Want to add 20 yards to your irons? Who doesn’t, right?
Many golfers have the speed, but they’re applying it in the wrong place. In a recent YouTube tutorial, Performance Golf coach Eric Cogorno breaks down a three-step drill that has helped one of his students gain 20 yards on his 9-iron in a single session. If you’re ready to hit it farther, this might be the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for!
You can follow along with the video tutorial here.
Stop Wasting Speed at the Ball
Many amateur golfers make the mistake of unloading all their speed at the ball, then falling flat in the follow-through. This was causing Eric’s student to hit his 9-iron just 120 yards – not quite the distance you want to see.
The fix? Refocusing speed through the ball and ending with a full finish. This subtle but powerful shift in intention can transform how you generate power.
Step 1: No Backswing, Just Speed
Grab your 9-iron and start your normal setup. Get in the address position, but here’s the key – don’t take a backswing. From this static position, swing as fast as you can to a full finish. It might feel strange at first, but that’s the point. You’re rewiring your brain to feel speed moving past the ball, not just at it.
Tip: Do this three times to get your body used to moving aggressively from setup to finish without relying on the momentum of the backswing.
Step 2: Static Backswing to Finish
Now, move the club back until it’s parallel to the ground (shown above), but don’t swing it back further. From that position, explode through to your finish with as much speed as possible.
This isolates your big muscles (legs, core, and glutes) and trains you to fire from the ground up. It’s especially helpful if you feel like your lower body is “stuck” during your swing.
Step 3: Separate the Hands and Body
Here’s where it gets powerful. Start again with the club parallel to the ground. This time, let your hands move up and back while your body begins to press down and forward. It’s a mini-version of the move you see in top players like Jon Rahm — hands and body separating in transition to create torque and serious speed.
Repeat this several times, and then try hitting actual shots with the same feel: hands up and back, body down and forward, and speed through the finish.
Finish Strong (Literally)
When you put all three parts together, you train your body to generate speed where it matters most: from ball impact to a full finish.
Eric’s student went from hitting 120-yard 9-irons to 140-yard rockets. With consistent practice reps and a clear goal, you can do the same.
If you’ve been struggling to add distance with your irons, this three-part drill is a game-changer. Focus on speed through the ball, train it deliberately, and you’ll not only hit it farther — you’ll feel more athletic and powerful in your swing.
For more drills and in-person coaching opportunities, check out Performance Golf’s two-day VIP Schools and take your game to the next level, or subscribe to our YouTube channel for more free drills like this.
