Why You'll Never Hit Your Irons As Far As You Should (You're Missing 2 Key Moves)
Jonathan Chown breaks down why most amateur golfers fail to maximize iron distance, focusing on two critical errors: early right arm extension and excessive hip sliding. He explains how maintaining a bent trail arm and blending hip tilt with rotation creates the 'down and around' move necessary for professional-level compression. Using Trackman data and simple alignment stick drills, Chown demonstrates how to fix these power leaks for longer, straighter iron shots.
Keep your right arm (trail arm) bent through the point of impact to maintain posture and prevent stalling rotation.
Early straightening of the trail arm forces the body to stand up (early extension), often leading to fat shots or shanks.
Avoid a pure lateral 'hip bump'; instead, blend the shift with rotation so the left hip moves 'down and around'.
Maintaining pelvic tilt (left side down) during the transition keeps the upper body over the ball, naturally creating shaft lean.
Using an alignment stick in your belt loops provides immediate feedback on whether your hips are sliding or rotating correctly.