Edward Bullano sent in a question regarding tight lies in the fairways. He faced this situation last summer during competition and wanted to know of any instruction I could offer for this season of tournament golf.
"Surge, played in a tournament last June and the fairways weren't yet totally filled in. The Bermuda grass was still growing in and very thin. They played summer rules against better judgement. The ball had a tendency to lay slightly below the grass line. In other words only 2/3 or maybe 4/5 of the ball was showing. Since I now am taking a more shallow divot I found myself hitting it thin or more often hitting it heavy. Do you have a technique to remendy for that situation? Thanks."
Well Ed, I think that since you were having issues both with thin shots and heavy shots, it must have been a very frustrating round of golf. Most likely you hit the thin shots first, which ultimately led to you overcompensating and hitting it fat. If anyone ever finds themselves in a situation like this, try playing the ball a little further back in your stance. This will create more of a descending blow that you may need in order to play such tight lies. You don't want to be hitting down and chunking out big divots, but by moving the ball back slightly it will cause more of a descending blow.
Also, because you've now moved the ball back in your stance, you will not pre-load as heavy right. Notice in the video that it's almost like I'm playing a shot from an uphill or downhill lie. In that case, I would align my shoulders with the slope, negating the need for pre-loading heavy right. The same thing applies to Ed's situation. If the ball is moved back in your stance, you'll need to adjust your setup position accordingly.
Keep it vertical,
The Surge!
Don Trahan
PGA Master Professional
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Comments
Surge Nation:
Surge Nation:
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Time for another thrilling after action report!ÃÂ LOLÃÂ as Jerry Reed once said "When You're Hot; When You're Not, You're Not"ÃÂ
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ It was a very interesting round of golf : score 46 + 43 = 89
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ The really amazing thing was only 10 fairwasy hit, Driving average 166 yds., 1 GIR!ÃÂ UGH!
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ 6 Bunkers, 1 Sandy
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ What really "saved" the round was 8 one putts vs 0 three putts for 28 putts used.ÃÂ -- and 0 triple bogies too.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Wound up with 5 Pars, 9 Bogies and 4 Double Bogies
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ I had another encounter with Sprinkler Man. Seems the timer on the automatic sprinklers malfunctioned, so the grounds crew was operationg the sprinklers manually -- and staying about a fairway ahead of me most of the way around. It was strange to hit into Casual Water in the center of the fairway and see the ball suddenly halt on an otherwise bone dry course! -- a contributor to the slightly shorter than normal Driving average.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ On the subject of tight lies, the course I generally play has fairways that are almost like hitting from the top of a large pool table!ÃÂ -- thin grass over compacted turf.ÃÂ The lie is similar to Surge's mat -- but you better NOT take a divot!ÃÂ ÃÂ Greens are similar, but almost "shaved" -- very short grass.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Amos
I've had "one of those days"
I've had "one of those days" way too many times.
The worst days for me are when the club looks like a foreign instrument and looking down at it at address looks like there is no way I am going to be able to hit the ball with it. And then I swing and prove that I was right. I can't hit the ball with it.
R2:
R2:
ÃÂ ÃÂ That is almost what I said on the golf course this morning -- "Where is everybody today?"ÃÂ
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ It seems that we had a single a couple of holes ahead of me - and me. Never saw anyone else until I was on # 8 - and they were on the green on #1!
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ I finished in 3 hours even -- and it could have been about 2 hours 45 minutes but I stopped at the canal on #18 to recover 3 balls(none of them mine - no water balls today! lol) ÃÂ to donate to the local high school team.ÃÂ Also took a short 5 minute break at #16 tee -- a custom for meÃÂ IF no one is close behind.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Amos
NeilÃÂ
NeilÃÂ
I think you are right Steve is better than he lets on. Just look at his swing videos.
ÃÂ We had the same situation
ÃÂ We had the same situation. We played at a course that has 27 holes. We finished the first 18 so quickly with no one ahead or behind us visible that we decided to play the extra 9 holes too.ÃÂ It was a pleasant 60*. It seemed that all the groups were several holes apart from each other, which is a very rare thing around here for any day. We played all 27 in about 4 1/2hrs. I finally broke 90 on the last 18, but don't want to think about the first 9. Playing again today at 9am, but hope to get there early for some range time.
I don't think those are good
I don't think those are good evidence. Ha ha!
They are not very good and pretty much make me mad just to see them. I can chip and putt well enough to score decently but that's about it.
There is a two man scramble tournament next month that my son and I are playing in and against some really tough competition and I am stuck in a slump right now that I need to get out of (somehow). I figure it will take 15 under to win.
Maybe I am making sure I don't peak too early (or something). :-(
I can chip and putt and hope for the best on everything else. Last year I hit my irons pretty well but now they are pretty much like crap.
Hey, want to see something a little funny and a lot sickening? You may have to log in to facebook to see it.
http://www.facebook.com/photo....
Anybody else besides me that
Anybody else besides me that actually prefers very tight lies as long as the ground is very hard?
To me the ultimate "easy shot" is off of hard pan. The softer the ground gets from there the more cushion of grass I would prefer under the ball.
I just wonder how common it is for someone to prefer hard pan to fairway like I do because almost every time I have a shot off of it (and a shot that I consider the easiest shot in golf) someone in my group will comment about how good the shot was off of that surface (like it was a bad surface to hit off of???? Scratch my head). To me it's like hitting off of a lie board and almost impossible to mess up. My angle of attack into the ball is so shallow that I don't have to worry about ball striking at all and can get away with murder on that front off of a hard surface. I can initially accidentally (or even accidentally on purpose) strike the ground before the ball and the club just slides into the ball with no chance of a mishit. Just the knowledge that I am going to be able to get away with bad ball striking makes me make my best swings and the really funny part is that I almost always do my best ball striking off of that hard surface.
In a scramble game I would take a shot off of hard pan or close to hard pan "any day and twice on Sunday", as the old saying goes, over the fairway. Unfortunately none of my teammates feel the same and would like some grass under the ball.
Edit 25 hours later: Hmmm! Nobody but me likes hard thin lies....Never would have thought that was possible.
About anything.
Pessimist and a dog:::
An avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog.
His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck.
Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.
He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, the eternal pessimist who refused to be impressed with anything.
This, surely, would impress him.
He invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.
As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by.
They fired, and a duck fell.
The dog responded and jumped into the water.
The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet.
This continued all day long; each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it.
The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word.
On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?"
"I sure did," responded the pessimist.
"He can't swim."
You will come out of it. ÃÂ
You will come out of it. ÃÂ I did with the driver last weekend. Just need to work on chipping and pitching next week. We have our first Major of the year The Masters is next weekend on a tough course and small greens.
I am done with trying to be completely perfect and mechanical with the golf swing on the course and save it for the range. My new theory on the course is to just see it feel it trust it and swing it that seemed to work pretty good last weekend. ÃÂ
I am taking the weekend off this weekend going to see our daughter this weekend down in TN by Norris Lake. Its supposed to rain this weekend any way. ÃÂ ÃÂ
Amos, you are a putting
Amos, you are a putting master! If I could putt like you I'd be breaking my own bests frequently. Way to put pal. At least you have that going. The short game is the most important in my game too. Other areas of my longer game are showing signs of coming around so we'l see.
Glad you're out enjoying some golf in this warmer weather.
Lynn, my wife and I really
Lynn, my wife and I really ejoyed that, thank you pal. Is it a coincidence that the two most appealing colors two humans are blue and green? Hmmmnnn.., the earth is green and the sky is blue. Thankfully we can appreciate all the other many shades in the rainbow too.
Thanks for sharing that with us. I'm sure many will enjoy watching it too.
Terry,Glad you can break away
Terry,
Glad you can break away from all your plumbing and other family assignments and play some golf.
Sound like you're hands must be gradually getting back and your game too.
With all the 9 hole league games you have lined up it sounds like you'll be making up for some lost golf time.
As I say, we only have so many days and hours left so if we can spend them enjoying one of our favorite passions, golf that is, then go for it.
Hope your morning round was good today. Let us know how it goes.
ÃÂ ÃÂ Hoping to get out later today with the wife and hit the links too.ÃÂ bit windy today but whayt else is new?!
PMG
Surge, I ran into the same
Surge,
I ran into the same thing in Florida where the fairways were worn down. I widened my stance to lower my address position, this enable me to get down to the ball easier. Ray Fleming
Steve, I'm assuming that a
Steve, I'm assuming that a lot of people actually hit the ball a little fat,ÃÂ ( me includedÃÂ ) but with soft
grass underlay this defect is reduced as the grass gives way, whereas if you hit fat onÃÂ hard pan, the
club will either bounce and or change the angle of the club face, depending on whether you areÃÂ "toe-up"
orÃÂ "toe-down" in the swing. Anyway, this proves to me again that you must hit the ball correctly and be
a lot better player than you make out, LOL.ÃÂ ÃÂ
Yes, I am making time for
Yes, I am making time for play, but not for needed practice. I sort of blew up on the Tue eve league with a 49. Played 27 on Wen with a 47,44,45, and only had time for the 9 hole's on Thur morning with a 44. For now my short game is saving me and my long game is costing me. I am chipping and putting well, but taking too many to get there.
Surge, Was that David Toms
Surge, Was that David Toms that hit that great shot out of the divot a couple years ago in the Players Championship? Anyhow staying on top and through those shots are challenging for sure, thanks for another good tip. BTW your yardÃÂ and roses are looking good. Hopefully other Surgites have clicked on Surges Facebook link located on the right side about half way down the page and checked out his photos of the day. You will see hisÃÂ golf net in the background and the roses in close. I wonder if they both share gardening duties? He gets to play on the rider mower anyhow:)
Had the previlage of spending a little time with fellow Surgite Robert Fleck today as I changed out his grips and we checked his lies and lofts. Oh boy, I hope I haven't screwed up his game forever lol!! We found that many of his lies were too flat (as he suspected )and lofts were off too. Didn't make any adjustments yet, left that for another day (unless he chooses another "fixer/fitter"). What a nice guy and a gentleman he is. I know he'll enjoy having fresh grips, that's a given. Like having new clubs.
Have a great night all:)
PMG
ÃÂ No I'm pretty accurate
ÃÂ No I'm pretty accurate about not being much of a player. Ha ha!
Just seems very easy to hit the ball off of any hard surface, even when I hit it fat. The club doesn't bounce into the ball but slides into it making perfect impact pretty much every time and the ball goes the same whether I hit it a little fat or whether I don't, giving me more room for error, and I need all the help I can get. LOL
Thanks, I can't believe I
Thanks, I can't believe I logged in for that.ÃÂ ÃÂ Right back at you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
RM:ÃÂ Guess it was a good
RM:ÃÂ Guess it was a good day for grip-changing.ÃÂ I regrippedÃÂ my clubs today and had forgot what a difference it makes to have the feel of new ones.ÃÂ I used the clubsÃÂ a lot last year so it was time!!ÃÂ ÃÂ I'm working on a trip down your way so when I get things finalized I'll let you know.ÃÂ It would be good to have you check out the lofts and lies of my clubs.ÃÂ Take care, R2
Surge Nation,
Surge Nation,
I've been enjoying Surge's photo of the day on facebook and when my sister sent me this link I thought it was too good not to share no matter what your religious beliefs may be.
http://www.greatdanepro.com/Ju...
Some people should just keep
Some people should just keep a lot of clothes on and stay away from a camera. ;-)
Absolutely Roy. It would be
Absolutely Roy. It would be my pleasure sir! Glad you got some fresh "leather". It would be super to play a round with too while your here. Maybe Robert F. could join us.
ÃÂ Very nice Lynn!!
ÃÂ Very nice Lynn!!
Dear Surge, i have been using
Dear Surge, i have been using your swings from your series lessons, I have very good inprovement in distance from the Iron shots and fairway wood. But when come to diver , I can only achieve average 190 metre only with no inprovement at all. same as my full swing.ÃÂ I am 63 years old
sscheng from Malaysia
Thanks RM!ÃÂ You da man!!!Ã
Thanks RM!ÃÂ You da man!!!ÃÂ (where is everyone tonite???)
Steve, It was just what I
Steve, It was just what I needed after the round I shot today....lol.ÃÂ Ever have one of those days when you just never felt right, tempo was off, timing was not there and I think I may have made 2 putts all day.
P.S. I'm not sure what's going on with disqus, but I'm getting email notifications 2 and 3 days after they were posted
P.S. Not sure what's going on with disqus. I am receiving email notifications of responses to me 2 and 3 days after they're posted.
On the positive side, I did hit my hybrids straight and managed to keep driver in the fairway.ÃÂ My game is usually from 100 yards in and I was off with my 9 iron and wedge all day.ÃÂ
All was not lost, however.ÃÂ I got paired up with a couple of younger guys who were bombers and made the day fun.ÃÂ It was mid 70s, bright sunny day and I got to chase a little white ball.ÃÂ Does it get any better than that? ;0))
ÃÂ There could be so many
ÃÂ There could be so many reasons for you to not have improved in distance with your driver using the PPGS that it would take a book to list them all.
A few of the hundreds of possibilities:
1. You are not performing the swing 100% correctly. (Welcome to a huge club).
2. Your driver is too long or not properly fitted in other ways. (Another huge club).
3. 190 meters is about how far you are capable of hitting the ball. (No way to know???)
This swing is not a magic formula to hit a driver farther. How much you may or may not improve distance would depend on how well you hit the ball with your old swing. For those that had all kinds of swing flaws robbing power and causing all kinds of mishits a properly performed PPGS would probably improve distance. Those that hit the ball very well with a rotational swingÃÂ but want to use this swing for other reasons like being more body friendly or more accurate will likely see an increase in distance with shorter clubs but not with the driver. Most of us don't fall into that category and could increase average driving distance with better, more consistent, impact but the longest drives are going to be about the same as they always were.
We all have a certain ability to hit a long ball with a driver and that's not likely to change very much no matter what swing we use, as long as we are performing the different swings relatively correctly with the right equipment.