“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” Dickens’ opening to A Tale of Two Cities sounds a lot like a typical round of golf for some players. They hit good shots and they hit bad ones. The bad ones often spell trouble. And when golfers are in trouble, they sometimes make bad decisions. Those add strokes to their golf handicaps.
Staying out of trouble is the key to achieving a low golf handicap. Of course, that’s easier said then done. For some, trouble finds them. And it always seems to be of the same kind, like hitting into sand traps or the trees. Below we describe four hard shots simplified that will get you out of trouble.
The Long Bunker Shot
Is there anything worse than a 40-yard bunker shot? Judging by the feedback from players who take my golf lessons or read my golf tips, there isn’t. Want a way to escape every time: Play the shot like a long putt.
Take your sand wedge. Set up close to the ball than you normally would for a bunker shot and use a reverse overlap grip. Now make a U-shaped swing, not a V-shaped swing. Keep your weight on your front foot and make a long aggressive putt-like shot by rocking your shoulders and turning you stomach.
The club should enter the sand and skim through it. Try not to dig into the sand like you would if you were hitting a typical bunker shot. Done right, you’ll increase control of the ball and it will come out every time.
Under The Trees
Sooner or later you’ll find yourself hitting from under a tree. It may be the result of a bad slice or a dead pull hook, but there you are under a tree. If you hit it high, the branches will knock the shot down. You need to stay low and get as much distance on the shot as possible. Your goal is to put yourself in good position for the next shot.
To play a ball under a tree (or other obstacle), you have to play what is essentially a pitch shot. Use a 5-iron, but set up as if you were hitting your pitching wedge. Place your weight well forward, position the ball back, and keep your stance slightly open. Make a three-quarter backswing, controlling the movement with your upper body, not your arms.
Don’t punch at the ball through impact. Instead, take a gentle swing, like you were making a soft pitch. Let the club pitch the ball. Think low and slow as you make the shot. The combination will keep you under the obstacle.
Escaping a Groove In The Sand
Like most pros that hold golf instruction sessions, I teach my students to rake the sand after taking a shot from a bunker. Most weekend players do a good job of raking. No one likes to hit from a bad lie in a bunker, so most players will rake the bunker out of respect for the next player. Thanks to this conscientiousness, your ball sometimes ends up in a deep rake mark.
This is a tricky little shot. Instead of letting the bounce on your wedge skip through the sand, swing down from the outside at a steep angle, digging the club’s edge an inch behind the ball. Let your right hand (left hand for lefties) turn under your left hand (right for lefties) to scoop the ball out. It should come out high and lands with little spin.
When You Must Catch It Solid
Even the best courses have bare spots. So finding yourself with a bare lie is not uncommon. When you’re hitting from this type of lie, there’s no room for error. You have to be precise. So you must concentrate on making solid impact.
Many players with this shot like to take a big, loose swing with their arms going back. This makes for an inconsistent downswing. Instead, pretend you’re holding a cigar in your mouth pointing straight down. Make your backswing without letting the cigar move. The tighter turn and shorter backswing helps you hit the ball solid off any lie. (You can use a real cigar as a practice aid if you want.)
Dedicate yourself to staying out of trouble this season. But don’t get discouraged if you find yourself under a low hanging tree or in a long bunker. Stay calm and use your head.
If you practice trouble saving shots like the ones described above, you’ll not only end up getting out of trouble – and in good position for the next shot – you’ll also make an impact on that golf handicap of yours.