Slice When You Need To

Slicing the ball intentionally can bend your ball around obstacles such as trees.To play the shot you need to aim your clubface at your target,while your body is aligned to the right of target.Swing out-to-in along your bodyline cutting across your ball and target line.

Allow For Shots That Fly From Light Rough

Depending on the lie that you have, your shot with a given iron from light rough may gain as much as 20 yards over what you regard as your normal distance for that club.Bits of grass between ball and clubface take off some of the backspin,give you greater carry,and increased roll when the ball lands.

Playing An Approach Shot Into A Strong Headwind

Faced with a potentially difficult approach shot into a headwind always aim for the top of the flag.The strength of your shot will give you the distance you need to the hole,plus backspin to run the ball to the cup.

Balance – Key To Good Strokes On Slopes

To retain your balance as you go through with your shot : for uphill slopes flex your right knee (only) more than usual and maintain that flex through your swing.For downhill slopes flex your left knee (only) more than usual as you play.

Using Your Putter To Run Your Ball Into The Green

If its windy , the fairway has minimal grass,and you are on the fairway forty yards out with a clear run to the flag, use your putter to bump and run the ball up to the flag. You should be more upright than for your normal putting stroke, with the ball forward. Sweep the ball [...]

Dealing With Divots

If you have the misfortune to land in an unrepaired divot, to get out aim to hit down sharply on your ball imagining that you are creating another divot! Make good after your shot!

Playing The Ball Above Your Feet

When the ball lies on the slope above your feet, to play an effective shot keep your balance by keeping your weight on your toes.Grip down the shaft to compensate for the slope, and use a flatter swing plane.

Restricted Backswing?

Adjacent to a bush or tree?To avoid damage choke down on your club to just below the grip. Use a limited swing to punch the ball out.

Deep Rough – Take Your Medicine!

From a difficult lie in deep rough just get back onto the fairway, accepting that inevitable extra shot. Take your sand wedge or pitching wedge, open the face a little, take away steeply, and swing down powerfully through the ball to get it clear.

Mastering Windy Conditions – (4) Crosswinds – Left to Right

Setting up for your swing align your body to point toward the rough on the right,with your clubhead facing directly down the fairway.This will ‘fade’ your shot.