Let me guess – you and your 6 iron are not friends?
I get it. For the longest time, I despised mine too. As with every mid handicapper, I struggled with my six iron.
But why is the 6 iron the most challenging club in a golfer’s bag?
Personally, it was the first long iron that found its way into my golf bag, it has reduced loft compared to shorter irons and I was hitting it from difficult yardages.
In this guide on everything you need to know about a 6 iron, we will give you all the information you need to become a great 6 iron player.
Many people are struggling to get this club to do what they need it to do, so don’t be one of these people, and learn to play with the 6 iron the right way and reap the benefits.
Quick Access Guide
Keys To Hitting a 6 Iron
- Focus on a tiny target
- Hit your 6 iron consistently
- Trust the loft
- Ball flight
- Course management
- Find a forgiving 6 iron
Hitting a 6 Iron Better Step By Step
Playing with a six iron comes down to 6 key things: focus, accuracy, weight distribution, ball flight, carry yardage, and practice. Let’s go into more detail about each of these areas.
Focus on a tiny target
When I first started playing golf, my coach told me to focus on a small, distant target such as an individual leaf, branch or window.
At first, I didn’t understand. However, I soon found that by choosing a small target and concentrating on hitting it, I was able to block out all the distractions around me and focus on my own game.
This narrow focus allowed me to improve my 6 iron dispersion and helped me to become a better golfer overall by learning how to unconsciously focus my mind.
So, next time you are struggling with your 6 iron, just pick a target, focus, and swing.
Hit your 6 iron consistently
Ball placement is fundamental to your golf swing with any club, but it is often forgotten.
Many beginner golfers struggle to control the ball, resulting in a bad connection with the ground. This is due to inconsistent ball positioning.
High handicap players usually have the ball too far back in their stance, while low handicap players have it too close to their front foot. As a result, it is important to be aware of where the ball is in your stance in order to maintain a consistent strike point.
For example, if you are hitting a 6 iron, you should aim to have the ball in the same position for each shot. This will help you to connect with the ball more consistently and produce better results. Ball position is therefore a simple but fundamental element of every golf shot.
Hitting your mid irons like your 6 iron is all about hitting the ball at the bottom of the arc.
The best way to do this is to position the ball inside your left heel.
This will create a shallow angle into the golf ball and help you hit it straighter.
If you position the ball too far back, it will encourage a hook, and if you position it too far forward, it will encourage a slice.
So make sure to get that ball position right, and you’ll be hitting your 6 irons like a pro in no time!
Finding the correct ball position to hit your 6 iron
There’s no better feeling than hitting a golf ball dead center with your club. That sweet “ping” lets you know you’ve made perfect contact. But if you’re finding that your shots are less than perfect, it might be time to head to the driving range.
One simple drill that can help you find your perfect swing is to start by hitting the ground with your club, without actually trying to hit a ball. Just make a normal swing and try to clip the bottom of a daisy stem right out of the ground.
Notice and pay attention to where the club head is striking the turf in relation to your stance. You’ll find that it strikes the ground in roughly the same spot over and over.
This is the correct bottom or low point of your golf swing with that particular club.
Place the ball at the position at the start of the divot and begin hitting balls again, this time trying to nip the daisy stem out of the ground as you make contact. I bet you’ll start hitting the ball crisply in no time.
Remember, the point is to get your club head to swing in a natural arc, while the ball gets in the way. With a little practice, you’ll be hitting those sweet shots right down the fairway in no time!
Drill that ball position
If you’re new to golf, one of the things you’ll need to learn is how to properly position the ball in your stance. This can vary depending on the club you’re using, but for the 6 iron, the ball should be slightly further forward than it would be for a shorter club.
The best way to figure out where your “low point” is (the point at which the club will make contact with the ball) is to go to a driving range and hit some balls.
Once you know where your low point is, it’s important to drill it into your mind and body so that you always take the same stance. You can use alignment sticks to create a cross or T-shape that will help you visualize where the ball should be positioned.
Pro tip: get a friend or playing partner to take a photo of your ball position from time to time, or set up a tripod to film yourself. This will help you keep track of your progress and ensure that you’re always taking the same stance.
Trust the loft
Anyone who has played golf knows that getting the ball into the air can be a challenge, especially when using a lower-lofted club. Many golfers try to compensate for the lack of loft by scooping the ball into the air with a wristy swing, but this often leads to a big slice.
Not only is this an unnatural movement, but it can also cause serious injury. The best way to get the ball airborne is to trust the club.
A 6 iron, for example, has plenty of loft (between 24 and 28 degrees) to get the ball up. So instead of forcing it, let the club do the work and focus on making a smooth, consistent swing.
I see a lot of high handicap golfers decelerate at the impact area. This is because golfers do not trust the loft of the club to get the ball into the air. They have probably also had bad experiences hitting the ball thin.
A lot of golfers lack the confidence in their swing speed to trust they can hit the ball with enough power.
All you need to do is to make a committed swing with enough speed to get the ball airborne. Modern golf technology in golf clubs does all the work for you.
Ball flight
A lot of people will complain about their consistency yet hit the ball with a similar curve and height on every shot. The problem is that their RESULT is not consistent because they are not planning for their shot.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a 2 or 20 handicapper – you must learn your shot shape tendencies with every club in your bag.
As you get better at the game, these tendencies will become more uniform and predictable, even high handicappers will have a specific shot shape with specific golf clubs.
Most players will begin the game with a bit of slice or fade shape and this is fine! I have seen many, many golfers complain about their slice and yet they hit the ball with a tighter dispersion than I do, they just don’t aim for their shot shape.
If you can learn to aim for your natural shot shape, your results will be way more consistent than just “trying to hit it straight”. It’s all about learning your golf clubs and your natural tendencies. Work on it and I promise, you’ll see lower scores!
Course management
As a high handicapper, one of the most important things you can do is to learn your carry distances with all of your clubs. This will allow you to more easily navigate around the course and find the fairway and greens more consistently.
Your 6 iron can be a potent weapon if you know your carry distance. It is a great tee club as it will more than likely keep you away from trouble.
You need to learn to hit a variety of shots with this club, including tee shots, fairway lay up shots, approach shots, and punch shots to get out of trouble.
With a little practice, you’ll be surprised at how effective your 6 iron can be.
Find a forgiving 6 iron
If you’re struggling to hit your irons, you might want to consider blending your set. Most manufacturers offer different models of iron, ranging from forgiving to even more forgiving.
This means that you can buy individual irons to replace your 6 iron, making them easier to hit.
For example, the Srixon range has ZX7 irons, which are easy players irons, ZX5 irons, which are even easier to hit, and the ZX4 range, which are the easiest.
Alternatively, if you find it too hard to be able to hit a standard 6 iron, you can always use a 6 hybrid.
Golf club manufacturers make hybrids in all sorts of lofts, so it’s definitely worth considering as an alternative. Ultimately, blending your iron set can make a big difference to your game.
Recap of How To Hit a 6 Iron
Now that you know the keys to play with a six iron, grab your clubs and head out to the driving range! Practice makes perfect, so keep these tips in mind and before long, you’ll be shooting low scores!
Frequently Asked Questions About The 6 Iron
When Should You Use a 6 Iron?
Hitting toward the green, usually between 70 to 165 yards away. Use a lower-numbered iron for shorter shots and higher-numbered iron for longer shots.
Why Is It So Hard To Hit a 6 Iron?
Chances are you are struggling with your long irons because your swing speed is not quite fast enough to be able to hit them properly.
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