Control Distance with Your Short Irons

Short irons — especially the pitching wedge, 9-iron, and 8-iron — are key to leaving the ball close to the hole. These clubs are the most used for approach shots and give you the chance to make birdies or at least save par. But for them to work properly, you need one essential thing: distance control.

Do you find yourself making good swings, but the ball ends up short or long without knowing exactly why? Don’t worry, it’s more common than you think. Here we explain how to improve your accuracy and confidence with short irons.

Why is distance control so important?

Unlike long irons, where the goal is to just reach the target, with short irons the objective is precision. It’s not enough to just get on the green—you need to leave the ball close. The better you control your distances, the more birdies you’ll make and the fewer wasted shots you’ll have with chips and long putts.

Know your real distances

The first step is to know exactly how many yards or meters you hit with each short iron under normal conditions. Not what you think, but what you actually do. You can use a laser rangefinder, GPS, or go to the driving range with a measuring net.
Hit 10 shots with each club, discard the best and worst, and average the rest. That will be your “standard distance.” Having this clear data will help you choose the right club on the course and make better decisions.

Work on swing control

Not every shot requires a full swing. With short irons, learning to control the backswing length is key. This is where the “clock swing” concept comes in:

• 9:00 (half backswing): shorter shot, ideal for delicate approaches.
• 10:30 (three-quarter swing): intermediate distance.
• 12:00 (full swing): your standard distance.

Practice with different backswing lengths and note how far you hit with each. This way, you’ll have more options for each situation.

Improve ball contact

One of the most common mistakes with short irons is poor contact. If you hit the ball too high (thin) or too low (fat), your distance will be greatly affected.
Make sure to:

• Maintain a balanced stance.
• Keep your hands slightly ahead at impact.
• Strike the ball before the ground (not the other way around).

A good drill is to place a coin or tee just behind the ball. If you hit it before the ball, you’re missing solid contact. If it stays untouched, you’re doing well.

Adjust speed, not just the swing

Many players try to control distance by speeding up or slowing down the swing, but this often causes more problems than it solves. The ideal is to keep the same swing speed and adjust the length and rhythm instead.
A controlled, smooth swing offers better accuracy than a rushed or hesitant one. Trust your swing and let the club do the work.

Play with the wind and conditions

With short irons, wind matters a lot. If there’s headwind or tailwind, you must adjust your club selection and shot type. On windy days, it’s better to opt for a lower swing (less loft) and avoid trying to force distance.
Also consider whether the green is uphill or downhill. Adjust your reference points based on the terrain so you don’t overshoot or fall short.

Conclusion

Controlling distance with your short irons is not about hitting harder but about hitting smarter. Knowing your true distances, practicing different swing lengths, improving contact, and considering external conditions will give you more confidence on every approach shot. And when that happens… golf becomes much more fun. Because few things feel better than leaving the ball close from 100 meters out.