What Lady Golfers Need To Know About Long Clubs

Technology has certainly changed the game of golf. By making clubs that are easier to hit like hybrids, the game has grown and reached more people looking to enjoy the game. Here at Swing Surgeon, we're increasing our base of lady Surgites every week. With a combination of the 3/4, vertical swing and equipment that's fit for them, ladies are some of the students seeing the biggest improvements in their game.

Ann Robinson is one of those golfers. But, she sent in a short question regarding longer woods and her driver. She's having some trouble hitting those clubs and was looking for some direction since she feels that ladies use those clubs more frequently than long irons.

I wish you would do a segment on your swing using a driver and long woods as we women use them more than long irons.
Thanks,
Ann

Ladies sometimes have specific issues that are different from men. However, the ball doesn't know who is holding the club, so the physics and physiology of the swing remains nearly the same. Women are usually more flexible than men, so that means they actually can get deeper in the sacred burial ground by turning more which can lead to big problems.

Most golfers, especailly ladies, shouldn't be using long irons. A long iron is typically classified as a 1, 2, 3, or 4 iron. Today, there's almost nobody on the PGA Tour that uses a 2 iron. Some pros will put them in play at certain tournaments like the British Open because the course calls for it. But, the point is that the average tour bag starts with a 3 iron. They've usually got 2 hybrids with them. But, the key here is that women have a greater tendency to be more supple and flexible so they must really make sure they're not over swinging and turning.

We know that golfers are usually taught to turn more to hit the ball longer. Rotational instructors want you to kick your forward knee inward so you can turn even more. They'll say things like, "swing the club to parallel." Well, let me tell you a story about one lady who would have been a lot better off without ever hearing that phrase.

One day I was teaching one of my students at Harbour Town and a lady walked up on the practice range. She only had a few clubs with her but the way she started swinging the club made me think she had a bag with her name on it nearby. She was making nice, athletic swings and my student and I noticed that her backswing was a perfect 3/4, limited turn and it was vertical. She was hitting it so good until a man with a cigar walked over (I assumed this was either her husband or someone she was taking lessons from) and started yelling at her that she was swinging all wrong. Even though she was hitting the ball great with good pop, he told her to turn more and get the club to parallel. So, she obliged and proceeded to start topping the ball. It happened that quick from just one thing the man with the cigar said to her. She went from my student and I thinking she was a scratch golfer to looking like a beginner who kept topping the ball.

As soon as this woman started swinging too long, she lost control of her body. She lost all of her tempo and timing and the ability to hit a good golf shot. Remember, the PPGS is a limited turn, 3/4 swing but most ladies are always told to turn more if they want to increase their distance.

Instead of swinging parallel and having a four directional backswing that goes up and down multiple times, all you need is a vertical swing that goes up and down once. You don't hit the ball with the backswing. The backswing creates power, but that doesn't mean you need to have a longer swing. If you're looking for more power, you just need to swing your arms faster towards the target. Even with the driver, we've got to keep the 3/4 swing.

In many cases if you're a lady or a senior, your clubs are too long. You should have hybrids in your bag in place of long irons. Hybrids are a little shorter than fairway woods and just a little longer than irons. Most of the women on the LPGA Tour don't even go past a 5 iron. They've all replaced them with hybrids because the design has made them easier to hit.

Hitting hybids is easier than hitting long irons and fairway woods so get to a fitter and see about getting some in your bag. The difference will most likely startle you. More importantly, it will probably get you excited to get out and play with your buddies.

The most important thing here is that you have to control your body which will control your club. The best way to do that is to use the Peak Performance Golf Swing.

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

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Comments

Surge, what a GREAT lesson!!!

Surge, what a GREAT lesson!!! I got to play wed and thurs this week, (weather) good. I was so happy, I hit the ball the best ever, I got my 4 hybid out of the bag, (have not used it all year), well, I hit it very good. It is to long for me, but, I choked down on it, all was good. IM only 5'3' small, so some of my clubs are to long, the one club I got a couple of month's ago 5h hybid fits me so well and I hit it good. IM still going to get new clubs after the first of the year, or maybe have some cut down, I've done that with a couple already, but, not enough, and of course there is still my driver story!!! You and other's on the site have helped me so much. I been able to play the last two days, cold rain. Maybe this week, got a heater for my cart, so, im ready!!!

Thanks, I love golf,,,,,,thanks to you and all..

Surge, what a GREAT lesson!!!

Surge, what a GREAT lesson!!! I got to play wed and thurs this week, (weather) good. I was so happy, I hit the ball the best ever, I got my 4 hybid out of the bag, (have not used it all year), well, I hit it very good. It is to long for me, but, I choked down on it, all was good. IM only 5'3' small, so some of my clubs are to long, the one club I got a couple of month's ago 5h hybid fits me so well and I hit it good. IM still going to get new clubs after the first of the year, or maybe have some cut down, I've done that with a couple already, but, not enough, and of course there is still my driver story!!! You and other's on the site have helped me so much. I've not been able to play the last two days, cold rain. Maybe this week, got a heater for my cart, so, im ready!!!

Thanks, I love golf,,,,,,thanks to you and all..

New clubs

You be sure & see a PPG certified fitter for your new clubs, & or a re fit of your own clubs. You deserve the best,& you know that Surges team ,does nothing but the best for us Surgites

Thanks, I will for sure get

Thanks, I will for sure get my new clubs fitted right for my size, the ones I have now are not.

You are right, we deserve the best...

Thanks again,

Always food for thought after watching you Surge.

Another fabulous few minutes of our time, which is never wasted.Had just e-mailed my old boss and golf nut buddy in Christchurch. He moves back into his home today after the Earthquake Commission Contractors completed the repairs to their home. He has improved his game with the PPGS vertical swing. He won a large Christmas hamper only last Saturday;- )
On the subject of clubs. I have never regretted for a moment having my driver and fairway woods shortened. I liked them before, but love them now. The email was to tell him I am definitely going with only out on the course with driver, 3W,5W,24deg Rescue club, 8,9,PW,SW and putter in the bag. Decided that carrying an extra 5clubs, which rarely if ever see the light of day on the course. If it comes back to bite me, so be it. Sometimes too much choice causes more problems than it solves perhaps.
Like the comments on the lady hitting the ball well and then it all fell apart. Last time on the course, we waited for a lady golfer on the next tee close to our tee, to hit off. Her swing was unbelievably different, but she hit is straight down the middle a fair way. Made me smile.
When hitting the ball at 80% and accelerating after the stable position of the head and lower body,in the BUS,I know it is going straight where I want it to go.
Ooops Noodles for lunch arriving. Have a great day and a better week all Surgites. DH

Talking to myself ; - )

Forgot when writing what clubs were in the bag, I had already removed the 5W, a staunch favourite, from the bag. The 24deg Rescue fulfills it's role now.
Great on the deck mat practice, may have picked up a major flaw in my set up procedure. The next trip to the hallowed turf will confirm it, I am sure.