2-MINUTE CLINICS

How to punch out of trouble

A great rescue shot is the low-flight, low-spin "punch". It's especially useful when you're in the trees and can't hoist the ball up. It gets you back in play and hopefully down the fairway. Here's how to hit this shot. —Katie Dahl, one of Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America

  • Choose an iron with lower loft (but no longer than a 6-iron)
  • Play the ball slightly back of center in your stance
  • Make sure the clubface is square to your target
  • Set your sternum ahead of the ball and favor your front foot
  • Make a slow backswing without much wrist hinge
  • Keep most of your weight on your front side
  • Don't swing much farther than halfway back
  • Swing down and through smoothly to keep the shot from ballooning
  • Lead with your body, rotating it toward the target
  • Keep your hands and wrists quiet; think, dead hands
  • Finish low with the shaft pointing at your target (above, right)
  • Get in a punch-shot setup: ball back, weight forward
  • Rehearse what your body, arms and club should look like at impact (above, right)
  • Hit shots trying to re-create the impact position you just rehearsed