FREE IRON PRACTICE
Train the approach shot, not just the perfect swing.
A reliable iron shot needs a useful starting line, repeatable carry, and a pattern that leaves you playable misses. You can practice these outcomes with ordinary range targets or with launch-monitor data if you have it.
Drill 1: start-and-finish map
Goal: understand where your iron shots begin and where they finish.
Setup: choose a target that is safe and appropriate for your club. Use one club for the entire small set.
Practice: hit ten normal shots, noting each start direction and whether it finishes left, near or right of target.
Measure: identify the most common start-and-finish combination. A grouping can be more informative than one particularly good strike.
Drill 2: carry-distance window
Goal: improve predictability of where the ball lands.
Setup: define a realistic carry-distance zone for one comfortable iron swing.
Practice: use several short sets, checking whether the first landing position reaches the intended window. A launch monitor can measure carry; without one, use clearly observable range targets and label results as estimates.
Measure: record how frequently shots carry into the zone. Separate short mishits from shots that finish far from the line.
Drill 3: changing-target transfer
Goal: move from a groove of identical repetitions toward an actual approach-shot task.
Practice: change target or club between attempts. Go through your regular decision and pre-shot routine rather than hit multiple balls mindlessly at the same distance.
Measure: note your usual miss and whether you can still access a playable part of the green.
Use the result
If you struggle mostly with carry, prioritize distance control. If your carry is consistent but the shots miss laterally, work with the start-and-curve framework. Record your chosen drill in the free practice plan template.