Have you observed your long irons usually are not as consistent as they once were? You do not hit your three iron with the same crispness which you did just a short while ago? The answer to this dilemma has been around for several years now, but some golfers still are not wanting to give in to an undeniable trend and purchase rescue clubs. There are several reasons why rescue golf clubs will aid you, so let me address a few.
While rescue clubs are not new (these were first produced in the 1930s in Birmingham, England), they’ve come into importance only in the last few years. What are a few of the reasons why rescue golf clubs are a marked improvement over traditional irons?
1. Club head shape. Using a lower and deeper center of gravity will help you to hit the ball with a greater trajectory. You no longer will feel the need to lift the ball, therefore you’ll have more confident in striking the ball and allowing the club do the work. Also, they are easier clubs to hit out of rough, since the head will slide to the ball, as opposed to the hosel or leading edge of the traditional iron grabbing the grass.
2. Shorter shaft. Swinging a club with a shorter shaft is another reason why rescue clubs will help you, as it means standing closer to the ball at impact, therefore having a more compact, controlled swing. Distance is not sacrificed that much, as lofts with as low as 17 degrees are available, which is about the same as a five-wood. Also, since you will certainly be striking the ball far better, distance ultimately should be improved.
3. Club head size. The self-confidence when hitting a ball with a club with additional mass will inspire a far more confident, controlled swing.
So now that you realize why rescue clubs work, how do you rely on them to your best advantage? Personally, my thought process when I use them is to swing with a slow, smooth rhythm, and let the club do all the work. I have heard golfers say it is easier to shape the ball with them, but I have not found that to be the case. For me, I usually hit them straight as an arrow, and I suppose that is a primary reason why rescue clubs work for me. I remember once having a shot with a tall willow tree directly in my path, and not thinking I had a chance to clear it I tried to cut the shot around the tree. I did not shape the ball, but it proceeded to go directly toward the tree and with the higher trajectory easily cleared it. That one shot made me a believer. As my club head speed has diminished, my two thru five irons have been retired and been replaced by my new weapons.