Inconsistent strikes

Question
Hi Eddie.  How can I develop a consistently good strike with my irons?  I actually found your conversation with 'Rich' on 8/9/2006 which really applies to me too - my club tends to have turned onto an inside track by half-way into my backswing; I then come into the ball shallow and my bad shots are thins, fat shots, horrible pull hooks with mid-long irons and sometimes high pushes with my wedges...  But when I'm hitting it well, I can shoot mid-70s and its good enough to keep me coming back for more.  I feel I have good timing and a fluid, dynamic swing, but the inconsistency and occasional awful duffs in each round are stopping me progressing in the game.  To be honest I find the inconsistency truly depressing.  I would love to address the ball and think about aim points and trajectory rather than how can I not hit this one fat or thin?  I've just come back from the course where I was concentrating on balance at address, setting the club on plane half-way back and not swinging too hard.  Result - the usual: some hideous card-wreckers that left me head-in-hands plus some pure beauties that make me believe there is still hope!  I'd happily sacrifice some distance for a more bomb-proof connection that kept the ball on the course and out of the farmer's fields for 18 holes.  I'm certainly willing to work hard on my swing.  Your help would be gratefully appreciated.

Answer
Hi Chris:

You simply need to get the club moving into the ball on a different path than it currently does.  Here is a simple drill you can do by yourself to start with.  Use a 7 or 8 iron, something small so you can control it.  Define your target line (your target) in front of your ball.  Let's imagine that your target (flagstick) is at 12 o'clock.  Next, lay a club down on the ground about 5 feet in front of your ball at an angle that would point the club at 10 o'clock on our imaginary clock. Next, tee up a ball (close to ground like a par 3) and play the ball opposite your left heel.  Set up with the clubhead in the middle of your feet (ball will be about 5 or 6 inches in front of the center of your feet).  Then, start making some small swings.  Half swings to start with.  Swing the club back to a half swing, then you'll have to swing the club towards 10 o'clock to hit the ball.  You should hit the ball straight left of your target, or towards 10 o'clock.  What that does for your real swing is steepen the angle of attack so you can start hitting it more solid and take a divot.  Practice this for 500-1000 balls, and you'll start to develop the habit of moving the club into the impact area on a more squarer path, instead of from the inside.  If the ball curves left, you're using too much hand action.  If the ball goes right, you're leaving the club/clubface open and behind you as you strike the ball.  You'll learn how to swing the entire club up with you as you turn through the shot.  In no time, your contact will improve and become more consistent.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member