Sometimes on the golf course, our ‘fairway finder‘ fails us and we find ourselves in a tricky spot in the trees. The low punch shot is something that amateur golfers rarely practice, but one that could help you to escape trouble unscathed.
There is often a lot of complacency with this shot, but in truth it’s actually far more complicated than your average shot from the middle of the fairway. There is a lot going on and plenty to consider, so strategy is going to be important.
In the scenario outlined in the video below, PGA Pro Joe Ferguson finds himself in the trees off the right-side of the fairway with no other option than to get the ball back into play. In this article, he shares his top tips on how to execute an often overlooked but crucial skill for all amateur golfers…
How Do I Hit A Low Punch Shot Out Of The Trees In Golf?
Joe Ferguson
Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort.
Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and Taylormade.
As you can see in the video, due to the rather unfortunate position I have put myself in, I only really have two options. The ambitious, higher-risk play would be to go through a narrow five or six yard gap on a more aggressive line, but that shot is fraught with danger.
The overhanging branches increase the difficulty of the shot, and while it’s doable in the right situation I am not sure the extra 20 yard gain is worth the risk.
The other option, and certainly the more sensible play, is to knock the ball out to the left and get it back onto the short stuff. This avenue is still not simple, but it’s the percentage play and it’s worth spending some time rationalising this in your head before committing to your shot.
Sometimes our trusty ‘fairway finder’ disobeys us, so having the right shot in your repertoire is essential to save your scorecard
(Image credit: Future)
The first thing I do when making a decision on how to play this shot is look at the lie. The area around your ball will tell you plenty about what you can expect to realistically achieve, so…
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