Short Game · Lesson
Three Odd Shots for Ugly Lies
Part of our short game programs for distance control. Build a program with it
Some lies need a strange-looking shot. Practice these before you need them. Ball resting against thick fringe? Stand closer and lift your putter's heel, so only the toe touches the grass. Hit it off the toe. A tree blocking your stance? Turn a wedge upside down and make a small chip from the other side. A firm bunker with a low lip? Just putt it out, like a long putt that rolls up onto the green.
Step by step
- Against the fringe: putt off the toe.
- Lift the putter heel and stand closer.
- Tree in the way: flip the wedge and chip.
- Keep that motion small.
- Firm, low-lipped bunker: putt it.
Why it works
Each shot gets around a lie that stops a normal swing. Putting off the toe keeps the putter's leading edge from catching thick grass behind the ball, because only a small part of the face meets the turf. Flipping the wedge lets you swing from the side where the tree isn't in the way, and a small motion keeps contact simple. Putting from a firm bunker works because the sand is hard and the lip is low, so the ball can roll out instead of needing to be lifted.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the putter flat so the whole sole drags through the fringe grass.Lift the heel so only the toe touches the grass, and stand closer to the ball.
- Taking a long, fast swing with the flipped wedge.Keep the motion small and let the ball roll out, since you only need to get it back into play.
- Trying to putt out of a bunker that has soft sand or a tall lip.Only putt it when the sand is firm and the lip is low, and use a normal bunker shot otherwise.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball comes off the toe with a clean, short tap and rolls forward without the putter snagging in the grass.
- With the flipped wedge, you strike the ball cleanly and it starts on your intended line without the club hitting the tree.
- The ball from the firm bunker rolls up the face of the lip and onto the green at a pace you can predict.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice each shot on a flat, short, forgiving lie with the target only a few paces away.
Harder: Practice from thicker fringe, tighter tree positions and longer bunker putts, and pick a small landing spot for each ball.
Common questions
Can you putt from the fringe when the grass is thick?
Yes, if the ball sits against the thicker grass, lift the putter's heel and hit the ball off the toe. This stops the putter from catching in the grass behind the ball.
When can you putt out of a bunker?
You can putt when the sand is firm and the lip is low enough for the ball to roll over it. If the sand is soft or the lip is tall, the ball will not roll cleanly, so use a normal bunker shot.
