Tommy Fleetwood: My secret to pure irons
The European Tour starlet gives us an insight into his iron play..
I’ve been reasonably pleased with my iron play over the past two seasons. I have been ranked 12th and then 18th on the whole of the European Tour in the Greens In Regulation stat – which is a decent indicator of solid ball striking.
I’ve hit an average of 13.3 greens per round across two long campaigns – and I’m going to share a few of my secrets with you now.
ALL IN THE PALMS
I like to feel my right palm facing down through impact. It means my right arm covers my left arm through the hitting zone. That helps to squeeze it out properly, as opposed to the right hand getting underneath, which encourages manipulation and ‘flipping’ it left.
MOVE INTO THE LEAD FOOT
From the top, I press into my left foot (as a right-hander, my lead foot) a little bit and then I can turn through the shot. It is a good solid base around which to drive through impact – but don’t overdo it.
SMOOTHER IS BETTER
An extra club is a good tactic for amateurs no matter what the weather or the shot. Even amateurs get caught up in swing speed and hitting it too hard. I like to hit quite hard at it, but believe me, smoother through the ‘impact zone’ will help you score better.
Second Hand Shorts 25: Thinning your shots
Second Hand Shorts 24: Improve your strike
Second Hand Shorts 23: Hooking your irons
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
