Tip: Play better golf by improving your Golf IQ - Part III

I often hear golfers tell me that they can hit a series of good shots at the practice range, but then have a hard time taking their swing to the golf course. The reason is that the conditions on the course are different every shot from the consistent conditions on the practice range.

Every course, every hole, every shot is different. So you need to make adjustments to your swing and set-up differently for different conditions. Many high handicappers try set-up and swing the same regardless of the lie, slope, green elevation or weather conditions.

Good golfers are able to recognize these factors and adjust their set-ups and swings accordingly. In my last two blogs, I quizzed you on your equipment and basic fundamentals. Today, let’s see how well you can trouble-shoot.

Question #1

Let’s say your ball has come to rest on a fairly steep slope so that the ball is higher than your feet. What will happen to the ball as it leaves the clubface?

A. It will fly very high
B. It will fly right to left
C. It will fly left to right

The answer is - B

When the ball is played from a lie where the ball is above the feet, it will automatically fly on a right to left path. That is because this type of lie rounds out your swing so that you automatically come from an inside path and it will make you release the clubhead more making the ball curve right to left or hook.

To play this type of lie, you need to make a couple of adjustments to your stance. First, you need to choke down on the club to make it shorter. The ball is closer to you, so choke down. Second, stand a little closer to the ball to help you take a more upright swing. If you stand too far away you will go around your body and hook the ball even more. And third, make sure to aim about 10 to 20 more to the right to compensate for the hook lie.

Question # 2

Okay, so now you that a lie with the ball above your feet will make the ball go to the left, so obviously a ball below your feet will go to the right. What adjustments, if any, should be made with this lie? Should you …

A. stand closer to the ball
B. bend your knees more
C. place your weight on your toes

Answer – A and B

When the ball is below the feet, you must angle your spine forward towards the ball by bending from your hips and flexing your knees. This will get you closer to the ball for better contact. Keep the weight on your heels not your toes, so that you don’t lose your balance when you swing. Since your swing will be more upright, make only a three-quarter backswing and follow-through. You are going to have to aim to the left to compensate for the slice action the ball will have off of this lie.

Question # 3

Your ball has just landed in a fairly flat fairway bunker about 180 yards from the green, so you will have to use a long iron or fairway wood. When you take your stance, what should you do?

A. Shuffle your feet so they dig into the sand or
B. Step lightly on top of the sand.

Answer - B

One of the keys to success when hitting a fairway wood or long iron from the sand is to achieve clean contact with the ball. Nestling your feet well down in the sand will increase the likelihood of hitting the sand before the ball which will make you hit the ball fat or well short of your target. Stay above the sand with your feet and you will have a better chance of catching the ball clean in the fairway bunker.

Question # 4

Your ball has just landed in deep rough about 200 yards from the green. You are in between clubs. You need to choose from either hitting a fairway wood of a long iron. Which is the best club for this situation?

A. a lofted fairway wood like a 5 or 7 wood or
B. a long iron like a 3 or 4 iron.

The answer is – A

You might think that from the rough, an iron is the best club to use because it cuts through the grass, but the fairway wood is a better choice. The problem with an iron is that the grass can wrap around the clubhead because it is smaller. Fairway woods have board soles so that they flatten the grass out of the way.

To play the ball out of the rough with a fairway wood, first position the ball in the middle of your stance, second lean your weight towards your front foot. You need to give the ball a downward descending blow, so swing back shorter and hit down. The ball will pop out of the rough.

Question #5

If you play a lot of golf in North Carolina like I do, you will have a lot of even lies. Unfortunately, there is really no where to practice these lies except for the golf course, so most people don’t know how to deal with them. If you are on an uphill lie, do you know what the tendency of the ball flight is? What direction will the ball fly?

A. left
B. right
C. low

The answer is – A, left

When you are on an uphill slope it is really difficult to transfer your weight on the downswing, so the tendency for most people is to hang back and flip their hands through the ball, sending the ball left, so you need to make a few adjustments to your set-up to compensate for the upslope.

First, position the ball towards the higher foot. Second, tilt your shoulders and lean your body into the slope, so that your body is at the same angle of the slope. Aim slightly to the right because the ball tends to go left. Take a three-quarter swing and make and effort to follow-through.