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how to hit a thin lie golf shot

by Prof. Alberta Sporer Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Keeping your head down through the shot is particularly critical when hitting from a downhill lie. If your head comes up as the club nears impact, even just a little bit, you’ll hit the shot thin. To help keep your head down, pick out a specific spot on the ball and watch that spot with your eyes.

Part of a video titled HOW TO HIT A CHIP SHOT ON A TIGHT LIE IN GOLF - YouTube
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I just think it's a very difficult way to hit the shot. As we've showed you you've got to have aMoreI just think it's a very difficult way to hit the shot. As we've showed you you've got to have a little bit of forward lean just be content to have the ball back a little bit of body lean.

Full Answer

How to hit a golf ball from a tight lie?

Review the following for tips on how to hit from a tight lie. Hitting the ball first, otherwise club could bounce off the ground or dig into it. Whenever you are hitting from a firm lie you need to be careful not to position the ball too much forward in your stance.

What causes thin shots in golf?

Thin shots happen when the golf club impacts the golf ball too high on the ball - near or a little below the ball's equator. But what causes that ? Golfers thin the ball when our swing bottoms out in the wrong place. If your swing bottoms out behind the ball, the result is a fat shot.

How to stop hitting the golf ball thin?

How to Stop Hitting It Thin Start with the easiest things to check: your basic setup positions. Make sure you aren't positioning the golf ball in your stance way off normal; make sure you aren't setting up with your shoulders aligned well right or left. These things can throw off where your swing bottoms out.

How to hit a perfect wedge shot from a tight lie?

The challenge in hitting this type of wedge shot from a tight lie is to make certain that the bottom of your swing arc is perfectly positioned so that your club kisses the dirt immediately after it makes contact with the ball.

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How do you hit off thin lies?

Czaja said there are four tips to keep in mind when hitting from a tight lie.Move the golf ball back in your stance. This will set your hands in front of the ball.Swing down more on the ball. This will give the golf ball backspin.Keep good tempo.Take more loft. Go to a hybrid instead of a longer iron.

What is a thin lie in golf?

Updated on 11/25/19. In golf, a "tight lie" is what the golfer faces when his golf ball comes to rest in a spot where there is very little grass underneath the ball. That might mean short, sparse turf or even bare dirt. The term "tight lie" also implies that the ground under the ball is compact or firm.

How do you thin out a golf shot?

1:487:11HOW TO STOP HITTING THIN GOLF SHOTS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo a thin shot is when the bottom edge of the club is too much against the ball or up high on theMoreSo a thin shot is when the bottom edge of the club is too much against the ball or up high on the ball like that that's what that is now. Listen there's no na benefit to hitting way down on the ball.

How do you hit a golf ball off the hard ground?

0:161:55Hank Haney: Hardpan Lies Can Be Easy - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApproach with the club coming down to the ball. If your golf club comes into the ball on too shallowMoreApproach with the club coming down to the ball. If your golf club comes into the ball on too shallow an angle where it's too close to the ground too far back behind the ball.

What is a good golf lie?

A golfer will face a good lie when his ball is situated in a way that does not add difficulty to a golf shot. For example, a ball that lands on the fairway will often have a good lie, the shorter grass making it easy to hit the ball.

Is high bounce good for tight lies?

Low bounce 10 and lower: Ideal for shots from tight lies and firm turf conditions, if you actually keep your ball on the short grass. Less bounce makes it easier for better golfers to get creative with shots such as flop shots around the green because the leading edge is much smaller.

Can a strong grip cause fat shots?

Fat shots. One of the other signs of an overly strong grip is the tendency to hit the ball fat, especially on short iron shots. As mentioned above, a strong grip makes it easy to release the club on the way down, and an early release could cause you to stick the club in the ground behind the ball.

Why do people hit irons thin?

Golfers who hit a lot of thin shots tend to swing the club too steeply into the ball. That's because they slide past the ball on the downswing and have to force the club down to make contact. When they slide too far, they catch only the top half of the ball, hitting it thin.

How do I stop hitting my irons fat?

Shifting your weight forward correctly on the downswing is another way to stop hitting it heavy. As you draw the club back, your weight should shift to your back foot. To eliminate a heavy strike, shift your weight back across to your front foot as you finish your downswing.

How do you hit a fairway wood from a tight lie?

0:586:00Hitting Fairway Woods from a Tight Lie - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou were hitting down anywhere from one degree to four degrees which is ideal for the 3-wood off ofMoreYou were hitting down anywhere from one degree to four degrees which is ideal for the 3-wood off of that lie.

How do you hit a wedge on a tight lie?

1:564:35How to Hit Wedge Shots from Tight Lies - Golf Swing Basics - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipForward hand slightly forward the wrist conditions are going to help me to use a little bit ofMoreForward hand slightly forward the wrist conditions are going to help me to use a little bit of bounce. So I can hit a nice shot from 30 yards. Like if I had to lob.

Where to hit the ball in golf?

Hitting the ball in the middle of the fairway is almost always the objective as it provides the shortest grass (save for the green) and as such the best lie from which to hit an approach.

What does rough mean in golf?

Rough borders fairways and greens; miss your golf shots and your ball will likely end up in it, if not worse. While certain courses feature rough that is barely penalizing, others use the rough to really punish and force golfers to work hard to recover and still hope to make par.

What is an upslope lie?

Upslope (Uphill) The ball may come to rest on a hill that offers a different set of challenges than the previous two situations. Indeed, rather than finding yourself in an awkward sidehill situation you may find yourself on the front surface of a hill, for an upslope lie.

Where to rest on a golf ball?

In some instances it may come to rest on a sidehill that sees the ball located lower than your feet. This lie is particularly difficult to play and unless you make the necessary adjustments you risk hitting the ball thin (if not missing it at all) or hitting it to the right of the target.

Is a driving range a golf course?

While a driving range provides near perfect conditions from which to hit golf balls that setup is not always found in the actual golf course, save for the teeing grounds. Indeed, while playing the game of golf you will find yourself in all sorts of situations where the lie conditions will have the biggest impact on the shot you’ll play.

Does grass lie at the bottom of rough?

While longer grass mostly produces a lie where the ball is sitting at the bottom of heavy rough it’s not always the case.

Is a fluffy lie a buried lie?

While a fluffy lie is not as treacherous as a buried lie there are still modifications that need to be made to the setup and swing in order to produce a quality golf shot. Follow our tips on how to properly play from fully rough, or when it is with the grain.

How to hit wedge shot from tight lie?

The challenge in hitting this type of wedge shot from a tight lie is to make certain that the bottom of your swing arc is perfectly positioned so that your club kisses the dirt immediately after it makes contact with the ball. To pull this off, it’s necessary to use a wedge with only modest bounce on the sole (< 10 degrees), and to hold it in a slightly open position at address and through impact. This will keep the club’s leading edge snug to the ground without digging into it.

What is a tight lie in golf?

My definition of a tight lie is when the golf ball is sitting with an eighth of an inch or less space beneath it, on a surface so firm you can’t take a normal divot. From such a lie, there are two optimal shots (or swings) to consider: 1. You can “kiss” the turf with a high-loft, low-bounce wedge. 2.

How to improve touch on golf swing?

To begin, grip down very slightly on a low-loft club (in the photo, I’m using a 6-iron). This effectively raises the bottom of your swing arc. Center the ball in your stance, with your hands just in front of it at address. Then use a normal swing back and through, keeping it as level as possible. Learning to control distance on this shot will take time, but a little practice will go a long way toward improving your touch.

How to pick a golf ball?

1. You can “kiss” the turf with a high-loft, low-bounce wedge. 2. You can pick the ball in a sweeping, bump-and-run motion with a low-loft club.

Is it easy to take on tight lies?

Although taking on tight lies is never easy, both of these very different techniques will deliver short-game gems for you.

Is it hard to hit a short lie in golf?

Don’t worry—you’re not the only one who struggles in the super-short stuff. Shots from tight lies, particularly pitches requiring less than full power, challenge golfers at every skill level, including many PGA and LPGA Tour players. And for good reason—these are really difficult shots with a really small margin for error.

What is a thin shot in golf?

In golf a thin shot – or a golf shot hit thin – is one that see the club hitting the ball below its equator. But in contrast to a better shot that sees the clubface striking the ball inside the sweet spot hitting it thin will often see the leading edge of the club making contact with the ball. This results in a ball that doesn’t travel as high ...

How many feet between your feet for thin shots?

If you suspect a very narrow stance could help explain your thin shots it may be a good idea to allow more room between your two feet at address.

What does it mean when a golfer moves his weight towards the back foot?

Instead of moving his weight towards his back foot during the backswing and bringing it towards the front foot during the downswing, he will do the opposite. Bringing the weight towards the back foot ahead of impact will likely move the bottom of the swing arc back also, often resulting in a thin shot.

How are thin shots produced?

In a similar way to fat shots, thin shots are fundamentally produced by errors related to the arc of the swing itself and more specifically to the position of its bottom.

Why does the bottom of the swing move?

The position of the bottom of the swing arc may have moved from where it should be thanks to the swaying swing error. Specifically, a golfer who is said to sway will move his hips laterally during the course of the swing, moving them back during the backswing before bringing them forward during the downswing.

Why does my swing arc reach the bottom of the ball?

The reason your swing arc reaches its bottom before the ball and produces a thin shot may have nothing to do with the actual swing itself and may have to do with the positioning of the ball instead.

Where does flipping the club go?

Indeed, flipping the club will tend to move the bottom of the swing arc back behind the ball and will oftentimes see the club hitting the ball below the sweet spot of the clubface, or worse through the leading edge.

How to play bare lie golf?

To make sure you get it back there, try this: Place the clubhead behind the ball with your right hand only and step into your stance with your right foot first, lining up the ball with your instep (1). Then set your left foot -- taking a narrow stance -- and complete your grip.

Can you chip a lob wedge?

As for club selection, it's fine to chip with your lob wedge from these tight lies . Playing the ball back will turn it into a pitching wedge or 9-iron.

What is a thin golf shot and what it looks like?

A thin golf shot is a shot when the golf ball strikes the bottom part of the clubface. This can be anywhere from ½ inch or more located below the centre of the clubface depending on how large your irons or woods are. The golf ball will typically travel very low to the ground or at least lower than your normal centred strike.

What is lag shot golf?

The lag shot golf training aid helps you eliminate thin golf shots and hit them flush. The good news is it’s not difficult to fix once you identify what’s causing the shot and then finally implement some simple drills. I used to hit many thin golf shots but learned how to hit compressed golf shots in the Rotary Swing system.

How to maintain lag angle in golf?

2. As you commence the downswing you need to maintain the angle you had at the top of the backswing between your right arm and the shaft (call lag angle). 3. Ideally you’ll want to maintain this angle until you reach the rear thigh and then you can release the golf club at the golf ball.

How to fix lag in golf club?

To fix you need to do a couple of things: 1. Ensure you have a light grip pressure particularly in the right hand (right-hander) so that when you start the downswing you are not pushing against the golf club and reducing the lag angle. 2.

Why is my golf ball thin?

Another common reason for hitting the golf ball thin is what’s called flipping or casting which happens in the golf downswing. This is when the clubhead overtakes the hands prior to reaching the rear thigh in the downswing and the clubhead reaches the golf ball on an upward trajectory exposing the lower or leading edge of the club.

Why is it so hard to catch the sweet spot in golf?

If your golf ball is positioned particularly too far forward in your stance, it makes it difficult to catch the sweet spot because the bottom of the swing arc is usually well before it reaches the golf ball. This exposes the bottom of the clubface leading to thinned golf shots.

How low does a golf ball travel?

The golf ball will typically travel very low to the ground or at least lower than your normal centred strike. Typically you won’t get a lot of spin on the golf ball, and if you’re lucky enough to hit the green it will most likely run through the back into trouble. Additionally, a thin shot will result in no divot being taken ...

How to stop hitting a golf ball thin?

Start with the easiest things to check: your basic setup positions. Make sure you aren't positioning the golf ball in your stance way off normal; make sure you aren't setting up with your shoulders aligned well right or left. These things can throw off where your swing bottoms out.

How does a thin shot affect golf?

A thin shot also often produces much more vibration that is felt in the golfer's hands. It's impossible to predict how a thin shot will turn out. If it's a low screamer but one that stays up in the air and then gets lots of roll-out, the ball can overshoot the target by a lot. If it's a ball that barely gets off the ground and then drops, ...

Why do golfers thin the ball?

Thin shots happen when the golf club impacts the golf ball too high on the ball - near or a little below the ball's equator. But what causes that ? Golfers thin the ball when our swing bottoms out in the wrong place. If your swing bottoms out behind the ball, the result is a fat shot. If the swing bottoms out ahead of the ball, ...

What is a thin shot in golf?

Updated April 29, 2019. A "thin shot" in golf is one in which the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high (near the midpoint of the golf ball, or slightly lower or higher), which typically results in a low, sometimes slicing shot. A thin shot also often produces much more vibration that is felt in ...

Why does my golf swing thinning?

Another common cause of thinning it is when the golfer raises up just before impact, lifting his or her head and torso. This pulls your arms up, too, which raises the club. In that case, even if the bottom of the swing is in the right place, the club will contact the golf ball too high on the ball's surface.

What does it mean when you hit a thin shot?

Golfers have various expressions when they hit a thin shot: Hitting a thin shot can be called "thinning it," or a golfer might say, "I thinned that one.". Golfers talk about "hitting it thin" or say "I caught the golf ball thin" or "That one was a little thin.". All mean that instead of making crisp, correct contact (sweeping the ball with woods, ...

What happens if you hit a short iron on the fairway?

If you're hitting from the fairway with a short iron or wedge and hit a thin shot, the ball might wind up way over the green.

What happens if you lie on an uphill golf course?

The main risk associated with an uphill lie is seeing your clubhead penetrate the ground deeply, oftentimes producing a fat shot or worse seeing the club failing to reach the ball at all .

How to protect against a shot from a flat surface?

To help protect against this risk position your spine so that it is perpendicular to the ground, as it is when hitting a shot from a flat surface .

What happens if you put the ball too far back in your stance?

If you don’t think about the ball positioning at all while setting up and if you position the ball too far back in your stance you could run the risk of seeing the ball sitting too low in contrast to your feet. This can result in a whiff where you would swing above the ball and miss it entirely, costing you a stroke.

How to make sure the ball is not too low?

To make sure the ball is not too low, favour a forward ball position rather than a ball back or a ball center position.

Why do you have to take a wider stance when setting up?

Take a Wider Stance. Because you are standing on uneven ground balance will immediately be an issue while setting up . Indeed, the hill will tend to move your weight back and may even throw you off balance over the course of your golf swing.

How many clubs difference for sidehill?

Note that depending on how severe the sidehill, that club adjustment may call for a two club difference, or maybe none at all…

Can you hit higher from an uphill lie?

Therefore you can expect to hit higher shots from an uphill lie but also shots that travel a shorter distance when compared to a normal shot with that same club from a flat lie. To account for that change in loft and ball flight you will need to club up, i.e. to use one more club than would normally be required.

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