Breaking 80

1) Five Keys To Short Sand Shots
2) Taming a Crosswind
3) Question of the Week - Conquering Uphill Lies

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1) Five Keys To Short Sand Shots
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Short sand shots out of a deep bunker can ruin a good score. They're among the hardest shorts to hit for weekend golfers, especially if the ball is close to the front lip. You not only have to hit out of the sand, you have to get the ball to pop almost straight up to avoid hitting the bunker's lip. That's why it often takes recreational golfers multiple shots to get out. But don't let the shot scare you. By making the right adjustments, you can get out in one and set yourself up for a short putt.

Here are six keys to making short sand shots:

1. Open the clubface wide
2. Take a wide stance for stability
3. Squat down a little at address
4. Make a three-quarter backswing
5. Take a full turn against a stable body
6. Face the target at the finish

This shot isn't as hard as it looks. To get the ball in the air quickly, open the clubface about 30 degrees and keep it open throughout the shot, enabling you to get under the ball. Take a wide stance for stability, since you'll be making a firm swing, and play the ball just inside the heel of your front foot. Squat down a little, too, which helps you get the swing arc below the level of the ball.

Now take a three-quarter swing, keeping your legs quiet and your feet planted. It's on this shot to important to keep the lower body stable because you'll be making a full shoulder turn. Swing the club into the sand about an inch behind the ball. Keep your wrists firm as they go through the sand, with the clubface pointing straight up. Turn your shoulders through so they face the target at the finish.

Don't hurry the shot. Take your time with it. Make sure your setup is perfect and your feet are firmly planted. Then, take a short swing. Practice the shot when you can. You'll find it easier to make than you thought.

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2) Taming a Crosswind
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The British Open is back at Carnoustie this year. In 1975 Tom Watson won his first major at Carnoustie in extremely windy conditions. He was two under par when he came to the 166 yard 13th. Deep bunkers in front of the green guarded the pin and a crosswind buffeted shots. But Watson played the crosswind perfectly, making par when he needed to and winning the championship.

Here are the basics to playing in the wind.

1. Choose the right club
2. Complete the shoulder turn
3. Widen your stance for stability
4. Stay low in the hitting zone
5. Finish with your weight forward

While the basics are the same, playing in a crosswind is slightly different strategy-wise than playing in a head or a tailwind. In a headwind, you play the ball back in your stance and swing about 80 percent of your normal swing. Swinging softly reduces the ball’s spin, which prevents it from flying high, where it is susceptible to the wind.

In a tailwind, you do the complete opposite. You play the ball forward in your stance and hit it higher for more distance. The wind does the rest, so you can also count on the ball flying straighter and longer, even on mis-hits in a tailwind.

But in a crosswind you curve the ball into the wind, if you want it to land softly. If you want it to land and roll, you “ride” the wind. The wind acts like the slope of a green and makes the ball curve, just as the slope of the putting surface does. So you need to determine which way the crosswind is blowing—right to left or left to right—and then hit your shot accordingly.

For example, with the wind moving right to left when Watson played the 13th hole and the pin tucked in behind a couple of bunkers on the right side of the green, Watson played into the crosswind. He aimed at the right edge of the green and let the wind blow the ball back on target. He also played a slight fade, so the ball would land on the far right side of the green, where it would bounce and go left with the crosswind.

Playing in a crosswind, like playing in a head or tail wind, is tricky. But you can do it with right mindset. Practice in a crosswind to get a better feel for the shot. Then, carry it over the next time you play. Knowing how to playing a crosswind cuts strokes from your scores without swinging a club.

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3) Question of the Week - Conquering Uphill Lies
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Q.
I have difficulty controlling the draw/hook from an uphill lie. I usually take an extra club, choke down, and weaken my grip. But I still hit a big draw or miss-hit and push the ball way right.

Any suggestions?

A. Three factors come in to play when hitting from an uphill lie: your setup, the hill's slope, and the shot's trajectory. Here are some tips on dealing with these three factors:

* Club selection is key. The slope's angle changes the club's effective loft, altering the shot's trajectory. In severe cases, a 7-iron becomes a 9-iron. Experience tells you just how much of a change to expect. It sounds like you've accounted for this, but you might try going down another club on occasion.

* Stance is another consideration. Tailor your stance to the slope. Your spine should be perpendicular to it, meaning your shoulders will tilt back and your back knee will support most of your weight. Correct weight distribution at address largely determines this shot's success.

* Backswing is a third consideration. Keep your weight pretty much where it was at address in the backswing. The less drift forward, which recreational players tend to do, the cleaner the shot. Concentrate on making a wide takeaway and keeping your wrists quiet in the backswing's early stages.

With an uphill lie, you must go with the slope. Since your weight's farther back and your lower body less active than usual, you'll have a tendency of pulling, caused by your hands getting over active at impact. To avoid this, keep the clubface looking at the ball as long as possible by swinging with the slope. Finish in balance, your back leg supporting most of your weight.

Until next time,
Go Low!

JJ Louw

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