THE BLOGUse The Terrain to your Advantage
Use The Terrain to your Advantage
Sean Richardson, Teaching Professional, Mayfair Lakes Golf & CC
The Challenge: The pin is below you, about 40 feet away. There is 20 feet of light rough between you and the edge of the green. The terrain slopes slightly from right-to-left.
In this case you have two options: 1 - hit a lofted shot that carries onto the green and stops quickly. 2 - hit a low shot that uses the rough to slow the ball down and takes advantage of the slope to deflect the ball toward the pin. While it is possible to accomplish the task with either shot, I suggest using the second option, since you can get the job done with a much shorter (less risky) swing.
Steps for success:
1 - Choose a club that will produce the correct trajectory and amount of roll when it lands. In this case, I have chosen a nine iron, since it will roll about twice as far as it carries, meaning I can land 1/3 of the way and roll the remaining two thirds to the hole.
2 - Hold slightly lower on the grip. This enables you to stand closer to the ball, allowing your swing to follow a straighter line.
3 - Position the ball in the middle of your stance so that the shaft of your club will be straight between your arms. Align the clubface square to your target line.
4 - Move the club by rocking your shoulders. The shaft of the club should remain between your arms (which keeps the clubface square) from start to finish. Your lower body should remain still throughout the swing motion.
Practice both the lob shot and the bump and run in situations like this one. The more options you have when you are playing, the more successful you will be.
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