 |
 |
 |
homepage | about the site | terms of use | privacy policy | contact us |
|
 |
Big Trouble
I have chosen four of what I feel are the most common trouble shots you may encounter at The Bridges Golf Club. And "Taking the Challenge" at the Bridges involves being prepared for trouble shots. It would be naive of me to think otherwise. Remember, every course has a little different layout and terrain so practice accordingly. Welcome these difficult situations as a test of your intellect. These shots just take a bit more creativity than others. Besides, if we hit every shot in the fairway and then on the green, we would have nothing to talk about over a beverage after the round. Trouble shots might be the hot topic of conversation after the round but are less popular at the practice range. There are several reasons why we don't practice trouble shots. First of all, we never expect to have to play a trouble shot. And there are not many practice areas set up to work on these types of shots. Besides, trouble shots are not the most glamorous shots to practice. Imagine yourself hitting a large basket of practice balls from high rough or under a tree. The way to practice trouble shots is with one golf ball and the competition of others. It's the difference between practicing for five minutes or two hours. Here are four common trouble shots. With a little guidance and practice you could save yourself a few strokes and a lot of frustration. The Plugged Bunker Shot This is a fairly easy shot to get out of the bunker, but difficult to get close to the hole. Understand: Because the ball is in a hole it will come out fairly low and with very little spin. Little spin will cause the ball to roll when it lands on the green. Keys: Close the face of your sand or lob wedge. Next, close it even more. Did I mention, close the face? Finally, strike the sand fairly close to the ball. Make sure you get the sand out of the bunker. The Backhanded Shot In this situation, you cannot take your stance because a tree, bush, or severe slope is in your way. This shot is necessary when your only option is to stand on the opposite side of the ball. Understand: This is a difficult shot to hit more than 30 yards. So we are just going to take our medicine on this one. Keys: Flip your seven iron around, stand very close to the ball with your back to your target. You are going to use your dominant hand to hit the shot. Take lots of practice swings, and avoid your ankle! Trust me, this is much easier than trying to hit it left-handed. Downhill Chip Shot Several of the greens at The Bridges are set into the hillside, testing your ability to chip down to the putting surface. Understand: Don't try to hit this shot high. The slope of the ground has already determined that this shot must be hit low. Keys: The most important key is to make solid contact. You're going to use a basic chipping technique with one adjustment, angle your shoulders with the slope. This will help you swing with the slope. On a downhill chip, you will make a higher backswing and a lower follow through. Ball in a Small Hole Next to the Green This is almost guaranteed to happen at least once a round. The ball is located just a couple feet off the surface of the green, but it has settled into a small depression, not much larger than the ball itself. This simple shot is very easy to chunk short or blade over the green. Understand: Because the ball is sitting down in a depression it is very difficult to spin. This is the bad news and the good news. Because it will come out with topspin, it will be easier to predict the first bounce. No matter if the first bounce is in the rough or on the surface of the green I know it will not spin. The ball will roll true, which makes the shot easy to execute with a putter! Keys: Use your putter, it's the key. Place the ball slightly back in your stance, and treat the shot like a chip. You will contact the ball with a descending blow, the ball will pop over the long grass, and roll with topspin. Plan on hitting it close to the hole. It is a good idea to be knowledgeable of the trouble shots you encounter the most, and practice them. You need to set up your practice to be entertaining. We cover a few trouble shots during the on-course instruction portion of our one-day golf schools at The Bridges Golf Club. It's a real kick to put yourself in a situation and see how many shots it takes to put the ball in the hole. No matter the situation or the results, make sure you keep it fun. Perry Andrisen is a PGA Teaching Professional at The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon, California. He teaches over 2,000 lessons a year. He has previously worked at Montreux Golf Club and Hazeltine National Golf Club. Perry has coached players from the PGA Tour, Nationwide, Hooters, Teardrop, Spanos, Pepsi, Dakotas, and Golden State golf tours. Among his PGA Tour clients is his former college teammate Aaron Barber. Perry has found a Profession that he absolutely loves, and it shows in every lesson he gives. For more information, visit Perry's Web site at http://www.perryandrisen.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Taking A Golf Lesson Isnt Always The Answer Golfers will do anything they can in hopes to play better golf and hit the LONG ball. Am I right? Are you in this category? If so, I'm quite confident to say you've taken a golf lesson or two. Golf Swing Exercises Can Add Power Quickly Golf swing exercises are the missing link to adding tremendous power to your golf swing quickly. To be able to execute an effective golf swing. How to Maximize Your Distance by Hitting Triples Instead of Home Runs This lesson is entitled, "How to Maximize your Distance by Hitting Triples instead of Home Runs" and it's a great overall theory to build your entire swing around. Keep this in the back of your head at all times while you are on the course, and remind yourself of it before every shot. Golf Fitness Training Made Easy?And Anyone Can Do It Golf fitness training might sound grueling, sweaty and a lot of work! Doesn't have to be that way. Now of course I'd be lying to you to say it's easy and you won't have to make a small commitment to stick with it to see results. Get Moving and Save Strokes Whether you walk the course or ride a cart, a round of golf can leave the aerobically unfit golfer dragging by the late holes. Aerobic training improves lung capacity, circulation, and muscular endurance and leads to better performance and better overall health. How To Unleash The Power Of Your Core The golf swing relies upon core strength, endurance and proper engagement in seeking elements of stabilization, control and coordination. Core conditioning is very important for a golfer because all movements in your entire body stem from the strength in this area. Golf Travel Bags - Choose Wisely to Protect Your Investment Planning a golf vacation? Don't forget to protect your golf clubs by choosing the right golf travel bag. How do you choose the golf travel bag that is right for you? Let's take a quick look at three different styles to help you make the right choice. Golf Specific Weight Training...Dont Fear It The fascinating thing about golf-specific weight training is that despite the fear many golfers have of it, there is really nothing to be afraid of.Why should there be any reason for fear when 80 year old persons are comfortably going through them. Golf Secrets To Dramatically Improve Your Game Every amateur golfer is constantly looking for golf secrets to dramatically improve their game. Yet they are not very easy to come by. Golf Schools Require Golf Fitness Are you planning on attending a golf school on your next golf vacation? Don't expect to kick your feet up, relax with a cold beer and nap every couple of hours. Furthermore, don't expect to enjoy your learning experience unless you prepare yourself physically. Golfing Products And What You Need To Know Before Purchasing In recent years, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of golfing products available in the market. Most notably golfing products that are supposed to dramatically improve one's game, virtually overnight. Exercises to Prevent Common Golf Injuries To those who don't play, golf seems like a low impact sport. But golf provides a real physical workout and arm and lower back pain and injuries are common among golfers. Your Putter Fitted Perfectly in 5 Easy Steps Ever wonder why putting is so difficult for you? Want to know how to fix it? I'll bet you're using improperly fitted equipment without realizing it? If so, consider yourself lucky. We've come to save your putting game. Golf Injury Prevention A golf injury is one of the most common issues with all amateur golfers. But having adequate strength and flexibility of muscles and joints and participating in effective training technique, can also prevent a golf injury. How A Golf Fitness Book Can Transform Your Game A golf fitness book that is written to give you ready-made golf fitness programs, exercises, step-by-step instructions and illustrations can quickly transform your golf game.There are so many "so-called" golf fitness books on the market; but when you open them up you see dozens of pictures of golf models sitting on exercise machines in the gym. Controlled Body Movement The Key Essential For Your Golf Game Basic body movement is essential in any sport. Of course it is also essential for any type of physical activity we do. Tips for Buying Used Golf Clubs Used golf clubs can be great for those who are on a budget, don't play much, or just want a spare set. They certainly aren't for everybody, but many will find that they can get the job done just fine. Golf Workouts Can Quickly Add Yards To Your Drives I'm sure by now you've heard most of the professional players; both men and women actively participate in golf workouts. It's no secret. Golf Fitness Evaluation Is The First Step Towards Improving Your Game Golf fitness evaluation can be an invaluable tool in helping any golfer to assess where they currently stand and thus help them reach a decision of what they can do to improve.It is now an accepted fact amongst golf experts that an improvement in golf fitness almost always means an amazing improvement in the quality and standard of play by any golfer, whether in the junior level or a senior citizen, and irrespective of whether they are male or female. Periodization Training For Golf The idea of periodization has been around a very long time for athletes at all levels. The concept is simple.
|
|
All rights reserved '
KnowledgeStorage.net
|