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Are Your Irons Misbehaving? The Overlooked Setup Mistake That’s Holding You Back-

If you’re a golfer who stripes your driver and fairway woods but struggles to hit your irons solidly, you’re not alone. Many players unknowingly set up their irons incorrectly, altering the club’s lie angle—a crucial factor in ball-striking consistency.

Unlike tee shots, where the ball is elevated, iron shots require precise turf interaction. If the club isn’t sitting correctly at address, you might be making compensations mid-swing, leading to mishits, inconsistent distances, and even poor shot direction.

Why Lie Angle Matters in Your Irons-
Each club is designed with a specific lie angle that ensures clean contact with the turf. However, many golfers unknowingly change this by setting up with the club too upright—meaning the toe of the club is off the ground while the heel is pressed down. This can lead to shots that miss left (for right-handed golfers) or a lack of clean compression at impact.

A driver or fairway wood doesn’t require the same turf interaction since the ball is teed up, making lie angle less of a concern. But with irons, if the lie angle is off, your shots will suffer.

Simple DIY Test: Is Your Lie Angle Correct?
Here’s an easy way to check if your irons are sitting properly at address:

-Find a flat, firm surface (like a hardwood floor or hitting mat).
-Set up to an imaginary ball in your normal address position with an iron.
Have a friend slide a thin plastic card (like a hotel key or credit card) under the sole of the club.
-The card should stop at the center of the club, leaving a slight gap under the toe.
-If the card slides all the way under to the heel, your club is sitting too upright, likely causing mis-hits.
-If you consistently find your club sitting too upright, a club fitting session can help determine whether you need lie angle adjustments or if it’s simply a setup correction that needs to be made.