Grooved Golf Swing Series - How To Hit Your Ball From Bad Lies

When your ball finishes in a divot, your heart falls and you are filled with dismay and perhaps a little anger towards the inconsiderate player before you who has not repaired after taking his divot.

So easy to throw a little sand over the depression isnt it?

Any way, what to do? You can play a punch shot with the ball just inside your right toe, and run the ball onto the green, or, hit with your right hand, with open club face and ball well forward in your stance to get the ball up into the air and fly to the green..

In this article, I want to talk about other bad lies from simple depressions to ditches and a bit more on playing from a divot.

Firstly, if your ball finishes in a divot, you can use one of your fairway metals to get your ball out and onto the green. this is a technique to use if you want distance. It is superior and much easier than using a long iron to achieve the same result. this also applies not only for divots, but small depressions whether with grassy base or not. Dont use a metal with a flat sole, but pick the one with the most rounded one. this obviously gets into the depression better than a flat soled club.

Line up your shot a little to the left of the target, and then open your club face a little. this gives you more loft and will aid in getting your ball up. If you do not open your club face, it will meet the ball too squarely and the ball will have every chance of running along the ground instead of getting up in the air. A bit like opening the face of one of your wedges to get the ball up in the air more. You have aimed to the left of your target because with an open club face, your ball will fade to the right.

Have the ball 2 or 3 inches further back in your stance than normal, and hit firmly down onto the ball.

I emphasize the word firmly.

Ok, how about hitting out of a ditch? One of those placed lovingly by the course designer between the fairway and the edge of a hazard. this is a difficult, shot and you can take a drop and a one shot penalty. this will probably allow you to get your ball onto the green. The danger is that you may not get your ball out of the ditch and this will cost you a shot.

If you think it is worth a try, here is how you should go about it. Have the ball in the middle of your stance, and bend your knees I mean really bend them.

Bend them enough so that your club head can reach the ball. Then during your shot, make sure you keep your body at this level during the whole swing. this is one important point.

Then next is to hit DOWN on the ball. this is so important. If you try to sweep it, you will almost certainly fail.

The back swing should be done by picking the club up sharply breaking your wrists quickly. Your down swing should be a punch type shot straight down onto the ball. You will not be able to follow through, so dont worry about this part of the swing.

this is for a dreadful lie in a ditch. Sometimes the ditch is wide enough for a more orthodox swing.

In this case, bending your knees and hitting down on the ball still applies and are a must, but the swing can be a little more of a swing instead of a punch.

The important things are to keep your body at the same level and your head still. watch the ball and keep looking at the spot where it was long after it has left. You will be able to have some sort of a follow through and the ball will fly high and long.

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

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