guided practice to build a useful carry chart for your bag.

MEMBER LESSON · PLANNED

Miss-by-miss lessons

Expanded advice for fat, thin, heel, toe and directional misses.

The proposed $14.99/month Plus plan would add extra feedback and swing-analysis tools. Those features are still being developed. See the proposed plans →