| I have chosen four of what I feel are the most | | | | ShotSeveral of the greens at The Bridges are set |
| common trouble shots you may encounter at | | | | into the hillside, testing your ability to chip down to |
| The Bridges Golf Club. And "Taking the Challenge" | | | | the putting surface.Understand: Don't try to hit |
| at the Bridges involves being prepared for trouble | | | | this shot high. The slope of the ground has |
| shots. It would be naive of me to think otherwise. | | | | already determined that this shot must be hit |
| Remember, every course has a little different | | | | low.Keys: The most important key is to make |
| layout and terrain so practice accordingly.Welcome | | | | solid contact. You're going to use a basic chipping |
| these difficult situations as a test of your intellect. | | | | technique with one adjustment, angle your |
| These shots just take a bit more creativity than | | | | shoulders with the slope. This will help you swing |
| others. Besides, if we hit every shot in the | | | | with the slope. On a downhill chip, you will make a |
| fairway and then on the green, we would have | | | | higher backswing and a lower follow through.Ball in |
| nothing to talk about over a beverage after the | | | | a Small Hole Next to the GreenThis is almost |
| round.Trouble shots might be the hot topic of | | | | guaranteed to happen at least once a round. The |
| conversation after the round but are less popular | | | | ball is located just a couple feet off the surface |
| at the practice range. There are several reasons | | | | of the green, but it has settled into a small |
| why we don't practice trouble shots. First of all, | | | | depression, not much larger than the ball itself. |
| we never expect to have to play a trouble shot. | | | | This simple shot is very easy to chunk short or |
| And there are not many practice areas set up to | | | | blade over the green.Understand: Because the ball |
| work on these types of shots. Besides, trouble | | | | is sitting down in a depression it is very difficult to |
| shots are not the most glamorous shots to | | | | spin. This is the bad news and the good news. |
| practice. Imagine yourself hitting a large basket of | | | | Because it will come out with topspin, it will be |
| practice balls from high rough or under a tree. | | | | easier to predict the first bounce. No matter if |
| The way to practice trouble shots is with one golf | | | | the first bounce is in the rough or on the surface |
| ball and the competition of others. It's the | | | | of the green I know it will not spin. The ball will roll |
| difference between practicing for five minutes or | | | | true, which makes the shot easy to execute with |
| two hours.Here are four common trouble shots. | | | | a putter!Keys: Use your putter, it's the key. Place |
| With a little guidance and practice you could save | | | | the ball slightly back in your stance, and treat the |
| yourself a few strokes and a lot of | | | | shot like a chip. You will contact the ball with a |
| frustration.The Plugged Bunker ShotThis is a fairly | | | | descending blow, the ball will pop over the long |
| easy shot to get out of the bunker, but difficult | | | | grass, and roll with topspin. Plan on hitting it close |
| to get close to the hole. | | | | to the hole.It is a good idea to be knowledgeable |
| Understand: Because the ball is in a hole it will | | | | of the trouble shots you encounter the most, and |
| come out fairly low and with very little spin. Little | | | | practice them. You need to set up your practice |
| spin will cause the ball to roll when it lands on the | | | | to be entertaining. We cover a few trouble shots |
| green.Keys: Close the face of your sand or lob | | | | during the on-course instruction portion of our |
| wedge. Next, close it even more. Did I mention, | | | | one-day golf schools at The Bridges Golf Club. It's |
| close the face? Finally, strike the sand fairly close | | | | a real kick to put yourself in a situation and see |
| to the ball. Make sure you get the sand out of | | | | how many shots it takes to put the ball in the |
| the bunker.The Backhanded ShotIn this situation, | | | | hole. No matter the situation or the results, make |
| you cannot take your stance because a tree, | | | | sure you keep it fun.Perry Andrisen is a PGA |
| bush, or severe slope is in your way. This shot is | | | | Teaching Professional at The Bridges Golf Club in |
| necessary when your only option is to stand on | | | | San Ramon, California. He teaches over 2,000 |
| the opposite side of the ball.Understand: This is a | | | | lessons a year. He has previously worked at |
| difficult shot to hit more than 30 yards. So we | | | | Montreux Golf Club and Hazeltine National Golf |
| are just going to take our medicine on this | | | | Club. Perry has coached players from the PGA |
| one.Keys: Flip your seven iron around, stand very | | | | Tour, Nationwide, Hooters, Teardrop, Spanos, |
| close to the ball with your back to your target. | | | | Pepsi, Dakotas, and Golden State golf tours. |
| You are going to use your dominant hand to hit | | | | Among his PGA Tour clients is his former college |
| the shot. Take lots of practice swings, and avoid | | | | teammate Aaron Barber. Perry has found a |
| your ankle! Trust me, this is much easier than | | | | Profession that he absolutely loves, and it shows |
| trying to hit it left-handed.Downhill Chip | | | | in every lesson he gives. |