When the ball is in the rough, the tendency for beginner players is to play their normal shot for the distance they need to the ball to travel.
However, even when the ball is partially buried in the rough, playing a normal shot as if the ball is sitting on the fairway can lead to disastrous results. When the ball is partially buried in the grass, it can often travel further than expected.
You may have heard golf commentators on television talk about a player ‘catching a flyer’ and by that they mean the ball has come out of the rough much further than expected. This usually occurs when playing from a partially buried lie.
The ball will travel beyond the target and if the target was the green, it often means more trouble on the next shot. However, there are things you can do to avoid catching a flyer from a partially buried lie.
Firstly, check to see if the ball is sitting above the ground. Just because is slightly buried in the grass, does not mean it is in contact with the ground. Examine the lie carefully and look to see if the ball is sitting up.
There may be a large gap between the ball and the ground and you must take that into consideration before playing the shot. If you hit underneath the ball without allowing for the gap, you will lose control of the ball. You must think of the ball as if it is on the tee.
So, instead of trying to hit down on the shot, think about sweeping the ball off the tee. To help when playing from a partially buried lie, aim the leading edge of the club with the middle of the ball and grip down on the club.
Put the ball back in your stance, as this will increase the chance of hitting the ball first. Doing this will help avoid getting under the ball.
Concentrate on making a nice, smooth swing motion and do not force the shot. A partially buried lie can often lead to beginner players swinging the club harder because they believe they need to push the club through the grass to get to the ball.
With a partially buried lie, this is not required and a smooth swing motion is more important than generating any power in the shot.
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