5 ball-striking tips to hit your long irons pure, according to a pro

If you’re anything like me, hitting long irons can be a struggle. Sure, there are times when I catch one on the screws and send the ball soaring toward the green, but that’s more of the exception than the rule.

Hybrids and high-lofted fairway woods (shoutout my trusty 7-wood) are solid replacements for long irons, but there’s just something about flagging a 4-iron that feels right. When you can hit your long irons with ease, it’s the mark of a true ball-striker.

Learning to hit your long irons can be tough, so you’d be wise to listen to the pros. Recently, in a thread posted on X, PGA Tour pro Michael Kim posted his keys for hitting long irons, and you can check them out below.

Kim’s long-iron tips

Michael Kim might not have the career resume of Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, but he’s still accomplished plenty. He won player of the year honors in 2013 while playing collegiately for Cal, and he also appeared on a victorious Walker Cup team. Once he got to the Tour, he won his first event in 2018 at the John Deere Classic. And although he’s not earned a victory since, he’s still one heck of a ball striker.

Over the last two seasons, Kim has twice ranked inside the top 60 in SG: Approach the Green — and in 2024, he did tons of damage with a long iron in his hands. From 200 to 225 yards, Kim ranked near the top of the PGA Tour in average proximity to the pin at just inside 34 feet.

So, how does Kim get the most out of his long irons? His best tips are listed below.

1. Stay wide and release

“Swing-wise, it’s mostly the same stuff I’m working on with my driver,” he says. “Keep it wide and deep, stay back on the transition and release the club fully. Personally, I have to focus on fully releasing it with my hands and arms once it gets to 6- or 5-iron. The longer the club the more I have to use my arms and hands to release it. You can’t hold on to it with the longer stuff.”

Longer clubs have longer shafts, so it’s important you feel the release more during the downswing. With a shorter iron you can get away with holding it off longer, but that’s not the case with long irons.

2. Hit your stock shot

“Unless it’s blowing more than 20 mph, I’m hitting my stock shot which is a high 5-yard draw,” Kim says. “You don’t need to cut it so that it lands softer, you can get all the spin and height you need even with a draw with the correct fitted club. No butter cuts, no chip shots, no extra height, only stock shots. It’s a hard enough shot by itself, no need to make it even more complicated.”

Stick to your natural ball flight when hitting long irons. Long clubs are already hard enough to hit, so don’t make things tougher by trying a shot you’re not fully comfortable with.

3. Aim for the center of the green

“Pins are irrelevant for the most part when I have a 4 iron,” he says. “My goal is to hit the green and that’s it. From 225, anything on the green is positive strokes gained. I might favor one side over the other if there’s something I absolutely have to miss like a water or a bunker that’s a tough up and down. Every time I have an urge to do something more with it, I remember my coach telling me ‘It’s a freaking 4-iron. Just hit the freaking green.’”

If the pros are just trying to hit the green from long distances when a long iron is in their hands, you know it’s difficult. Don’t worry about trying to stick it close. Pick a target that eliminates trouble (the center of the green usually works) and focus on hitting it solid on that line. You aren’t going to make many birdies with a long iron in your hands, but you can make plenty of big numbers if you’re not careful.

4. Go after it

“If I’m in-between clubs, I’m always taking the shorter club and swinging harder,” he says. “I personally have a tendency to leave it out right if I swing soft because I’m not nearly releasing it enough. Much easier to release it fully when swinging harder at it. Also, if you swing softer, it’s going to have less spin and with the longer clubs, it can knuckle slightly which can make [hitting it straight] an even tougher challenge.”

Amateurs are notorious for leaving their approach shots short, so taking a longer club is usually advisable, but Kim goes in the opposite direction because of his tendencies. No matter which club you select, you remember to remain aggressive with your swing.

5. Use tech to your advantage

“Use technology to your advantage,” he says. “I started using a much more forgiving 4-iron starting in 2013 and I’ve never looked back since. It’s just so much more forgiving with distance and accuracy. I think 90% of ams should be using hybrids or woods and the longest iron be a 6-iron. Woods are better from the rough, easier to get up in the air and better off mishits. I still use my long irons because I don’t have as much problem getting the ball up and my dispersion is slightly better.”

Hitting long irons pure feels great, but the consistency can be an issue. If you can’t hit the ball as consistently as you want, don’t be afraid to use a hybrid or a wood.