From time to time (hopefully not too often!) you may find yourself having to play your ball out of long grass.
In this article I will show you what things must be considered when playing from this type of lie, and the best way to play the shot correctly.
Step1 – Be realistic with your club selection.
Too many golfers fail to escape from long grass because they don’t use a club with enough loft.
If you have a poor lie, choose either your pitching wedge or sand wedge as the high amount of loft they have will provide you with the best chance of playing a successful recovery shot.
Step2 – Choose the shortest route back to the fairway.
Golfers often get greedy and try to play shots that require the ball to carry a long distance before it reaches the fairway- this is a high risk strategy.
By choosing the shortest route to the fairway you reduce the chance of leaving the ball in the long grass for your next shot.
Step3 – Change your set up position.
Several changes are needed to play this shot well and they are;
1) Position the ball further back in your stance.
2) Hold the club further down the grip.
3) Put 70% of your weight on your front foot.
The changes above will create a steeper angle of attack of the club towards the ball. This reduces the chance of the club snagging in the long grass on the downswing.
I hope this helps you the next time you play.
Good Golfing!
Peter Parks PGA