Water Hazards

photo credit: nsaplayer   WATER HAZARDS > Yellow stakes/lines represent a water hazard.  Red stakes/lines represent a lateral water hazard.  In both cases you can (1)  play the ball as it lies with no penalty.  (2) take a one stroke penalty and play the shot again from where the original shot was last played or drop behind the water hazard with no limit to distance.  Keep the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the spot where the drop is made.  Lateral Water Hazard  > (1)  Drop within 2 club-lengths of the spot where your ball last crossed the hazard and no closer to the hole.  (2)  drop within two club-lengths of a spot on the opposite margin of the hazard, equidistant from and no nearer the hole.

Don’t Skull From Hardpan

photo credit: SergioDJT   Amateurs tend to skull (hit the ball in the center) hardpan shots.  The key to this shot is to hit the ball first.  In many cases the sole of the club will make contact with the ground first and then bounce into the ball causing the skulled shot. 

The bottom of the swing arc must be at the point of contact with the ball, if the arc moves back, you will hit behind the ball and skull it.  Keep in mind that there is no grass between the ball and your clubface, therefore, you will get more backspin on this type of shot.  Be sure to keep your weight on your lead side and make a good strong follow-through.  Don’t quit on it!

Playing From a Divot

photo credit: nsaplayer   If your ball lies in the center of a divot, play it like a chip and run.  The key to this shot is to hit the ball first.  If the clubhead is allowed to hit the ground before the ball it may bounce, left or right, from the edge of the divot and throw your shot off line.  You must dig hard with the leading edge of the club.

If you lean back and try to scoop the ball from the divot lie, you will hit it fat (well before the ball) with extremely poor results.  You must keep your weight on your lead side in order to strike the ball cleanly.  Don’t try to help the ball in the air.  If you hit the ball first, the shot will come off perfectly.

Playing an Uphill Lie

photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf   The tendency is to pull the shot when playing an uphill lie, therefore, allowances must be made when addressing the ball.  You must compensate for the uneven terrain by shortening (bending) your lead leg and lengthening (straighten) your back leg.  By doing so, your hips will remain in a level position.  You must play the ball back a bit in your stance but when the swing begins don’t allow your weight to shift to your back leg.

It is important to use one less club (instead of a 5-iron, use a 4-iron) to re-compensate for the angle of the terrain.  Take a normal swing, try not to hit a punch shot which is easy to do with this type of lie.  Make sure to follow-through correctly.

Escape From Trouble

photo credit: battlecreekcvb   The key to a good recovery is proper execution.  Good execution starts with the practice swing.  Whether you are in deep rough, pine straw, thick grass cuttings or thick leaves, you must make several practice swings before your shot.

Take your practice swing as near the ball as possible without risking a penalty for a moved ball.  The purpose of the practice swings is to get a good idea of how the club reacts to the lie.  If you are in deep rough, a practice swing prepares you for movement of the clubhead through the high grass.  It is almost an exact duplicate of the actual shot.  Practice swings instill confidence which is so important in golf.

Limit the Damage

photo credit: bgilliard   During every round there is usually one hole when things seem to blow-up.  It could be an errant shot into the rough or a pull-hook into the trees that kicks it off.  Even tour players are confronted with a nightmare scenario at least once per round.  The key is to get out of the bad situation the right way, so as to minimize loss strokes.

For example:  if your ball is in a bad lie near a bush or tree, you have to learn how to swing in such a way as to advance your ball without taking a penalty stroke.  The key word is “advance.”  Part of the solution is to remain cool, collected and think the shot through.

Remaining calm can play a major role in recovery shots.

Tight Lies

photo credit: star5112   When faced with a tight lie (hardpan or short fairway grass),  play the ball back in your stance (opposite your rear foot) and keep your weight forward.  Keep your hands ahead of the ball and hit down on the ball for a crisp strike. 

Use a club with little or no bounce (lob wedge or pitching wedge) which will encourage a clean impact.  If you use a club with bounce, such as a sand wedge, you could hit behind the ball and bounce the clubface into the middle of the ball.

This is a delicate shot so trust the club you have chosen to do the work and don’t try to force the shot or help the ball get airborne.

Playing out of a Divot

photo credit: Playadura*   The next time you find your ball in a divot with a 200 yd shot,  don’t panic !  There are two ways to play this shot:  (A)  hit a low running long iron.  (B)  hit a high, fairway wood cut shot.  Club selection depends on the variables.

If there is no impending trouble ahead, select a long iron and try to run the ball up to the green.  If there is a hazard ahead, select a fairway wood and play a high cut shot over the hazard, so the ball lands softly.

For the long iron shot, choke down slightly and aim right of target to hit a draw.  For a fairway metal wood cut shot, choke down, aim slightly left and play the ball slightly back in your stance.

Tree Trouble

photo credit: nsaplayer   You have three options when you are behind a tree:  1. - Go over it, if you are back far enough.  2. - Go around it.  3. - Go through it. 

If you have enough room to go over it, club selection becomes critical.  Using the most lofted club in your arsenal (the lob wedge) is usually best, however, it’s not a good option if you are more than 100  yds. from the green.  You are much better off playing the safer shot, which is to go around the tree. 

To go around, aim about 30 yds. either right or left and play a draw or fade.  Going through the branches of a tree is almost never a good idea !