How often do you hit out of the water?

[BioGolfNebraska]

Ever try and hit the ball out of shallow water instead of taking a drop?

There is a series of Cialis commercials that air on Golf Channel every now and then where they give tips on rather difficult shots such as bunker shots from a downhill lie.  One of the commercial tips was how to hit out of shallow water to avoid a penalty stroke.

Recently, I came up short on a 175 yard par 3 where the whole distance between the tee box and green is a big lake.  There is a drop box on the right side of the lake about 1/3 of the way across the lake.  When I got to the other side to look for my ball, I noticed that it was sitting just at the edge of the lake in about 4 inches of water.  Remembering the Cialis commercial (which makes this shot look so easy), my friend suggested I try the shot.  We tend to do a lot of friendly heckling during our golf rounds and end up trying to talk the other into playing aggressively: par 5s in 2 even if anything short is in deep trouble/hazard, chips when we should putt, etc..

This water shot needed just a short 15 yard plop and it would be on the green for a chance at an up and down. I thought "what the hell", took off my shoes, and decided to try it. The only tip I could remember from the commercial was to swing hard.  I swung very hard and splashed about a gallon of algae water up in my face, not to mention this black mud.  After looking down, my ball was in the exact same spot that it was before the swing.  The look on my wife's face when I got back home from golfing covered head-to-toe in mud was priceless.

Have any of you attempted the shot out of water?  Any success?  Time to share your water shot stories.  Needless to say, I will probably not attempt this shot again.

[zipazoid]

As long as the ball isn't totally submerged, it's really not a hard shot. If it is totally submerged, don't even try it. Take the drop.

So the rule of thumb is, if any of the ball (preferably at least half of it) is above the water, give it a go.

[Aquaguru]

Yes I have I was in a similar situation as you were. I kept my shoes on as it was towards the end of the round. I played it like a bunker shot, I made it up on the green but was still left with a 15 footer. It was fun though I would definitely do it again.

[BioGolfNebraska]

Well, I would probably have to agree.  But sometimes in golf (and in life), we do things that are not a great idea but are oozing with potential.  Either way it makes for an original round of golf and a great story:

• option 1: I shot a 10 on a par 3 because I was an idiot and tried to hit the ball out of the lake (reality).
• option 2: I hit the ball into the lake but still parred/bogied the hole.

My shot was clearly submerged, about 4" below the surface of the water.

I'm pretty sure the shot on the Cialis commercial was at least a couple inches below the surface as well (if I remember correctly- could be wrong).  He plopped it right up next to the pin on his shot.

[TourSpoon]

I have attempted 2 in the past year. The first one was about 1/4 submerged on the right hand bank. I had a good stance (aiming up the bank, one foot on the bank, one in water) and was able to blast it into the fairway which gave me a definite advantage over taking a drop.  The second one was on the left side of the bank where my stance would have to be in the water. I took off my shoes and socks and had to choke down to the steel (bad idea) as my knees barely were above water. I barely advanced the ball and luckily had a stance. I gained no advantage by doing this over a drop and would not try this shot again as I easily could have made it worse.

The key to hitting this shot is to play it like you would in the bunker. You splash the water which carries the ball out. You don't need to swing hard, you just have to be decisive and commit to the shot. Normally, I will only attempt this if half the ball is 50% or less submerged and that I know it will improve my position over taking a drop.

[Dave2512]

Never the reason being exactly what you described. Even if I managed to pull it off the stroke saved isn't worth played the rest of the round covered in muck.

[RonTheSavage]

Never, not worth it to me yet.

[vo-man]

Originally Posted by RonTheSavage

Never, not worth it to me yet.

+1

If there were hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line maybe...but since I'm not a pro what's the point?

take the drop and move on.   wet socks suck.

[BioGolfNebraska]

Originally Posted by vo-man

+1

If there were hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line maybe...but since I'm not a pro what's the point?

take the drop and move on.   wet socks suck.

I know this sounds really stupid, but I did not think I would get nearly as muddy as I did.  I thought maybe a little wet from the splash.  I own a pair of golf sandals from footjoy that I was wearing that day, so no wet socks.  It was the thick, black, grimey mud in my face, clothes, and hair that was the problem.  I honestly thought I could wack it out no problem, too.  I think I might try this again if the ball is partly above water.  Until then, I might just try to hit it OVER the water.

[BuckeyeNut]

A partially submerged ball is a rare shot to have and most people never experience it.  I've played this shot only a few times in 20yrs of playing, but don't remember the results.  LOL

My take on the shot:

1.  If during a competitive match.....

If the ball is sitting where I have a clean stance without risking sinking my shoes in mud, I'll try it if I think I can pull it off.  If I need to remove my shoes and wade into the water/mud side of the ball, I'll take the penalty.  I'd rather drop and be done with it even if skins are on the line.  I don't play for enough $$$ to entice me to slop around in the mud...LOL

2. If it's just a casual round, I'll take the penalty every time.

[poser]

I had this shot in the last tournament I played in and tried it for the first time ever.  It was about half way in the water so I said what the hell always wanted to try it.  Hit it like a bunker shot and got the ball up on the green.

[vo-man]

the water on most of the golf courses in this area is pretty scary.  it can keep whatever balls it catches.

[Dave2512]

Originally Posted by vo-man

the water on most of the golf courses in this area is pretty scary.  it can keep whatever balls it catches.

No doubt.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by BioGolfNebraska

Ever try and hit the ball out of shallow water instead of taking a drop?

There is a series of Cialis commercials that air on Golf Channel every now and then where they give tips on rather difficult shots such as bunker shots from a downhill lie.  One of the commercial tips was how to hit out of shallow water to avoid a penalty stroke.

Recently, I came up short on a 175 yard par 3 where the whole distance between the tee box and green is a big lake.  There is a drop box on the right side of the lake about 1/3 of the way across the lake.  When I got to the other side to look for my ball, I noticed that it was sitting just at the edge of the lake in about 4 inches of water.  Remembering the Cialis commercial (which makes this shot look so easy), my friend suggested I try the shot.  We tend to do a lot of friendly heckling during our golf rounds and end up trying to talk the other into playing aggressively: par 5s in 2 even if anything short is in deep trouble/hazard, chips when we should putt, etc..

This water shot needed just a short 15 yard plop and it would be on the green for a chance at an up and down. I thought "what the hell", took off my shoes, and decided to try it. The only tip I could remember from the commercial was to swing hard.  I swung very hard and splashed about a gallon of algae water up in my face, not to mention this black mud.  After looking down, my ball was in the exact same spot that it was before the swing.  The look on my wife's face when I got back home from golfing covered head-to-toe in mud was priceless.

Have any of you attempted the shot out of water?  Any success?  Time to share your water shot stories.  Needless to say, I will probably not attempt this shot again.

Holycrap... I'm dying over here...

First, to take any advice from a Cialis commercial... LOL

Secondly, laughing thinking about you covered in mud and your buddy razzing you! LOL

Third, your wife seeing you track into the house covered in mud! ROFLOL

[Clambake]

I wouldn't take golf tips from a Cialis commercial any more than I'd take advice on erectile dysfunction from Butch Harmon!

[slodsm]

The water can absolutely keep my ball, the thought of what you looked like after that attempt made me laugh quite loudly though.

[darkhunter139]

As long as part of the ball is out of the water and I think there is a reasonable chance of getting it out I man up and hit the ball.  Saving a stroke is worth getting water to the face :)

[jamo]

I've tried it a few times, to varying degrees of success. As people have said, as long as there's a bit of the ball sticking out of the water, it's possible. If more than half is sticking out it's not all that hard. Resist the urge to close your eyes (or just wear glasses)! :-P