Fear strikes deep into the hearts of far too many golfers as they set up for a long iron to a green. But there's no need to be nervous. Though an approach with a long iron is more difficult than with a short iron, it's only slightly more so.

Negative thoughts affect your technique, so wayward or mis-struck long irons are usually a result of a poor mental state. Expecting a poor shot before you play is bound to hinder the stroke.

Often, negative thinkers take little care over their set-up and aim because they are used to trusting to luck rather than their method.

Most also change their swing. They seem to have an inbuilt mechanism that makes them hit the ball harder, believing that the further you have to hit it, the faster you must swing. This combination of a sloppy set-up and rapid rhythm can only lead to disaster.

To produce consistently good results, you must unite a positive attitude with sound basics and a smooth, even tempo. Let the club do the work - a long iron is designed to hit the ball further than a short iron so you don't have to force the shot.

Set square
    
Take time to aim and set up properly. Set your blade square to the target and then move your body in to position. Make sure you're aligned perfectly parallel to the ball to target line, and the ball is placed correctly just inside your left heel.

For the best chance of returning the blade square at impact a solid set-up and a controlled, rhythmical swing are essential. A square clubface is critical to long iron success, as sidespin is accentuated by a straight faced club. The ball veers off line more than when you hit a short iron, because lofted clubs produce more backspin than sidespin.

Long manoeuvres

Often you can gain an advantage if you shape a shot to a green -perhaps to land a ball softly or to avoid trouble. So the way a long iron is able to move the ball in the air can work in your favor.

Sometimes it's hard to stop a long iron oh a green - especially if the ground is firm. But you can easily play a controlled fade that flies higher and has more backspin than normal by just changing your set-up slightly. With the blade still square, align a fraction to the left and swing as normal along the line of your feet.

It's also easy to draw the ball with a long iron, which is particularly useful when firing into a wind. You can hit a long raking runner that flies low and moves from right to left. The ball can go surprising distances, and is more likely to find the target than a high flying wood.

Too many golfers overlook long irons when practicing. But if you're to be totally competent with all aspects of your play, you must work hard on them - never spurn long iron practice.

Long range attack

1: Crucial address
 A sound set-up is critical for long iron success, as any mistake is accentuated with a straighter faced club. Make sure you align perfectly parallel to the target line and the ball is placed correctly. It's also vital for your blade to be set square to the target. Your posture should be relaxed but not sloppy.

2: On line takeaway
 Be sure your takeaway is in one piece - don't just use your arms. At the full extent of the takeaway your shaft should be parallel to your feet and the ground. Taking the club back too far on the inside or the outside has a knock on effect and makes it hard to get the club back on plane for the downswing.

3: Halfway back
A good takeaway position should naturally lead your backswing into the correct plane. Halfway to the top, your shoulder turn should be already quite full. And if you're on perfect plane, the angle of your shaft to the ground should be the same as at address.

4: Pointing parallel
  Good moves on the backswing mean you can put the club in the correct position at the top of the backswing - pointing parallel to the target line and the ground. There should be no hint of over swing as this leads to getting ahead of the ball at impact.


5: Controlled down
The first move on the downswing is a pull down with the hands but the club should stay on plane even if the path is steeper than on the backswing. Keep the action smooth, rhythmical and controlled.

6:  Into impact
 If your backswing is good and the initial stages of the downswing on plane, your club should attack the ball from slightly inside the line, so the blade returns square at impact. Don't thrash at the ball - keep the swing simple and fluid.

7:  Freely through
Swing through freely, letting your hands release naturally after impact. A tell-tale sign of a correct down and through swing is if the angle of the shaft halfway to the finish position is the same as at address and halfway back.

8: Balanced finish
Provided you have swung with an even tempo and kept the club on plane, your finish position should be balanced with your body facing the target. Your weight should be firmly on your left side.