Niagara Golf Tips Instruction Advice
Awkward Lies "YOU SAY"!!
While practicing a couple of shots this morning off of hardpan and extremely thin lies, before a game with 3 students; one of my student's Jeff, asked why I would carry out this procedure, rather than placing the practice ball off a perfect lie on the practice range.
Jeff, this is my answer. Everyone else practices from perfect lies, and they never try trouble shots off of thin or hardpan lies, before they go out onto the golf course.
They are only fooling themselves, and will live to regret it, as high scores will creep in quickly when they are faced with shots from hardpan or thin lies, that they have never encountered or practiced escaping from before.
Logic tells me, that if I master the trouble shots from bad places in the rough or sometimes on the fairways, to a fine art, then when I drive the ball into the middle of the fairway, on a good lie, the shots should be a piece of cake. (reverse thinking if you will)
Don't practice off of perfect lies "Hoping" to always land in the middle of the fairway, but rather "Master" the art of recovery, from imperfect lies, and be elated when you drive you ball into the middle of the fairway. (Your scores will mirror your practice time put to good use on this important part of your game, and your ability to perfect your trouble shots.)
When anyone is faced with a hardpan or thin lie, all it takes is a little bit of knowledge and some confidence in our Shot-making ability, to overcome, these adverse conditions.
A couple of things to keep in mind, when faced with these shots are as follows:
THE THIN LIE:
A thin lie is a shot that is hit in the fairway, but the ball comes to rest in an area where the grass is sparse or mowed extremely short.
ACTION PLAN:
- Play the ball a few inches back from the center position of your stance.
- Move your hands slightly forward. This will occur naturally because the ball is positioned further back in your stance than normal.
- Grip down an inch to ensure solid contact. (Use one more club to ensure proper distance is obtained, if necessary.)
- Start with your weight equally distributed on both feet, and then slightly shift a little more weight onto your front foot.
THE HARDPAN LIE:
A hardpan lie, is when the ball comes to rest on the bare ground.
This can be under a tree, a worn area around a green, where everyone travels, when coming and going on and off the green, by the edge of a bunker or simply a dried out area in the fairway.
With a thin lie, you can use a wide variety of clubs for this shot.
This is the perfect time to experiment with different clubs and different types of shots.
ACTION PLAN:
- Concentrate on hitting the ball first. This is the key to this type of shot, because if you hit the ground first, the club will bounce off the ground before hitting the ball and lead to a "Skulled" or "Equator" Shot.
- Place slightly more weight on your front foot.
- Play the ball in the center of your stance or just slightly back towards your back foot.
- Keep your hands slightly forward of the center of your body and therefore ahead of the ball.
- Take a shorter, more compact backswing. This ensures that you will stay in better control of your swing and will help ensure a cleaner more solid contact with the ball.
It is imperative to practice, the "Thin Lie" and the "Hardpan Lie" which are shots you probably wouldn't think of practicing too much. Your scores will reflect time spent on these two particular shots. By experimenting with different clubs, and on the fundamentals above, you will ensure success in your upcomng rounds of golf, the next time you are faced with one of these shots.
Good Luck with your PRACTICE, and your improved RESULTS.
REMEMBER, when in doubt, consult your CPGA Professional of Golf Instructor, for help.
The tips provided on The Niagara Golf Guide appear courtesy of Rick Hill, Niagara Golf Instructor and Professional.
Do you have a golf question you'd like to ask? Click here to ask Rick!
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