How to Hit Golf Ball on a Bad Lie
Beginning golfers may find that the game is challenging enough without all the sand traps, water hazards and tall grass that complicate gameplay strategy. But with practice and diligence, mastering those tough shots on bad lies is no more difficult than other elements of the game. You just need to make a few basic adjustments to your stance, swing, grip and club selection, and you'll be hitting solid shots from roughs and bunkers before you know it.
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Instructions
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Study the bad lie carefully before addressing the ball. Hitting out of a bunker is difficult not only because you must hit the ball off a sand surface, but also because you're essentially hitting out of a hole in the ground. Make sure you visualize about how much loft you'll need to hit out of it. Hitting from the rough tends to be a little easier, since you're hitting off solid ground and you're not hitting from a recessed area. But you must still take into account the thickness of the ground cover, the levelness of the ground and any obstructions along the nearby treeline.
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Choose a club with a high loft angle. A sand wedge or lob wedge is a common choice for hitting out of bunkers, but they can be used on the rough as well. Nine irons are also popular choices for hitting out of bad lies. Clubs with lower loft angles aren't much use in these situations.
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Address the ball and take a few practice swings. In your practice swings, visualize the ball as being a few inches behind where it would normally be. You'll want to hit the ball slightly farther back on a bad lie. Choke up on the club a few inches, too, and keep your wrists and forearms rigid the entire time. Swing hard and follow through smoothly.
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Line up for your shot. Just as you visualized in your practice swings, approach the ball so it is a little farther back than it would normally be. This will help you get the extra loft you need.
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Choke up on the golf club a little, just like you did in your practice shot. This will give you much greater control over the club. Other than your modified grip and stance, approach the ball as you normally would on an ordinary shot.
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Raise the club behind you and, without tilting your wrists or forearms, swing down forcefully. Once you make contact with the ball, follow through strongly while maintaining that rigidity in your arms. You might be inclined to flip your wrists a little, thinking that this will give your ball extra loft, but your modified stance and high-loft club should be sufficient. The best approach is to follow through forcefully so as to get the greatest distance and directional control.
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Tips & Warnings
Seek out driving ranges that allow you to shoot from simulated roughs and bunkers to practice these techniques.
- Photo Credit Photo by Noel Abejo
