Golf Fix

Many player use this shot when the second cut of rough around the green is really thick and the ball is nestled deep in the grass, requiring a different setup and technique than you would use from a good lie.

Lift the heel to ‘toe’ the shot

Stand with your feet close together and the ball positioned off your back foot. Lift the heel of your sand wedge off the ground and close the clubface slightly. Aim a little right of your target to compensate for the hooded clubface.

Keeping your wrists firm, take the club back steeply and then hit down abruptly into the back of the ball. Here’s the key: Make contact about a ball-width in from the toe of the club. With the heel raised up, the clubhead will cut through the grass and pop the ball out. The ball will fly fairly low and have some hooking spin on it but, trust me, it will come out of the thick stuff. It’s a much safer shot than opening the blade and using a full swing to hit the high lob.