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.
What is a lie in golf?
The first is simply where the golf ball sits. A golfer's lie is the location of the golf ball at rest. In this usage, the term typically refers to the quality of the ball's position; i.e., "do you have a good lie or bad lie?" or "how is your lie?"
What is a tight lie?
The term "tight lie" also implies that the ground under the ball is compact or firm. Tight lies can also be called thin lies or, in the case of an area of no grass, bare lies or hardpan lies .
What is a fluffy lie in golf?
Fluffy Lie: When the ball is sitting up on top of longish grass, which can lead to a golfer swinging the clubhead underneath the ball, catching little (or even none) of the golf ball.
Why are they called Tight Lies golf clubs?
If you see "Tight Lies" written as upper-case and plural, it's a reference to Adams Tight Lies golf clubs. Adams Golf first used Tight Lies as the name of a golf club in 1996, when it launched Adams Tight Lies fairway woods.
See more
How do you do a tight lie in golf?
1:103:27Tight Lies - How to Hit Golf Shots from Bare Lies - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou should still be able to get a good strike on the golf ball we should still be able to get theMoreYou should still be able to get a good strike on the golf ball we should still be able to get the ball to go in the air correctly. And actually spin a little bit more aggressively when it lands.
What does a lie mean in golf?
The 'lie angle' of any golf clubhead is the angle between the center of the shaft and the sole. About.com. The "lie angle" of any golf club is the angle formed between the center of the shaft and the sole, or ground line, of the club when the club is soled in its proper playing position (as at address).
How do you hit a tight lie wedge?
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.
How do you hit a ball from a tight lie?
0:465:46HOW TO HIT A CHIP SHOT ON A TIGHT LIE IN GOLF - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'll be content with low on the clubface. Type contact it'll come off a little bit lower and aMoreI'll be content with low on the clubface. Type contact it'll come off a little bit lower and a little bit more dead. But that would be plenty of forward lean for me on that shot.
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.
What is a bad lie in golf?
Bad Lie, Golf Term:When the golf ball sits in a position that makes getting clean contact difficult. Bad lies may occur on the fairway, but most often happen in the rough, a sand bunker, on patchy ground or hardpan.
Why are Tight Lies difficult?
Part of the reason tight lie chips are so difficult is there is no margin for error. The ball sits very close to the ground. We know for getting the ball airborne our club must pass slightly under it and, that's a difficult play. Some just give up and turn to putting from everywhere.
Which wedge to use on tight lies?
low bounce lob wedgesTypically, low bounce lob wedges are used to hit high flop shots or tight lies around the green. Low bounce wedges are also useful to players with a sweeper swing style, with shallower attack angles and minimal divots.
What is considered a tight lie?
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.
Do you use bounce on 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.
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 irons pure?
5:2510:11HOW TO HIT YOUR IRONS PURE WITH THIS SIMPLE DRILL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you will be hitting your irons pure all right so it's pretty simple we grip down like this doMoreAnd you will be hitting your irons pure all right so it's pretty simple we grip down like this do our normal grip normal like setup but you're bent.
Why is it so hard to get a tight lie in golf?
Why? For the same reason that beginners and higher-handicappers are more confident hitting off a tee than off the ground. Getting the ball up in the air is more difficult for higher-handicappers, whose confidence in doing so goes up when the golf ball is "sitting up."
What does it mean when a golf ball is tight?
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.
What Are Upper-Case Tight Lies?
If you see "Tight Lies" written as upper-case and plural, it's a reference to Adams Tight Lies golf clubs.
Why is it so hard to get the golf ball up in the air?
Getting the ball up in the air is more difficult for higher-handicappers, whose confidence in doing so goes up when the golf ball is "sitting up.". A tight lie can cause a golfer to fret over being able to get the club under the golf ball, which can lead to a fear of hitting a thin shot (or "blading" the ball).
Why are Adams golf fairways shaped?
Adams Golf exploded in sales and name recognition. Those Tight Lies fairway woods were shaped in a way to improve playability from a wide variety of lies (not just tight lies) and had low centers of gravity to help get the ball up in the air.
What was the original Adams tight lies?
The original Adams Tight Lies had a big impact on the golf industry, ushering in a focus on long-iron-replacement clubs such as the modern hybrids. Adams eventually used the Tight Lies name on many golf clubs.
What is tight lie?
Tight lies can also be called thin lies or, in the case of an area of no grass, bare lies or hardpan lies . Golfers can encounter tight lies anywhere on a golf course, but they are most commonly found on: and in closely-mowed (or "shaved") areas around putting greens (areas often called "green surrounds").
How To Chip Off Tight Lies In Golf
When chipping off a tight lie you need to be sure to utilize the bounce of your iron and minimize the shaft lean. The bounce refers to the bottom of your iron head that comes after the leading edge.
Best Wedge For A Tight Lie
When hitting a chip off of a tight lie you want to be sure that you are taking a safe shot. This is a tough lie and is going to make it more difficult than usual to hit the ball effectively.
How To Hit Fairway Wood On A Tight Lie
Hitting a fairway wood from a tight lie can be a tricky shot. Especially since hitting a slice or hook is likely going to end up with a lost ball. Though there are a few tips that can add some consistency to these shots.
What is a Tight Lie in Golf?
A tight lie occurs when the golf ball comes to rest at a part of the course where there is very little grass underneath it. When there is little to no grass underneath the golf ball, the golfer cannot take his normal divot while swinging. A lot of folks also refer to a tight lie as a thin shot or a bare lie.
Mike Noblin
Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He's been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.
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 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.
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.
How to hit off a tight lie?
Whether you're hitting an iron, hybrid club or fairway wood, the key to hitting off a tight lie is to play the ball slightly back in your stance (to the right, for a right-handed golfer) and strike it with a descending blow. On iron and hybrid shots, play the ball approximately in the center of your stance.
How to play bare lie golf?
A few keys to keep in mind when you find a bare lie: 1 On iron and hybrid shots, play the ball approximately in the center of your stance. For clubs with less loft, like a 5-iron or 3-hybrid, move it just forward (left) of center. 2 With fairway woods, the ball should be between center stance and your left foot. 3 Grip down slightly to aid your control of the clubhead. Good contact is critical. 4 If the ground is completely grass-free, stand slightly wider to avoid slipping. 5 At address, place slightly more weight on your left (lead) foot – about 55-60%. 6 Focus on hitting down on the back of the ball, and rotate your body through to the finish.
What does it mean to bounce on a tight lie?
Bounce on a tight will make the club rebound off of the ground and hit into the top half of the golf ball. The result is a very thin shot. Bounce is great if you are hitting out of thick grass or out of a greenside bunker. But using bounce when hitting a shot from a tight lie can produce some pretty awful shots.
What is the greatest concern for a golfer?
For the average golfer the greatest concern is hitting a clean shot.
Why is grass important in golf?
The grass gives a player confidence that even if they don't make a great swing there is a chance that the shot will come off well anyway. Take away the fluffy layer of grass and doubt creeps in. Tight lies demand that you pay special attention to your shot. If the ball sits on dirt and you hit the ground first the club can bounce into the ball. If the ground is soft then there is a good chance you may hit the shot fat.
How to get bounce off a golf club?
Your second option is to raise your hand position slightly at address. By raising your hands the heel of the club will come off of the ground. This will reduce the amount of bounce on the club. This shot is very effective out of hard packed sand.
What happens when you nailed a couple of shots off tight lies?
Once you've nailed a couple of shots off tight lies, your fear will dissolve. In fact, you may come to relish these opportunities.
What is a tight lie in golf?
Hitting a golf shot, especially a short pitch shot, off a tight lie is arguably one of the most uncomfortable shots for a recreational golfer to hit. Our golf ball can find any type of lie, and we need to be prepared to hit from any situation on the golf course. Tight lies can also be referred to as “hard pan” and in some cases a fairway can be ...
Where to find tight lies in golf?
The most common area we find tight lies is around the green, especially in collection areas or close to the lips of bunkers. High traffic areas close to cart paths and green exit/entrances can have very compact ground. In competition these areas close to paths may be marked as Ground Under Repair, but if it’s not, we play it as it lies. Determining the proper wedge and technique is imperative to high success rates with these particular lies. Many recreational golfers have just one or two wedges or use a similar technique as a regular pitch shot. Knowing how to play from these lies and what club to use, will help you get the ball on the green and close to the hole.
How much bounce does a golf wedge have?
Generally speaking, many golfers just purchase a sand wedge and lob wedge. The sand wedge is 56 degrees of loft with 12 degrees of bounce while the lob wedge is usually 60 degrees of loft with 8 degrees of bounce. Both clubs are designed to have the sole of the club (the bounce) make contact with the ground first i.e. bunker shot or thicker rough. When hitting off a tight lie, hitting the ground first is deadly. Many times in the rough our ball sits off the ground and up in the grass. With a tight lie the ball sits directly on the firm ground. If we use a club with high bounce, it’s very possible the club will hit the ground first and “bounce” up. The club, in all likelihood, will make contact in the middle of the ball creating a skull or even a heavy shot. Manufacturers offer many different combinations of loft and bounce with their wedges. When selecting your next wedges make sure to choose one with a lower bounce to help you clip the ball off tight lies.
What to do when your ball comes to rest on a tight lie?
The next time your ball comes to rest on a tight lie, remember to keep your lower body stable and be confident with your swing. “Keep your chin up” is not just an old saying to keep yourself in good spirits, but also applies to hitting off tight lies.
How much time do you need to practice golf?
Like most things in golf, you only become confident with practice. If you have a decent short game facility at your home club, it’s worth taking an hour each practice session and find a spot that has a tight lie or a closely mown area. Recreating game situations is the best way to practice and many people never take the time to work on something they would encounter during a game. Some days it’s likely you’ll deal with a tight lie more often than a perfect fairway lie.
What happens when you hit a golf club with a high bounce?
If we use a club with high bounce, it’s very possible the club will hit the ground first and “bounce” up. The club, in all likelihood, will make contact in the middle of the ball creating a skull or even a heavy shot.
How to get the leading edge of a golf club to slide under the ball?
In order to get the leading edge of your club to slide under the ball, we need to make sure the distance from chin to ball remains very similar throughout the swing. By having the thought of keeping your chin up or the image of someone holding a club under your chin during your swing can dramatically help.
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 golfer's lie?
A golfer's lie is the location of the golf ball at rest. In this usage, the term typically refers to the quality of the ball's position; i.e., "do you have a good lie or bad lie?" or "how is your lie?" Meaning, is the ball sitting on top of healthy fairway grass? (good lie); or, the opposite, has the ball sunk down into some think rough (a terrible lie)?
What does "hanging lie" mean in golf?
Hanging Lie: "Hanging lie" typically refers to a golf ball that is sitting on some kind of side slope or small decline so that the ball is below the level of the golfer's feet. (Although some golfers also use "hanging lie" to mean a ball sitting above one's feet.)
What is a fluffy lie?
Fluffy Lie: When the ball is sitting up on top of longish grass, which can lead to a golfer swinging the clubhead underneath the ball, catching little (or even none) of the golf ball. There is also the term " preferred lies ," which refers to a local rule that allows, under certain conditions, golfers to move their golf ball out ...
What is the difference between a cuppy lie and a fluffy lie?
The ball is very tight to the ground with little room to get the golf club's leading edge through what grass there is. Cuppy Lie: When the ball is stitting down slightly, as if in (or actually in) a slight depression. Fluffy Lie: When the ball is sitting up on top of longish grass , which can lead to a golfer swinging the clubhead underneath ...
What is the lie angle of a golf club?
And "lie" is also shorthand for "lie angle," which refers to the angle of the shaft relative to the sole of the golf club as it is properly grounded. For best results, the lie angle of a golfer's clubs should match the type of swing he has; depending on the type of swing, a golfer might benefit from a higher lie angle or a lower lie angle.
What is an uneven lie in golf?
The golf club, upon striking the hard ground, will often bounce up, resulting in many shots hit thin. Uneven Lies: A catch-all category that includes sidehill lies (ball on the side of an incline), uphill lies (ball on the upward face of an incline with the golfer's feet below the level of the ball) and downhill lies ...
What is hardpan lie?
Hardpan Lie: Hardpan is any spot in fairways, rough or other playing areas other than hazards where the ground is very hard due to compacting of the soil. The term is particularly applied to hard, bare patches of dirt, but it equally applies to grassed areas where the grass is closely mown on top of very compact soil.