Your seven iron – the most versatile club in your bag?
June 7th, 2010 | 
Author: Make your seven-iron your favourite iron.
For me, my seven iron has always been my favourite. Maybe it is because it was the first club I ever used many years ago when I had my first lesson. I think that has some bearing on it, but I have also found it to be a most versatile club and it has got me out of some tricky situations. I would like to pass on some suggestions on how you can you use the club and hopefully make it your favourite.
For those of you in the UK, you know what the weather is like and playing on a links course in autumn (winter, spring and summer!!); you can be playing in a bit of wind. When playing into the wind, you need to keep the ball low and “punch” the ball along. So the first shot I will talk about is the low shot which is also useful if you have to play from under low hanging branches. In your set up, make sure the ball is in the centre of your stance and you are holding the club a little further down the shaft than normal. Ensure your weight is favouring your left side slightly and keep it that way throughout the swing. When you swing through, your hands should be ahead of the clubface at impact and punch the ball through with a shorter follow through.
Because of its versatility, the seven iron is a useful tool for a high shot. In your address, the ball should be a few inches forward of the centre of your stance, leaning your right shoulder slightly down and your weight favouring your right side. When you swing through keep your right shoulder low as though you are throwing a bowling ball and sweep the club along the ground using the loft to get the ball in the air.
Two shots that are very useful to master are the draw and the fade and can be useful with a variety of clubs. These shots are very useful around the course when you do not necessarily want to ball to fly in a straight line. This might seem an odd statement, but most routes from the tee to the green have a kink of one degree or another.
To draw the ball you are making the ball turn right to left in the air. Play the ball from the centre of your stance but pull you right shoulder back so you are aiming slightly to the right of the target, but have the club-face aiming at the target. Slightly strengthen your grip so that you can see three knuckles of your left hand. Take a normal swing and when you swing through you will have a slight “in to out” motion with your club ending up pointing to the right of the target.
The fade is the opposite shot, moving the ball left to right in the air. Set up for the shot with the ball slightly ahead of your centre line and this time keep your left shoulder slightly back so you are aiming to the left of the target, but still have the club-face pointing at the target. This time weaken you grip a fraction so that you only see two knuckles of your left hand. You will have a slight “in to out” swing, but let the heel of the club lead the swing and end up pointing towards the left of the target.
We all hate bunkers, but if you are going to get in one, the fairway bunker is easier to get out of as a bit less finesse is required. Keep your weight on your left foot – you may have to bury your foot a bit to do that. Take a normal, but firmer grip to counter any resistance when you hit the sand. Do not take a full swing, but perhaps three quarters, using your arms, keeping your legs fairly still. Focus on the top of the ball and swing through hitting the ball then the sand and watch it fly.
Now you are out of the bunker, you are approaching the green. One of my favourite shots is the short chip onto the green. Hold the shaft further down and address the ball like the seven iron is a putter, so it is a bit more upright than normal. Keep your stance fairly narrow and have the ball slightly behind your centre line. Keep your weight towards your left side and swing through as though you would with a putter, keeping your wrists firm, so you keep the triangle shape between your wrists, arms and shoulders.
The last shot I would like to tell you about is a bump and run from the fringe of the green where a putting shot is a riskier option. Use a narrow stance and keep the ball left of your centre line. Aim your body slightly to the left of the target, but keep your club-face pointing at the target. As with the chip, keep your club fairly upright. When you swing through sweep the club along the grass at impact and turn your body so that your belt buckle turns in line with the butt of the club.
I hope you find this useful. If you can master these shots, I hope that you too will become a member of the “I love my seven iron club”. Albeit a virtual club!!
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