Woods vs Irons - Are they the same swing?

June 1, 2000

Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC. We conduct 1, 2 and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.

Monthly Golf Tip by the Mel Sole Golf School.

This month's tip comes from Peter Mc Tait of Toronto, Canada, who asks: "How do I adjust my swing for my woods versus my irons? Secondly, I can handle my 5 wood, but I have trouble with my 3 wood and the driver. Can you tell me why?" Woods versus irons. Are the swings the Same?

Peter is one of many of our students who have posed the same question.

First of all, you do not want to "adjust" your swing or swing differently for your woods versus your irons. The two swings are basically the same. There are only 2 minor differences. One is the ball position, and two is the swing plane. Because the shaft of iron is shorter than a wood shaft, the swing plane will be different. But this will happen automatically and is not something you should be thinking of or trying to do.

The Plane of the Swing.

The swing plane is a line drawn from the ball through the shoulders and extending on up. At the top of the backswing, the back of the left hand (for right-handed golfers) should be on this line.

Woods vs Irons - Are they the same swing?

As you can see from picture #1 (Swing with a wood) and picture #2 (Swing with an iron), the swing plane appears more upright. This is because I have attempted to swing both clubs the same, but because I am standing further away from the ball with the wood, my swing is automatic "flatter."

Woods vs Irons - Are they the same swing?

Backspin vs. Side spin?

Your second question is also a fairly common one. Most golfers will hit a 5 wood better than a 3 wood and a 3 wood better than a driver because of the club's loft. A 5 wood will have more backspin and less side spin than a 3 wood, and the same will apply with the 3 versus the driver. With the driver, there is minimum backspin, and only a slight error in clubface angle or clubhead path will result in side spin, and the greater the clubhead speed, the more off-line the ball will travel. Even the touring pros will tend to tee off with a 3 wood when accuracy is more important than distance. Just watch a U.S. Open, where the rough is traditionally punishing - the pros will be teeing off with 3-woods and 2 irons quite often.

Source: Mel Sole Golf School.

Thanks for watching - Woods vs Irons - Are they the same swing? I hope this clears up any uncertainty.

Monthly Golf Tip by the Mel Sole Golf School.

The Plane of the Swing.

Backspin vs. Side spin?

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