Sometimes your ball will come to a stop on top of pine
needles or leaves. There is no firm ground immediately
beneath the ball and if you ground your club behind the
ball there is a big danger of causing the ball to move.
This of course is a penalty and you have to add one more
stroke to your score. Similarly when you have a piece of
twig beneath the ball or touching the ball. Don't try to
move it because you may move your ball. Now back to the
leaves or pine needles.
When you take your stance, make sure you do not ground your
club. Doing so may move the delicate surface on which the
ball lies and cause your ball to move. Take your stance
with the club head held above the surface and make your
swing.
Sweep the ball off the surface, hitting down on the
ball less than usual.
Because you are making such a swing,
you will cause the ball to fly lower than usual and so it
will fly and run further. You have to allow for this.
Now what about if you have to pitch the ball out of the
leafy or pine needle lie. How do you do that? How many
times have you duffed your ball or seen others do this from
such a lie?
The way to play your ball from this lie when
you need to get your ball up fast is to play an explosion
shot. Play it as though you are in a bunker.
Use the same club you would use if your ball were in a bunker
here instead of on leaves, and hit down and through the ball
using an open club face.
As in sand the ball will need to be hit a little harder than for
a normal shot to attain the desired distance.
Now you are in a fairway bunker miles from the green.
There is an easy way to play this shot and a not so easy way.
In both instances you have the hit the ball first.
If you hit the sand behind the ball you will not succeed.
One way is to try to pick the ball off the surface of the sand.
Some can do this - sometimes - and many try and fail.
The easy way is to play your ball off your right foot
(right handers) and keeping your head still and watching
the ball, take a normal swing and hit down on the ball.
It is much easier to hit the ball first - before the sand - if
you use this method.
Because you have hit the ball first,
it is compressed enough between club and sand to achieve
the desired effect, and the ball will fly a long way. Give
it a try. You will surprise yourself and be very pleased.
One thing though. Because you are playing your ball well
back, you will reduce the loft of the club you are using.
Therefore you will need a club with a bit more loft if you
have a high lip in front of you.
Bill Maitland is a thinking, inventive golf guru. He thought out and developed simple techniques and tips which enabled him to lower his handicap from 25 to 18, then from 18 to 15, and finally from 15 to 12. He is a passionate golfer, and delights in helping others with their game should they want his help. To receive a valuable weekly golf tip go to his web site http://www.onlinegolfershandbook.com and subscribe to his free Hole In One News Letter. You will be so glad that you did.
Author of On Line Golfers' Hand Book. An e-Book that takes you step by step to being the best golfer that you can possibly be. The basics in great detail. To learn about his tips and simple techniques and order his book, visit his web site
http://www.onlinegolfershandbook.com
sign up for his free news letter and receive a wealth of great tips every time. He really tries to tell you everything and leaves nothing out as so often happens. When you sign up, receive his free chapter from his book on bunker play.
Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment