How do you hit a shot low, below a tree branch?

[mellojoe]

I'm a beginner, so I apologize if I don't have my terms right.

Played last Tuesday evening. I hit a drive that sliced to the right and I ended up in some trees. Not too far in, just enough that I was positioned with a shot I hadn't seen yet.

Tree on the left. Tree on the right. Their branches about five feet in front of me, about four feet off the ground. And they were aimed exactly where I wanted to go to get back on the fairway with a decent 3rd shot onto the green, if I can get it about 80-100 yards or so.

However.... how do you shape a ball to hit it lower than usual?

(Also, conversely, how would you shape a ball to hit it higher than usual to get over a hump or something?)

For me, I took my 5-iron (least loft, most comfort) and hit it easy and ended up OK, although I hit the branches and ended up only about 30 yards in the right direction causing me to have to get real lucky with a long 3rd shot onto the green which I missed.

How do you adjust the height of a ball?

[FortAsel]

Her'e what I like to do:

1st: put the ball really close to the right foot (if you are right handed)
2nd: grip it a bit closer to the shaft
3rd: hit the ball with a descending blow. In this stage I actually try to feel as if my torso goes down. This helps me to punch the ball

[JKilgore44]

Position the ball farther back in your stance than normal, slightly in front of the right foot.

Keep your hands forward of the ball. This will de-loft the club a little helping to keep it lower.

Take a shorter swing, almost 3/4, and follow through low.

Congratulations, you just hit a punch shot

[Brooklyn]

Try hitting it with your driver or 3 wood stand closer to the ball with a descending blow with about a half swing. I dont know if this is the correct way or not but it works for me... Especially if you are in a situation that you cant take a full swing.

[trjohnson2]

Ive found for me the most important things are
1. ball back in the stance
2. low follow through (bring the hands around the hips rather than up)
3. hands forward to deloft the club a bit

[Matt10]

Did this the other day from 180 out, tree branch 2 yards ahead, had to hit a low slicer to get to the fat of the green.

3-wood is what I pulled out because I was in the rough and I wanted it to slice a bit. Set up weight forward, ball in center to forward in stance. The swing itself is just me turning back and turning through with no use of the arms.

Worked like a charm as the ball screamed low under the branches and went dead straight for about 175 yards. Oh well, chipped it close and saved par.

[MunkeyGolfer]

Ive found for me the most important things are

This is the same as I do.

[x-forged]

when i do it, i incorporate a swing flaw, which isn't always advised but it seems to work for me.
Everything trjohnson2 said is right, and i will add this tidbit.

on the follow through, sway the hips forward instead of turn them like you normally would. this is going to de-loft the club even more, but make sure to account for the fade when you push the hips forward...

[Dub]

Years ago, I was a member of Farmville CC in Farmville, NC.


There are numerous fairways that run parrallel...especially on the front side. Pine trees provide the border between fairways.

The pro there, Tom Braswell, took the time to instruct me on a very useful shot shortly after I joined (I was a beginner at the time, too). He knew fully well that my inconsistent tee shots on the tight course would put me in trouble often.

He showed me the wonderful punch shot. It's low....it's hot....and rises slowly and runs a good distance.

I generally use a 4 iron for the shot.

Narrow stance...ball about 1/4 back from middle.....hands leading the ball at address......nice slow takeaway...only about 2/3 of normal.....keep hands moving foward through impact, retaining their lead, well ahead of the ball at impact....make sure to hit down for solid contact.

It should come out low for several yards and then rise and run.

It's basically a very controlled / limited and exagerated knockdown shot.

Practice on the range and see what works for you.

Getting out of trouble is a vital part of the game. You are doing well in getting on top of it now.

Best of luck and keep loving the game!!!!

[DavidFehertysBike]

Years ago, I was a member of Farmville CC in Farmville, NC.

Bingo. Cant phase it anymore clearly than that. A long iron punch is a

must have shot for any golfer.

[x-forged]

agreed. well said dub. I couldnt agree more DavidFehertysBike, it is a must have.

[NBGC]

Agree with what everyone else said.

Although the fairway punches are alot easier to hit than the greenside shots. Elevated green, green slopes away from you- perfect for a flop, but there's a tree and the branches block any shot higher than 8ft. I always try to punch it just far enough to hit the ridge before the grren so it stops the ball so it can trickle onto the green. But of course I either hit it a little too hard and I'm chipping from the other side of the green or freak myslef out and decelerate and flub it 4 ft. Well, at least I have a clean 2nd shot

[pjsnyc]

ball back in stance, hands ahead of ball, and a shallowed swing plane works for me :)

[mellojoe]

Thanks! I'm excited to try this one out. Not that I'm looking forward to another trip in the trees, but I'm excited to see how well I can punch it out.

THANKS!

[bk99lax]

Hitting low or high shots can be pretty easy it just depends on where you set up your ball. In your situation with the tree you'd wanna punch the ball out. So just play the ball way back in your stance. (close to your right foot). Assuming the branches are very low as you said you might wanna hit was as low lofted club as possible. Just remember to keep your hands forward so the club face has a really low angle. Now for High shots you wanna do the opposite. Practice around at the range with ball positions either toward your left foot (high) or your right foot (low).

[mellojoe]

Got to try this tonight.

I took your tips. Used my 5-iron. Put the ball well back in my stance, kept my hands ahead of the ball. Punched it out.

The ball stayed low, and went on the tragectory exactly as I imagined it.

THANKS!

PS: I had a bad round today, but this was my happy moment. Finding this shot to work means I improved, even though my score went the wrong way.

[jasongst]

In addition to what people are saying here, I like to limit my release. This means I need to take an extra strong grip, and the follow through is very stiff and muted. The face is a bit closed at address. The benefit, it seems, is that it's easy to keep the hands in front of the club. I also find that I can hit this shot pretty hard, and it's easy to keep it straight. It's great for hitting a controlled shot into the wind.

[NickNasty]

Years ago, I was a member of Farmville CC in Farmville, NC.

Nice to see a fellow eastern North Carolinian up here. I grew up in Greenville and played Farmville cc numerous times, though Ayden cc was my course of choice.