5 Simple Keys to Overcoming Bad Lies
As you wander around the golf course, you may notice that not all lies are created equal. Wouldn’t it be nice if you hit the ball in a flat, even spot on perfect grass? This might sound great, but it can also get a little boring. After all, there’s something satisfying about hitting a great shot from a bad lie, and my five keys below can help you tackle some of the trickiest lies in golf.
1. Identify lies
Start by asking yourself: “What percentage of the ball can I see?”
The less visible part of the ball, the worse the lie and the more adjustments you need to make. When the ball actually lands on grass, turf, or sand, you have to pay special attention to your strategy and positioning. No matter which situation you face, the results of the adjustments you make and the ball flight will be very similar.
2. Respect buried lies
You have to recognize and respect the difficulty of the situation when the ball drops so far that you can barely see it. The deeper the ball lands, the harder it is to make clean contact with the clubface, which reduces the quality of the shot and the overall distance you can expect.
Acknowledge these limitations and choose more conservative goals. For example, if your ball is buried in a bunker, it would be wise to play toward the wider part of the green, where there is more room to roll.
Remember, the worse the lie, the harder it is to generate enough capacity to cover greater distances. Target areas that don’t require a lot of forced carry.
3. Be as lean as you want
The most important adjustment is to tilt your torso and club shaft toward the target, allowing your lead shoulder to drop as your weight moves forward. Your body and club should be evenly tilted in this direction—the worse the lie, the more pronounced the tilt will be.
This leading shoulder drop is key. As your shoulder angle steepens, so does the club’s angle of attack, pushing the club head down into the grass, sand, or wherever the ball is. This steeper shot allows the club to slide off the back of the ball before entering the ground. Because your stance and swing are steeper, the club will naturally dig downward – exactly what you want when the ball sits. Your follow-up may be limited, and that’s completely normal.
Keep your weight and upper body forward throughout the swing. Avoid moving back as doing so will reduce your desired steepness and prevent the club from properly cutting into the target side of the ball.
4. React to reduced loft
As you lean forward to make better contact with the buried ball, the clubface naturally loses loft. The worse the lie, the more loft you need and the more effective your club loft will be.
To compensate, you may want to choose a club with more loft so you can still get the ball in the air and avoid bad lies. You may also want to adjust your aim so that whatever distance you can generate safely gets you back into the game.
In the worst-case scenario, you might just need to take your medicine: grab a high wedge, dig the ball out, and keep going. Dark fescue grass is a perfect example of the smartest choice for this conservative approach.
5. Steep speed and a little attitude
When the ball does get buried, you may have to use some inner aggression and speed to dig it out. I call it having a bit of attitude. Once you get your form right and keep your weight forward, your swing will naturally get steeper.
In many serious lies, you need more speed than usual to get the ball out. Anticipate this and be prepared to put in the extra effort to pop the ball and get back into the game.
