Collin Morikawa's Spin Control with Irons: The Lesson
Before a match, Collin Morikawa gives Grant Horvat a lesson on iron shots. He hardly talks about stances at all, but rather about feel: how to reduce spin when playing into the wind, how to add spin to attack a hidden pin, and how to hit a true fade when you’re a draw player.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Collin Morikawa's first tip: clean the grooves. He then explains that he has changed the way he thinks about low shots: to make an iron fly lower, you have to control the spin. With a 9-iron into the wind, he reduces the spin by less harsh on the skin and gentler on the hands, without slowing down the entire swing. In his view, the best players on the tour have mastered spin above all else, because on the course, you never hit a standard shot. It all comes down to impact: control of the clubface, the line of play, and the target.
To add spin—for example, toward a flag hidden behind a bunker—he finds it easier to cut the ball, open stance, hands moving faster at impact. Grant Horvat, a draw player, couldn't hit a fade. Collin Morikawa showed him that his body was almost aligned for a draw: you have to Open your body clearly to the left, keep your face toward the target, and swing along your feet. He emphasizes practicing the opposite strokes until you can feel what a slice would be like.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Clean your grooves before hitting the ball.
- When playing into the wind, focus on reducing backspin rather than hitting the ball low at all costs.
- Maintain the speed of your backswing, but be gentler with your hands at impact.
- For a fade, first align the clubface with the target.
- Open your body clearly to the left—more than you think is necessary.
- Swing along the line of your feet, keeping the clubface slightly open.
- Practice the opposite of your natural reaction until you can feel it.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Playing with dirty grooves.
- Being too aggressive at impact when you want a low shot.
- Believing that you have to slow down your entire body to reduce spin.
- Aim at the flag with your body and hit the ball when you're trying to hit a fade.
- Aligning the clubface too closed out of habit when hitting a draw.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- 9-irons that cut through the wind with a softer feel at impact
- Fades: face toward the target, body open to the left
- Alternating shots that remove and then add spin
- Series that produce the opposite effect of your natural effect
Your Questions
How does Collin Morikawa make an iron fly lower?
He focuses on spin control. He reduces spin by being less aggressive at impact and using a softer touch with his hands, without slowing down his entire swing.
How does he add spin?
He finds it easier to cut the ball: an open stance, a cross-body swing, and slightly faster hands at impact.
How does he play a fade?
Face aligned with the target, body clearly open to the left, then a swing along the feet. Grant Horvat realized he was aligned almost for a draw.
Why is spin control so important?
According to Collin Morikawa, you never hit a standard shot on the course. Controlling spin changes the height of the ball and allows you to play into the wind or toward a difficult flag.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Collin Morikawa). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.