Sometimes you find yourself in one of those situations on the course when you just don’t know what to do. Maybe you’re up against the stump of a tree or on the lip of a bunker or right beside a high cut off rough.
In many of these instances, you simply don’t have a regular swing so you have to get a little creative.
Add some of the shots below to your arsenal and watch as those difficult situations get a little less difficult.
The Bladed Wedge – This is a great shot when you’re just in the rough around the green, especially when your ball is sitting up. Take a highly lofted club (ideally a lob wedge or a sand wedge). The goal here is to hit the center of the ball with the leading edge of the club. When you hit it, all you really need to do is take a putting stroke. You’re not swinging or pitching anything. When done correctly the ball will come out and roll through the fringe with a little top spin as if you’d actually putted it.
The Hybrid (or wood) Bump – This shot can be used in the rough around the green as well. It’s particularly useful when there is quite a bit of green between you and the hole. Take out a hybrid or a fairway wood and simply put a putting stroke on the ball. The ball will pop out low and hot and will run across the green.
The Facing Backwards 8-iron – This is a great shot when you don’t have a swing. Let’s say your ball has found its way into a wooded area. You walk up and find it sitting right up against a tree. If you’re lucky, your ball is resting up against the side of the tree that’s closest to you. If you’re unlucky, it’s on the other side and you won’t have a swing. Most people would pull out a club and try to chop it out with a left-handed swing (if you’re a righty) but there actually is an easier method.
Start by picking your target. Now face the opposite direction and stand with your feet together. Position yourself so the ball is directly to the right of your right foot. Hold the club in your right hand and make sure the face is parallel with your toe line (perpendicular to the direction of your feet). Now swing the club up the right side of your body. Make sure you take a few practice swings before you hit the ball and once you think you’ve got it down, hit your ball.
The Pointed Putter – This is a shot you can use if you have a traditional blade putter. We’ve seen Tiger use this shot a few times around the green in very thick rough. All you have to do is simply turn the putter 90 degrees so that you can use the point to pop the ball out. Because you’re using the tip of the putter, the rough won’t grab any part of the club and it will cut right through the thick grass. Once again, make sure you practice this shot before you take it out on the course.