Question:
If you were 20' from the pin and 2' off the green with the ground level but the ball is sitting on hard dirt and you can't put because of light rough, what club and what shot would you use and where in your stance would you play it?
Answer:
Your question is multifaceted, as your individual comfort, where you place your hands in relation to the ball and the degree of bounce you have on your wedge (or the club which you select to play this shot) will ultimately dictated your selection. Regardless of the club you select, its essential that you keep the club accelerating aggressively through the ball. You have worded your question as though you want me to describe what I would do in this situation. So, here goes: I would hold a 54 degree wedge very upright so that the heel of the clubhead is off the ground (not touching). I would then eliminate body rotation, arm hinge and hand set and just use a rocking motion of my shoulders (much like a putting stroke). I would use the bounce of the club very aggressively during this shot, so I can play the ball in the middle of my stance without fear of hitting it fat.
If you prefer not to use the bounce of the club in this situation, then you should select a lower lofted club (8 or 9 iron) and play the ball back in your stance. This will ensure your club travels on a more aggressive angle into the ball, catching the ball first and eliminating the tendency of hitting it fat (leading edge digging into the ground). Same technique as above; the less moving parts (body, hands,arms) you have, the less room for error!
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