Golf is a challenging game, especially when faced with difficult shots. Lee Trevino, a legendary golfer, shares his secrets for conquering some of the most impossible shots in golf from the April 1970 issue of GOLF Magazine. Trevino recognizes that not all golfers have the luxury of playing on perfectly manicured courses like the pros. He acknowledges the struggles that average players face, including bare lies, bumpy greens, baked-out fairways, shallow sand in bunkers, and shots from divots. Trevino offers valuable advice on how to navigate these challenging situations and make them a breeze.
One difficult shot that golfers often encounter is hitting from a bare lie. Trevino suggests playing a cut shot from a bare lie by opening your stance, aiming slightly left of your target, opening the clubface, and hitting down sharply on the ball to create a left-to-right movement. The key is to make solid contact with the ball by striking it first and then the ground. This technique can help golfers get the ball into the air and overcome the challenges of hitting from a bare lie.
Putting on bumpy greens can also present a challenge for golfers. Trevino recommends being a bold putter on rough greens, hitting the ball harder and not allowing for as much break. With bumpy and spike-marked greens, it’s difficult to predict the exact break or bounce, so taking a firmer approach can help navigate these conditions. Avoiding the finessed, slow roller and instead hitting the ball with a firm touch can improve your chances of getting the ball to the hole despite the obstacles presented by irregular greens.
Playing on baked-out fairways requires a different approach than playing on plush, soft fairways. Trevino emphasizes the importance of hitting the ball low on hard-baked courses to maximize distance. By teeing the ball lower than usual, addressing it toward the middle of your feet, and maintaining a normal hand-ball relation, you can achieve a low trajectory and the roll that follows. This technique can help you adapt to hard fairways and greens and achieve greater distance on your shots.
Bunker shots with shallow sand can pose a challenge for golfers, especially when there is only a shallow layer of sand and hard dirt beneath. Trevino suggests using a pitching wedge and treating it like a little chip rather than a traditional bunker shot. By hitting behind the ball, you can pop it out of the shallow sand with good holding spin. This technique can help golfers navigate tricky bunker shots on public or private courses with inconsistent sand traps.
Hitting a shot from a divot can be frustrating, but Trevino offers some technique changes to help golfers overcome this challenging lie. By closing the clubface, playing the ball back in the stance, and hitting down and through with the hands ahead, you can increase your chances of getting the ball out of a divot. Avoid scooping the ball and instead let the club do the work, ensuring a low trajectory and more control. Trevino’s advice can help golfers navigate difficult lies and make the most out of challenging situations on the course.
