Up Against the Trunk
When you can't make a normal right-handed swing -- thanks to
roots or the trunk -- turn yourself and your club around and play
lefty. Reverse your grip so your left hand is below your right. Set up
square, make a smooth swing with your arms and hands, and keep
your body still.
Choose a club based on its features: The wedge has the largest head,
whereas the flat backside of a long iron or putter provides the most
roll.
Bad Lies
Even a good course can present you with bad lies, spots where the
grass isn't perfect, or where there isn't grass at all. Here's how to
handle three common situations.
In The Mud
The recovery from muck isn't difficult. Properly played, your biggest
worry will be staying clean. If the ball sits on top of the mud,
address it as you would a fairway bunker shot: Position it back in
your stance about an inch, and stand taller than usual. Swing easy,
especially if your footing is slippery.
Play a plugged lie in the mud as you would one in the sand. Use
your pitching wedge or a short iron, but not the sand wedge (the big
flange will stick, rather than get through, the muck). Close the club
face a little, open your stance, take a firm grip, and hit down on the
ball. The deeper it's buried, the shorter it will fly, so plan
accordingly.
Divot Hole
Nothing is more frustrating than hitting a good drive only to find it
in a divot hole in the fairway. Before planning the shot, calm down:
Anger only produces tension. Take an iron (a wood probably will
snag), and set up for a normal shot with these changes:
1. The face should be square to slightly closed, whereas your swing
has to be steeper than usual.
2. Because the ball is below the level of the fairway, you have to go
down after it. Make a slow backswing, get set at the top (resist the
temptation to rush the downswing), and hit down hard. The ball will
fly lower than usual, then roll after landing, so overall distance
should be about normal for the club.