Questions & Answers Responses from PGA/LPGA Teachers on FINDaLESSON.com                                                                                  << BACK From Jason, golfer: Is the golf swing different for woods than irons and please explain exactly how? PGA/LPGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL RESPONSES: Florida "To Jason: The short answer is that the swing motion is the same for woods and irons, but that slight changes in the set up position (wider stance with woods, more spine tilt to the rear because of the wider stance, and ball position slightly more forward with the woods), and the design of the club (longer shafts of the woods) somewhat alter the plane of the wood swing (more around the body in the woods than the irons). But if you are old enough to remember what a LP record was and how it was played by placing its center hole over a spindle, you might better understand the swing. The spindle turned at a constant rate, either 33 1/3, 45, or 78 revolutions per minute. However, if you drew a straight line from the spindle out to the edge of the record, although each point on that line was turning at the same rate, the farther the point from center the faster that point circled the center. In golf, we are the spindle, and the club heads are several points along a line out from the spindle. As long as we turn our bodies at the same rate, we make music and allow the length of the shaft to create the speed and swing plane. But if we swing harder with the woods, and slower with the irons, we no longer make music."  - Joe Sciortino, Teaching Professional Minnesota "The swing for an iron is more vertical due to the more upright lie angle of the shaft. Each club has it's own lie angle which helps determine the correct plane of the swing for that particular club. These changes usually occur automatically unless tha player has gotten used to, or is more comfortable with a more vertical or more horizontal motion and tries to apply that angle to all clubs." - Jim Manthis, Teaching Professional South Carolina "Jason: The question I would ask you is how hard it is to remember all the things for just an iron swing? Why would you want to remember double? The only difference is the ball position at address.  As the club gets longer, the ball gets a little farther away, while you maintain the same relative set-up position.  The ball will also be placed a little farther forward in the stance as the club gets longer.  This allows time for the club to return to the ball in a square position at impact. Jason, do not try to make things more complicated then they already are. Just change your ball positions. Let me know if I can help in the future." - John Hughes, Teaching Professional South Carolina "Jason: No difference. Center of swing arc is lead shoulder and under it is where the club head bottoms out, regardless of the club. If you are close to Mississauga call Gary Bernard."  - Michael Lucas, Teaching Professional