Soft Ground

[bonzi_532]

In Kansas it has rained a lot over the past week. Obviously the low spots of the golf course are extremely soft and i find that i am chunking almost all of the shots that i make out of this type of lie. I moved the ball back a little in my stance but i still dont get solid contact. What can i do to be able to play the soft ground as well as normal ground?

[GregJWillis]

Re: Soft Ground

There are 2 problems with wet ground. The fact that you are expierencing -- the club starting in a steep angle as it sould with irons and you hit just a little behind it and the club just keeps going down and down and down with nothing to stop it. The second is your feet. They sink, raises the ball up. So you are more prone to hit behind it even more.

The first solution is to know this. And next it to counter it. Choke up as much as you think you are sinking. Be ready to take more club if you choak up more then an inch. You will now be hitting it lower and with less carry, so you really have to think about what you have to do to carry the ball to your landing spot. The only good thing about wet conditions is that the ball will generally stop dead on the green creating a nice deep crater. So you don't have to worry too much about a low running shot going over the green.

The second solution is learn to pick a ball clean with a shallow attack. Moving the ball back is not enough. That creates a steep angle. To get the shallow angle, take a driver/3w mentality over your irons. Take the club back low and long with the shoulders...big shoulder turn. Use as little hand set as you can stand. Think sweep up on the ball. Put your eyes in the front of the ball and try to hit that part first.

All these things will help you in the slop.

[bonzi_532]

Re: Soft Ground

I will try both of these tomorow and see which i like better or which works better

[LowPost42]

Re: Soft Ground

Good show Greg.

My course has some low spots that get quite soggy after rain (and when the course first opens - I know all about the 'casual water' rule.

I'll have to try your advice.

Roughly how much distance do you lose hitting into soggy ground? Generally speaking should I take one more club? Two?

[GregJWillis]

Re: Soft Ground

It's generally about a club for every inch you choak up. But also depends on the type of shot you are playing. If you try to play a high fade, you might be able to get away with the same distances in dry conditions. Normal to draws need a the extra since there will be absoutly no run after the splat.

Trying to play the ball forward to gain the extra hight and carry can be dangerous if not struck just right. The devistation of anything even remotly fat will not only cause the ball to go nowhere, but you better have a towel available to clean you off.

My perference is always to try to pick is as clean as you can..erroring on the side of thin.

[bonzi_532]

Re: Soft Ground

Although the ground dried out a little bit i hit my clubs a lot better in the soft ground...i only chunked one shot with my lob wedge which i tried to get cute with.......every other ball was clean.......and i beat one of my coaches........i ended up in a good position to shoot a 40 on the front as i was 33 through 7..........thank you for the advice.....it helped especially with long irons

[GregJWillis]

Re: Soft Ground

Love it! Great job.

[bonzi_532]

Re: Soft Ground

On our hole 2 yesterday it played straight into a stiff wind(20-30 with gusts of 50) . I out drive him.....he has a good shot to the pin....plays a 4i and it baloons on him...i have a tree in my way....draw a perfect shot back just short of the green! I am playing a lot better and my teach will love it this weekend when i get back with him! Thanks a million times

[ilang]

Re: Soft Ground

When you address the ball,focus on the greenside of the ball(in front of the ball)This also helps in chipping and long bunker shots.

[MrMulligan]

Re: Soft Ground

I'm not a low handicapper but what I find works on soft ground is:

1) have slightly stronger grip in left hand. right hand can also be slightly stronger. i dont lean it forward any more than usual.
2.) put ball in center or 1 ball width forward of center.
3.) focus on turning the toe gradually (coming round in to out a bit better).
4.) keep turning the toe of the club through impact.

Point 3,4 is to encourage a sweeping angle without breaking wrists. if you do flub it's not a bad as the angle is more forward, and goes low, rather than sliding under completely with a open face.

If you turn the toe through aggressively you may draw it a bit, or hit it a bit thin, but the chance of a fat flub is less, so you kind of have to balance those chances....