PGA Director of Golf Mike Woods shares how to approach some of the tougher lies you might find on the course this winter.
The first type of troublesome lie you might encounter is one where your ball is nestled down into the mud or rough. A wetter course during the winter means less mowing, leading to the rough growing taller than normal. It can be tricky to dig your ball out of this lie, but it can be done.
First, make sure that you are using your wedge. The more bounce on your wedge, the better. More bounce glides through the long grass. Secondly, set up with the ball closer to your back foot so you hit the ball during the descent of your swing. Finally, finish low in your swing instead of a full swing. This promotes hitting the ball down and driving it through the grass.
The second lie you might encounter is on dormant grass. Bermuda grass goes dormant during the winter, leading to patches of dry, hard grass. Your ball sits down on the ground with no fluff below it. It almost feels like you’re hitting off a hard surface.
Once again, it starts with a wedge with a lot of bounce. This time, you want to play the ball in the middle of your stance. Grip the club nice and loose and follow through with a full swing and you should end up comfortably on the green.
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