Low, line drive punch shots...

[Alohaed]

Playing a round this past Monday, I was on the edge of the fairway, about 180ish yards from the green. Direct aim, except I had tree branches most of the way. I hit a hybrid, 40+ yards away, hit leaves a branch, then dropped. Took my 5 iron for less loft, easy swing, went another 50ish yards, then again, hit leaves, a branch, then dropped again. Today I remembered reading TST's review of the JPX 825 Pro irons and this statement:

“ found myself needing to hit a low, 160-yard semi-snap hook under tree branches and out over a pond to the green of the par-5 third hole . The ball rocketed out from under the branches over the pond, never more than 6 feet off the ground, and bent exactly as planned, toward the front-right flagstick, coming to rest in the frog-hair, just below the pin”.

How do I accomplish this? Stance, setup, etc. Not so much the workability(hook), but getting the correct distance without the loft, not hitting into the branches? Ok, yes, how to do that snap-hook would be nice to know also.

[billchao]

When I need to hit a punch shot, I set the ball back in my stance (as far back as off the right toe, if needed). I'll also lean a little left at address (not looking for axis tilt here). Take a longer club than you would need for the distance, and make a half swing back and through.

[boogielicious]

@Alohaed ,

There is a section in Lowest Score Wins , p. 86-87, Trouble Shots.  The practice method is described there.

[Alohaed]

Cool. Thanks. I will have to buy the book then.

[boogielicious]

Cool. Thanks. I will have to buy the book then.

It is a "Must Read" for any golfer.

[David in FL]

Or you could follow my personal philosophy, and not follow a bad shot (or two) with a dumb shot......

Sometimes you're better off to just punch out and take your one stroke of medicine.

[WUTiger]

You need to work this out beneath low hanging branches on the edge of your practice range. Learn what your clubs do.

Fluffy rough tip . If the ball is in the fluffy rough, choke up a little on your iron. If you don't, your feet will sink into the soft grass, and the leading edge of the club will come in well under the ball. You'll make impact on the top half of the clubface, which will cause a high shot.

[Alohaed]

Or you could follow my personal philosophy, and not follow a bad shot (or two) with a dumb shot......

Sometimes you're better off to just punch out and take your one stroke of medicine.

Yeah, yeah!  As Phil said 8 years ago..... "I am such an idiot".

[boogielicious]

It is still a good shot to have.  You could be in a situation where you are blocked from the green.  A long, low shot that goes straight would end up near the green but not too much in trouble.  But if you could bend it, you could get it on the green.  It's a no lose situation.  I get these occasionally from the rough with spaced out trees.  My shot is a low hook.  I have more trouble with the hard fade.

But I do agree with David on trying stupid shots where if the ball doesn't bend, you are in a worse spot.

[HawkNballs]

I choke up and put the ball back in my stance with quite a bit of forward shaft lean.  I try to exaggerate my follow through by feeling I lead with the handle the whole way.

I check my distance I need to go and use two clubs more that the yardage dictates since this punch shot is more of a half shot that runs out.