The flight of your ball can be a very good indication what your club’s shaft angle was at impact.
If your ball flight is too low, this could mean your shaft angle at address and impact was leaning to far forward (toward the target). For example, if you’re using a standard 34 degree, 7 iron and your shaft was leaning 5 degrees forward, then you have reduced your 7 iron to only 29 degrees of loft. For most golfers this excessive shaft lean will produces a shot that is less accurate and too low. The flip side of this is the ball will go further because the golfer has essentially turned his 7 iron to be like a 6 iron (but at the cost of consistency).
We often see golfers who switch to Hybrid Irons getting higher trajectory and less distance than they’re accustomed to for that particular numbered club. Hybrids have a wider sole that likes to sit level on the ground, so most golfers end up not leaning their shaft forward (de-lofting the club) like they tended to do with their regular irons (often without realizing it). So with the Hybrid, they are actually getting the proper height and distance for that numbered club; even if it’s not the distance they are accustomed to from their standard irons. This is actually a good thing. The important thing in golf is to have a consistent, reliable distance from club to club, and this is easier when each club is used with its proper loft. When you want more or less distance, simply move up or down one club.
If you want to lean the shaft forward because you are having a problem getting a solid hit, try leaning the shaft only 1 to 2 degrees. This will help produces more of a downward blow and solid contact, but without so much loss of loft and lower ball flight.
