How to Avoid Fat Shots on Wet Spring Fairways

My local course had a great deal this past weekend: 18 holes for $20. I live in Central Ontario, and it was somewhere between +5 and +10 degrees C out (41-50 F), but windy as Hell and generally cold out. Still, I'd be golfing, so....

Bottom line, I couldn't hit an iron without taking up a huge divot, like the size of my foot. The ground was really damp because a week ago there was still snow on it, but there was only snow or ice in the shady spots at this point.

Question: How can I play an iron on soggy ground without taking a huge divot? I played the ball centre or back of centre on most of my shots, trying to hit the ball first, but it was no good. I ended up playing fairway shots with my 3 hybrid for most of the back 9.

Any ideas? Please help, as I'd like to take advantage of this deal as long as I can.

Oh man, this is a post close to my heart. This was a big problem for me yesterday and one of the two big reasons I put up a massive number.

Two things:

1) Club accordingly. My lob wedge has 4° of bounce. It stayed in the bag except for one emergency shot I had to hit (and it was off of baked out hard pan after relief. For chipping, instead of the LW or the medium bounce GW I usually use, I went with my high bounce SW once I realized the other wedges weren't working. I also avoided the technique of using the bounce that I had been practicing here because it just didn't work out in muddy areas.

2) Get that weight forward. I don't like putting the ball back in my stance to ensure contact with ball first; bad things with shot direction and hosels tend to happen. If anything, I play them like fairway bunker shots where I put the ball fractionally forward and get my weight way forward. I try to feel like I'm going down to get the ball. Both of those things encourage a draw and so I play for it accordingly.

Remember, divots aren't bad, it's just where you start them. Before the ball, it's gonna be a fat shot. After the ball, it's fine. Just replace the divot. I was taking big chunks with my wedges on approach shots. Put them back, stomp on them to get them as even as you can, or fill them with sand, and you move on. It's part of playing golf on a golf course.

But yeah, weight forward. It's something you should be practicing anyway. I had some problems with it after the winter, and I noticed I was hitting a bit fat on the range so I drilled on that a bit. One drill I like is to practice hitting out of a divot. I don't have a grass range, so I take the rubber tee out of the mat, put the ball into that depression so it's sitting down, maybe even step on it if I'm feeling frisky, and try to get the ball out cleanly. If you don't hit it clean, you're gonna hit a chunky shot.

Wet, soggy, sponge conditions, especially on dormant zoysia turf, are usually not a ton of fun.

Full swing shots requires hitting the ball first.

Hitting slightly behind the ball will usually be a shot off the top portion of the club face, or worse, a totally fat shot.

A sweeping arc with a small brushing divot, is a safe manner for spring play.

Moisture between the ball and club face during contact is inevitable, so club up and swing in control for the best outcome.

It's spring, your out playing golf, enjoy it.

Better course conditions are only few weeks away.

Club Rat

Since your feet sink in a little, a tip I read was to grip down a bit.

Thanks! I'm hoping to get out on Saturday so I'll try it then.

Ball first contact is paramount in soggy conditions ... I have my best luck when slightly shortening my backswing and keeping a bit more weight forward - helps with the dreaded fat shots that go nowhere off the slop.

Well, I played in soggy conditions. I can't hit a hybrid in soggy conditions to save my life. Iron play didn't seem to be a problem. I just played normally. I hit a few shots fat, but that was due to losing balance on uneven ground. We'll get used to that as the season progresses. First round can be a little rough.

So, weight forward with a controlled arc. Thanks.

I guess the trick is keeping it level and not hitting down too much. I thought I was doing that, by maybe my left side was tilting forward because of my ball position. I'll try and keep those shoulders level this weekend.