Trouble Shot: Limited Follow Through

• Posted on Grant
• in Course Management, Trouble Shots
• on June 19, 2014
• Comments Off on Trouble Shot: Limited Follow Through

At one time or another most golfers have encountered this scenario: Your ball comes to rest behind a tree. The tree is blocking your follow through and you are worried about bending the shaft on the trunk of the tree during your follow through.

In the past, I used a standard set-up for this shot and would just try to stop my follow through before the shaft of my club hit the tree.

However, in tournaments I found that I was never able to commit to this shot because of fear of breaking my club. Because of my lack of commitment to the shot, I would usually end up stopping my swing too soon and would hit the ground too soon before the ball.

Over the years I have figured out a much better way to play this shot. And, this better way holds up under pressure.

I set up to the ball with an extremely closed stance (shoulders and feet point well right of the target) with my left hip up against the tree trunk.

I close the clubface to my stance so that the clubface is pointed directly at the target. I also place my feet close together and set up with my hands higher than normal.

From this set-up position I can accelerate the clubhead without fear of the shaft hitting the tree until well after impact.

And, because I created room for the club to follow through past impact, I can make a committed swing every time!

From this set-up position with an extremely closed clubface, the ball will take off much lower and roll farther than normal. For the punch shot required in these pictures, I normally would have chosen a 7-iron. But, because of my closed clubface, the 9-iron I chose will fly and roll just like a standard 7-iron punch shot.

I know this trouble shot doesn’t happen very often, but when you encounter it, just remember to set up with a closed stance to your target line and a closed clubface to your stance. Then you will be able to swing freely around the tree trunk instead of into it.

GB