If You Still Play Long Irons, Copy This Thought From Ludvig Åberg

Long irons are getting harder to find in most amateur golfers’ bags. Hybrids, 7-woods and higher-lofted fairway woods have made the game easier for a lot of players.

But let’s not pretend the 5-iron is gone. And, for plenty of golfers, the 4-iron is still in the bag.

The issue with long irons is not always swing speed. Sometimes, it’s confidence.

Standing over a 4-iron is not the same as standing over a 9-iron. With a 9-iron, you have loft, height and some room for error. With a 4-iron, everything feels a little more exposed. The club is longer, the face has less loft and the shot usually matters because you are farther from the hole.

Amateurs start second-guessing and, as it turns out, even the best players in the world have to manage doubt and commitment with a long iron in the bag. Ludvig Åberg recently gave a good look at how he handles that process with longer irons.

The thought to copy

Åberg talked about separating his shot into two parts.

Before he steps in, he makes the decision. He thinks about the club, yardage, shot shape, the target, wind and where the ball can miss.

Once he steps in, that part is over. Now it is time to execute.

That sounds simple but it matters more with a long iron than almost any club in the bag.

Most golfers stand over a 4- or 5-iron still negotiating with themselves. They think about how hard to swing, whether they have the right club, if they have the aim correct and more. It’s a lot to deal with and long irons punish the “half-in” golf swing.

Build in the miss

The other part of Åberg’s approach that golfers should copy is how he thinks about the miss.

He is not just picking the perfect shot. He is picking a shot where, if it does not come off exactly right, the ball still finishes in a playable position.

For most amateur golfers, a 4-iron is not a pin-seeking club. It is a club that should help you advance the ball, find a safe section of the green or leave yourself a manageable next shot.

If the pin is tucked back-left and trouble is left, the goal probably should not be to hit the perfect long iron at the flag. The smarter play is often the middle of the green or even the side where the miss leaves you a simple chip or long putt.

How to practice it

The next time you practice long irons, for each ball you hit, pick three things:

• Target
• Shot shape
• Acceptable miss

For example: middle of the green, slight fade, short right is fine.

Then step in and hit it. You can do this on the driving range; it doesn’t have to be on the course but make some notes of your progress. Pay attention to the differences in the shots when you stop thinking so much and learn to strike the ball decisively.

Long irons aren’t easy clubs to hit but the goal is to stop making them harder by standing over the ball and letting tension and doubt build up.

Final thought

Åberg’s advice is very amateur-friendly. If you find this works with your long irons, there’s no reason not to try it in other areas.