Between Clubs? Stop Trying to Hit the Perfect Number

You are 145 yards from the hole. Your 7-iron usually flies 140, while your 6-iron can reach 155. There is no perfect club for the distance, so you decide to hit the 7-iron harder.

That decision often creates the worst result: a thin shot over the green, a pull into trouble, or a short shot that never had enough speed to reach the target. When you are between clubs, the smartest choice is usually not to force one club to do something unusual. It is to choose the club that gives you the biggest margin for error.

Why “Stepping On It” Causes Problems

A normal golf swing has a natural rhythm and speed. When you try to add extra distance, several things can change at once:

  • Your tempo becomes rushed.
  • You tighten your grip and arms.
  • You lose balance through impact.
  • The clubface may arrive open or closed.
  • Your contact becomes less predictable.

Even if you occasionally hit the perfect hard 7-iron, you may not know where the next one is going. A club that normally travels 140 yards can suddenly fly 150—or only 130 because the strike was poor.

The goal is not to hit your best possible shot. The goal is to choose the shot that still works when your swing is only average.

Choose the Club That Covers the Trouble

Start by identifying the most dangerous miss. Is there water short? Thick rough behind the green? A bunker guarding one side? Once you know the penalty, choose your club based on the safer miss rather than the flag alone.

If Short Is Dangerous

Take the longer club and make a smooth swing. You do not have to hit it hard. The extra club gives you a better chance of reaching the front of the green with ordinary contact.

For example, if a hole is 150 yards and your 7-iron carries 145 while your 6-iron carries 155, the 6-iron may be the better choice when water protects the front. A controlled 6-iron that flies 150 is a much better result than a forced 7-iron that comes up short.

If Long Is Dangerous

Use the shorter club and accept that the ball may finish short of the pin. A shot that leaves you a simple chip or putt is often better than one that brings trees, deep rough, or a penalty area into play.

Remember that the flag is not always the target. Sometimes the target is the safest section of the green—or even the open space short of it.

Use a Three-Quarter Swing, Not a Hard Swing

When you are between clubs, avoid trying to create a special swing at the last moment. Instead, make your normal setup and use a slightly shorter backswing while keeping your rhythm comfortable.

This is not about forcing yourself into a technical position. Simply think:

  • Choose the club that handles the trouble.
  • Make a balanced swing.
  • Finish under control.
  • Accept a shot that finishes somewhere inside your safe area.

A smooth swing with the longer club is usually easier to repeat than a full-effort swing with the shorter one.

Try This: The Between-Clubs Practice Game

At the range, choose two clubs that are separated by about 10 to 15 yards. Pick a target between their normal distances.

  1. Hit three shots with the shorter club using your regular swing.
  2. Hit three shots with the longer club using a smooth, controlled swing.
  3. Compare which group finishes closer to your target area.
  4. Repeat the test while imagining a hazard short and then a hazard long.

Do not judge the exercise by your single best shot. Look at the overall pattern. Which club gives you fewer dangerous misses?

This helps you learn an important fact about your own game: your “stock” distances are not exact numbers. They are ranges affected by contact, temperature, wind, lie, and swing speed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Chasing the flag: The pin may be near the dangerous edge of the green.
  • Ignoring the lie: A poor lie may reduce your carry distance significantly.
  • Using a range distance as a guarantee: Your best carry is not your dependable carry.
  • Changing your swing too much: A complicated in-between swing creates uncertainty.
  • Forgetting wind: Into the wind, take more club and swing smoothly rather than hitting harder.

One Thing to Remember

When you are between clubs, choose the one that makes your ordinary swing safest—not the one that requires your perfect swing.