For those of you who have played the game awhile or if you have an interest in learning more about golf, let's take a focus this week on how to play mid-irons.

Shots played with 5-irons through 8-irons are some of the most important for giving yourself excellent scoring opportunities during any round. The ability to safely avoid greenside hazards and leave the ball in position for a reasonable putt that you can potentially make will provide you with the ability to lower your score.

Mid-irons typically cover the medium-range distance shots that fall between irons for short-yardage situations -- 9-irons through wedges -- and the ones you play for longer-distance shots -- 2-irons through 4-irons.

The advantage of playing mid-irons is that the ball's trajectory carries at a medium height -- so the wind has a limited effect. Also, the spin rate is high enough to keep the ball from rolling over the putting surface.

When choosing a mid-iron, the lie of the ball is your first consideration. The amount of grass under and surrounding the ball will affect the shot for both trajectory and spin rate.

If there is grass between the club and the ball ("flyer lies"), less backspin is needed for the ball to fly higher and roll a much longer distance. The best option when you have a flyer lie is to use one club less than you normally would use - for example, an 8-iron instead of a 7-iron -- and play for a higher shot with added roll.

However, if the ball is sitting down in the grass, your swing must have a more descending blow. So, move the ball back in your stance. This will often enable your ball to come out low and then climb vertically. This shot is best played with one more club than you would normally use - so, in this case, a 7-iron instead of an 8-iron. As a result, the trajectory of the shot will fall directly downward and stop quickly on the green.

Your next consideration is the landing area.

Mid-irons are also very effective when used to escape from trouble and in creating low running shots around the green.

The slope and speed of the green must be factored into the strategy of the shot. The club you select needs to have a low-enough trajectory to roll out as you played for or enough height to stop. The speed and direction of any wind will have some effect on mid-iron shots, but not as much as the higher irons.

Women's Golf Week and Golf Camps for Kids

This week we are celebrating Women's Golf Week nationwide. This Play Golf America program is designed to offer events at golf facilities that appeal to women 14 years and older, while offering free golf instruction, social activities, fashion shows and on-course playing opportunities.

Whether you have never played golf before, love to play the game or just want to meet new friends in a relaxed social environment, Women's Golf Week has something designed just for you!

Be sure to visit www.playgolfamerica.com and use the search engine to find a facility in your area offering Women's Golf Week events now through June 9.

In fact, there are several Women's Golf Week events that we are hosting at the PGA Learning Center. So, if you live in or are visiting the Port St. Lucie, Fla.-area, we invite all interested women to join us at the PGA Learning Center for some great fun throughout Women's Golf Week!

Also, with many schools getting out for the summer, the PGA Learning Center is offering various golf camps, clinics, instruction programs and golf schools available for children ranging in age from 3-18.

Be sure to visit www.pgavillage.com or call (800) 800-GOLF for more information.

Here's to better golf!

Rick Martino is Director of Instruction for The PGA of America. He teaches at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and is ranked among the Top 50 instructors by Golf Digest Magazine. The author of the PGA Manual of Golf (Warner Books/$34.95), Martino can be reached at (800) 800-GOLF or by email at pgalearningcenter@pgahq.com.