Lesson Tee
Make This Trouble Shot Play Easy
There are situations where a difficult shot becomes even more difficult because of uneven ground, awkward footing or the actual lie of the ball. The shot I'm playing here, at Torrey Pines earlier this year, is a good example. Not only is it a long shot from a fairway bunker -- one of the hardest shots there is -- but the ball's below my feet and sitting down in the sand. I obviously have my hands full on this one.
The key to any shot from a tough lie is to make it as normal as possible. In this case, you'll notice I've twisted my feet well into the sand, which stabilizes my stance and brings me down closer to ball level.
I also flexed my knees at address and maintained that flex throughout the swing, so I wouldn't need to pitch my upper body forward to reach the ball. The biggest challenge on shots like this is making precise contact. As you can see, I've kept my head still, my eyes riveted -- that's a great contact key. Finally, I've accelerated the club through the sand, my trailing arm straightening into the follow-through. You can't baby a shot from a bad lie. Once you program your stance, posture and ball position, go ahead and make an aggressive, decisive swing.
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- Keywords:
- Instruction,
- Phil Mickelson,
- fairway bunker,
- uneven lie,
- sandplay
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