The type of lie you have really dictates what kind of shot you
can hit, and therefore what club you need. You can’t automatically
take your 6-iron out when you are 150 yards away without assessing
whether or not you have a good lie.
The type of lie you have really dictates what kind of shot you can hit, and therefore what club you need. You can’t automatically take your 6-iron out when you are 150 yards away without assessing whether or not you have a good lie.
If you are in the rough and the ball is sitting down you may have to go with a higher-lofted club to get it airborne. If there is no sand trap in front of the green, then you may go with a 5-iron and run the ball up onto the green. If it’s from a clean fairway lie, than the normal 6-iron should be just fine.
What happens if their is water in front of the green? Do you take a chance of not hitting the shot clean or play it safe with a high-lofted club and play it short of the drink? All this can be determined when you assess the lie.
Just remember, don’t just assume that the ball is going to travel the same, no matter what the lie. Understand that the lie affects the flight of the ball and adjust.
Don DeLorenzo is a PGA-certified instructor at Gilroy Golf Course. To schedule a lesson with Don, call Gilroy GC at (408) 848-0490.
