PURE MID- IRONS

Mid-irons - 5-8-iron - are a part of the bag where different levels of golfer often need different help.

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For the more erratic and less-grooved 100-breaker, finding the centre of the face is the priority. The intermediate golfer, pushing the 90 barrier, often makes fairly consistent contact but struggles with accuracy and squaring the face at impact. And the more advanced player looking to crack 80 could use some extra speed to create the powerful penetration of the elite golfer to offer a more lofted option into the green. Here, we'll cover each one. But as ever, note that the advice in all three areas can help all levels of golfer.

One of the most common mid-iron strike patterns I see at this level is weak, heely contact. Inevitably, it leads to shots coming up short and the odd socket rocket... but more generally, it brings a sense of frustration at not being able to find the centre of the clubface with any degree of control or consistency. Let's take a closer look at the origin of this unsatisfactory contact, before working through an exercise that will help you find a more pleasing strike.

WEAK FOUNDATIONS

We're going to look here at a potentially surprising poor-strike culprit - the lead knee [the left knee for the right-hander]. Of course the knee itself doesn’t cause bad shots, but it can be a clear symptom of the problem that does: a general lack of support from the lower body. An overflexing lead knee reveals a tendency for the pelvis to drift towards the ball, compromising balance, stability and hip rotation... all of which will lead to poor ballstriking, especially out of the heel. If we can tighten up this knee motion, we can create a better foundation and more solid strikes.

1. Knee guide