So you need some help with your recovery shots?
No round is perfect, even the best players in the world - when shooting their lowest scores - will have to perform a recovery shot at some time. Whether it's executing a delicate bunker shot, controlling a low punched wedge, or sending high lob shot onto the green, if you want to score well you'll need to recover well. If you're struggling with your recovery shots then try some of these tips and see if it helps.
Use the bounce in bunkers...
Bunker play is an area that most people struggle with because they end up using either the wrong tool for the job or (more commonly) the wrong part of the tool. To begin with, make sure you use a sandwedge that has plenty of bounce on it. Bounce is the angle between the leading edge of the club and the back edge (see top image on the right). In most bunker shots you face, the bounce of the club is important to stop the clubhead digging into the sand too much. When playing bunker shots, try to feel as though you are returning the club into the sand with the bottom of the club "splashing" the sand out of the bunker, rather than the sharp front edge "digging" into the sand. You should feel as though the clubhead is passing the hands much sooner than a normal shot (see bottom image on the right).
Bunker play is an area that most people struggle with because they end up using either the wrong tool for the job or (more commonly) the wrong part of the tool. To begin with, make sure you use a sandwedge that has plenty of bounce on it. Bounce is the angle between the leading edge of the club and the back edge (see top image on the right). In most bunker shots you face, the bounce of the club is important to stop the clubhead digging into the sand too much. When playing bunker shots, try to feel as though you are returning the club into the sand with the bottom of the club "splashing" the sand out of the bunker, rather than the sharp front edge "digging" into the sand. You should feel as though the clubhead is passing the hands much sooner than a normal shot (see bottom image on the right).
Know your enemy when playing a low shot...
It might be a windy day, or you could be trying to keep your shot under a tree in front of you, but a controlled low shot is something that should be in your skill set if you want to shoot better scores on the golf course. Try to resist the temptation to hit these shots "hard" to drive them forward, because what inevitably happens is you produce too much spin on the golf ball, making it go even higher than normal (especially into the wind). If you want to keep the ball lower make sure you use a club with less loft and make a shorter, slower swing to limit the amount of spin you create. If you can return the golf club to impact with more shaft lean this will help you decrease the loft of the clubface at impact and start your ball lower. |
Calculate the risk / reward of the shot...
Everyone wants to be like Phil Mickleson and play an amazing high flighted, soft landing lob shot that finishes next to the flag. In reality, he only really plays that shot if he absolutely has to. Plus he has practised thousands of the same shot beforehand to have the confidence to play this shot successfully. Think of this shot like the emergency services, only use it if you absolutely have to. More often than not, playing the percentages and hitting towards the centre of a green will stop you from taking unnecessary risks.
Everyone wants to be like Phil Mickleson and play an amazing high flighted, soft landing lob shot that finishes next to the flag. In reality, he only really plays that shot if he absolutely has to. Plus he has practised thousands of the same shot beforehand to have the confidence to play this shot successfully. Think of this shot like the emergency services, only use it if you absolutely have to. More often than not, playing the percentages and hitting towards the centre of a green will stop you from taking unnecessary risks.