Searching for the True Value
Searching for the True Value
by Dr. T. J. Tomasi
Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research
Most good iron players use a 3/4 swing to make the solid, center contact that produces the distance built into the club at the factory; it’s termed “the true value of the club.”
Each of your irons is different – the length varies (usually by one half inch) as does the clubface loft.
Your five iron (steel shaft) may be 38″ (ladies 36.5″) with 30 degrees of face loft while your eight iron is 36.5″ (ladies 35″) with 42 degrees of loft.
Thus, the true value of your five iron might be 170 yards, while your eight iron flies 140 yards.
Since most iron sets have four degrees of loft between each club, and each degree equates to approximately 2.5 yards, there is a ten yard difference between your irons.
Assuming your set is correctly calibrated to determine the true value of each iron, simply measure how far your “normal swing” sends an eight iron, then add or subtract 10 yards.
If your eight flies 140 yards, then the nine iron flies 130 yards and your seven iron goes 150 yards.
The differences in length and loft allow you to adequately cover most of the iron distances faced during a round of golf.
However, if you over-swing under pressure, you’ll foul the true value concept, just as you do when you under-swing because you are trying to steer the ball.
There are three distinct characteristics of good iron players:
(1) They know the true value of the club they have selected
(2) They have practiced enough to be able to reproduce the swing speed that generates true value
(3) They make center contact
What’s the one swing change that will help you to satisfy all three of the above?
The answer is to gain control of the club by shortening your swing.
Since it is often used as a power club, your driver swing should be calibrated at power length, but if you need more yardage on your approach, simply change clubs.
The benchmark to shorten your swing is your target arm (left arm for right handers). Imagine you are standing inside a large clock with 12:00 o’clock at your head and 6:00 o’clock at your feet.
You produce the three quarter swing by stopping your target arm at 10:00 o’clock. For most players, shortening their iron swing to ten o’clock leads to the true value of the club.
Takeaway: Your overall swing building goal is to determine the true value of each club in your hand, then develop a swing that will unlock the true value swing after swing.
If you enjoyed this tip and are looking in to Florida golf schools, contact College of Golf today.
