Hitting the one-iron

At PGA clinics the club I usually am asked to demonstrate is the one-iron, a club I use a good deal in my play and for which I have a genuine fondness. I like the one-iron because, in my particular case, there are many factors in its favor for me. With it I can maneuver the ball much more effectively off the tee than I can with the driver. Without overworking the hands, I find that I can get increased loft on the shot when I want it and that I can hit the ball high or low much easier than I can alter the natural flight of my shots with the driver. Similarly, in playing from the fairway I find the one-iron more conducive than either the three-wood or the four-wood to hitting the ball to meet the specific requirements of individual shots—not only as regards varying the trajectory but the type of action you want to go with. For example, you can punch the ball with the one-iron.

I bring these things up because I am well aware that the one-iron is the most dreaded club in the bag and because I honestly feel that if you make an effort to make friends with it, you will, if you are a fairly good player, find it a very responsive and helpful club. When you play the one-iron, you see, you don't think primarily of going for distance. In your mind you stress swinging the club, making good contact with the ball. Trust the face of the club to get the ball up for you. It will.

GEORGE BAYER, Delbrook Country Club, Dallas

PHOTO

ILLUSTRATION

For the one-iron the stance should be a shade squarer than for the woods