With your irons in hand the contact you are looking for is ball first, turf second. Many amateurs think the divot is created beneath the ball but this is a misconception, the divot should only start once you have struck the ball.

Here is a great drill designed to help you find the ideal angle of attack that leads to a ball first, turf second contact. Place a tee peg in the ground just in front of your ball as shown here. Take your normal address position but instead of focusing on striking the ball, concentrate on clipping the tee. If you have been struggling with your ball striking, this drill should help you find the right angle of attack with your irons.

If your ball striking is causing you problems, don't try to play through it. Book a lesson with your local Foremost Golf professional to get back on track as soon as possible.

You might think the ability to hit fades and draws is something that only the best amateurs and professionals need to worry about. Whether or not you chose to use these shots out on the course, developing a feel for how to play them will give you a fantastic insight into how your swing path and clubface angle affect ball flight. Inevitably, there will also be one or two instances when trees or other objects get in the way and the ability to hit a fade or a draw will prove invaluable. So whatever your handicap, it is definitely worth dedicating some time to in practice.

The simple principle you need to understand is that the clubface angle determines where the ball flight starts and the swing path influences the curve of the shot. It is the difference between these two angles that will create the draw or the fade that you are looking for.

For a fade, aim the clubface just left of the target but set your body up aiming well to the left of the target. As you make a normal swing along the line of your body, the shots should start to the left and gently shape right through the air.

The opposite applies for a draw. Aim your clubface just right of your final target but set your body up aiming well to the right. From here, just make a normal swing and you should notice the ball shape right-to-left through the air.

For more advice on the technique and drills to develop this part of your game, please visit your local Foremost Golf professional. 

Good mid-iron play will unlock your birdie potential. However, if your striking is slightly off, a small loss of distance will leave you struggling to save par. Striking your irons as consistently as possible is important for every golfer - here's a good way of checking whether slight mis-hits are costing you shots.

Get some tape and stick it to the face of a your 8-iron. Now hit a handful of shots. The tape will highlight your strike pattern offering some important clues about your game. If you are hitting the ball slightly from the toe or heel (as shown here), you'll be giving up on a little distance.

New Irons Fitting

If you feel that your iron striking is off, please come go and see your local Foremost Golf professional. A lesson might be the best way to resolve some issues in your game and get you back on track. Alternatively, they will have a range of different iron models for you to try with the latest technology including some designed to forgive these mis-hits. It may also be that your set is not the right fit for you. Custom fitting will help you find irons that are the right length and that have the correct lie angle and shaft for your game. These are all very important so please ask for advice if you are unsure.