How to make a low golf shot under trees

One of the great aspects of golf is how many different situations we are faced with during a single round of golf, and the more tools we can apply to get out of those difficult situations with minimal damage, it can make a difference of five or six. . or more, strokes in our handicap. One of those difficult situations we invariably run into is when we need to hit a low golf shot under the trees.

There is always more than one way out of this situation, and sometimes the safest way to turn the tables on the fairway is the best. Depending on how the ball lays, where the additional hazards are, and how much space under the tree you have to work with, sometimes it’s best to take your medicine and go the safe route. But hitting the low golf shot under trees, or I call it punching, can often get you out of trouble without sacrificing distance.

My first piece of advice on how to hit a low golf shot under trees, and this goes against what many people believe, is to not put the ball too far back in your stance. It’s true that you want to remove the loft of the club, and positioning the ball back will do the trick, but you also want to put little to no backspin on the ball. You’ll create backspin when you hit the ball in a downward arc, which is what you’ll do if the ball is coming back. Instead, to hit a low golf shot under the trees, try this:

1. Over clover by at least two. You’ll be taking a shortened swing and want less loft and therefore less height on the ball.

2. Place the ball in the center of your stance.

3. Catch yourself with the stick, just a little.

4. Flatten your swing, lower the club back, and don’t twist your wrists.

5. Keep your hands well in front of the ball at impact, which will result in a loose clubhead.

6. Finish with the clubhead down and again without hitting the wrists.

7. Swing slow and easy, concentrating on making solid contact with the ball.

I call it a “slam shot” as to me I get the feeling of just hitting the ball low, keeping it off the ground and then taking distance from the roll. As I mentioned earlier, the quality of the lie will determine if I attempt this shot. If I can’t get the whole clubface on the ball, it’s too risky to try. Also, if the area where I expect to roll is extremely wet and won’t produce much roll, the risk/reward of the shot may be too high.

A great little driving range drill is to stop your golf bag about four to five feet in front of you and try to hit the balls through your legs and under the bag. If you keep hitting the bag, slow down your swing. Under the right circumstances, this is a good opportunity to have on the golf course. No matter what your level of golf, there will be times when knowing how to hit a low golf shot under the trees will be advantageous.