My ball is next to a tree. What’s a girl to do?
You’ve got options, believe it or not. Get creative when you are faced with situations like this. It makes the game of golf fun!
Who said your putter is only for the putting surface? When faced with treacherous lies likes this, a more level approach is a better play and the flat face of your putter is the perfect choice. Follow these steps to get it out and on with your life.
Our goal is to punch the ball back into play. I’ll play this shot 2 ways:
USING A PW:
Pick out a landing area. This shot requires hinge, so take your normal grip. Play the ball back in your stance to encourage ball-first contact.
Focusing on your landing spot, make a generous backswing with good wrist hinge.
Pop the club down behind the ball.
USING A PUTTER:
And with a putter, take your normal iron grip, not putter grip.
Weight favors front side and pop the ball out. Play the ball back in your stance to encourage ball-first contact.
Be sure to release the putter on the follow-through and the ball should come off the ground low, but enough to get you out of trouble.
Always test the area around the ball. No shot is worth risk of injury to you or your club!