Stop Guessing Between Clubs

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 Mastering Your Club Selection – What to Do When You’re Between Clubs

When you’re in between clubs on the golf course, it can be one of the trickiest decisions you face. Should you swing harder with the shorter club, ease up with the longer one, or try a different approach altogether? Without testing and understanding what works best for you, you could be leaving valuable shots on the course. In this post, we’ll break down some simple ways to test your options and build a reliable strategy for those in-between distances.

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Mastering Your Club Selection – What to Do When You’re Between Clubs

If you want to watch my breakdown of this tip, check it out here!

Understanding the Problem

Let’s set the scene: You’ve got 150 yards to the pin. Your 9-iron carries 145 yards, and your 8-iron carries 155 yards. What do you do?

Most golfers rely on one of these methods:

• Take a little off the longer club

• Swing harder with the shorter club

• Shorten the swing to control the shot

The issue is that many players guess what to do without testing these approaches. When it comes time to make that crucial shot, it often leads to inconsistent results. So, how do you know which method works for you?

The Testing Process: Building Your Own Data

Here’s a breakdown of four common strategies and how you can test them:

1. Full Swing – Your Baseline

• Take your normal, full-speed swing with your standard club for this distance.

• Record your clubhead speed and carry distance. This will serve as your baseline for comparison.

2. Choke Down on the Club

• Grip the club 1-2 inches lower than usual.

• This method shortens the club’s effective length and can reduce clubhead speed without changing your swing much.

• Tip: If you can swing your full-length wedge confidently, choking down on a longer iron should feel manageable.

3. Shorten the Backswing

• Make a deliberate effort to create a ¾-length backswing.

• For most players, this feels shorter but often ends up longer than intended, making the clubhead speed reduction minimal.

• Note: This method may not produce significant differences unless practiced regularly.

4. Swing Slower (80% Effort)

• Focus on maintaining control while swinging at 80% of your full power.

• Be cautious—this can often result in unpredictable contact and inconsistent ball flight if you’re not used to it.

What My Testing Showed

Here’s a real example of my testing results with a 6-iron. I hit 5 shots with each:

Swing Type Clubhead Speed (mph)

Full Swing 89.4 mph

Choked Down 86.7 mph

3/4 Backswing 88.0 mph

Key Takeaways:

• Full Swing vs. ¾ Backswing: Only 1 mph difference in clubhead speed, resulting in minimal distance change.

• Choked Down Swing: Showed a consistent 3 mph reduction in clubhead speed, leading to a noticeable difference in carry distance.

What This Means for Your Game

The most important takeaway here is that every player responds differently. What feels like an 80% swing to you might barely reduce your clubhead speed, while choking down may produce a consistent result.

Your Action Plan

1. Spend an hour with a launch monitor (like TrackMan or PRGR) to test each method.

2. Record your clubhead speed and carry distances for each type of swing.

3. Identify the approach that produces consistent, predictable results.

4. Apply your findings on the course so that when you’re in between clubs, you can make confident decisions.

Final Thoughts

Instead of guessing or panicking when you’re caught between clubs, commit to testing what works best for you. By understanding your tendencies, you’ll be able to adjust your strategy for various course conditions like wind or elevation changes. Knowing how to confidently hit those in-between yardages could be the key to lowering your scores and making smarter decisions on the course.

Hope this tip helps!

Remember, if you want the full breakdown video, you can click here

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