Golf Instructions On How To Deal With A Bare Lie
When your golf ball falls onto hard ground, it totally changes the dynamic of the required shot. Bare lies often occur during colder months when grass starts to die away and there is no rain to soften the ground. There are seven changes you can make to your drill when approaching a bare lie. Here they are.
- Hold your grip in front of the ball
- Get the spring effect right
- Harder downswing
- Slightly more weight on the left
- Direct your hips towards the target
- Avoid the ground if the surface is hard
- Skim the ground if the surface is soft
On addressing the ball, always make sure your grip is pushed slightly forward. This will prevent you from skulling the shot even though you are not aiming for the sweet spot.
Make sure that the amount of power on your upswing is relative to the power produced on your downswing. When your clubface reaches the top of your swing, your body should feel as if it has a spring inside. This will ensure proper momentum on the shot.
You can push a bit harder when coming down on your stroke. A stronger impact will ensure better accuracy and distance. This makes shorter shots a bit more challenging, so exclude this tip if the target is less than 70 yards away.
Your body weight should be about 60% on the left, and 40% on the right. You will get a feel for the right balance as you play this shot more often—so keep practicing.
As you are making your swing, mentally aim your hips towards the desired target. This doesn’t mean you should manipulate the club; just direct your body correctly and the shot will go in the right direction without slicing.
Your clubface should not hit the ground if it is a hard bare lie. Aim to hit the ball without the usual skimming of the ground.
If the bare lie is on soft ground, feel free to skim the ground a little. Basically aim to hit the ball on the sweet spot and leave a small divot behind.
It’s recommended that you practice this shot on a tiled or paved surface at home. This will simulate the same situation as a bare lie because of the hardness of the surface.