Flying Lie While Playing Golf

This is a ball situated in the first cut of rough, with a cushion of grass under the ball. That grass comes between the club face and the ball and ends any chance a player has of imparting spin, so the ball ends up flying much farther than normal.

You will soon be able to deduce whether you have a flying lie or not. The ball feels extremely sweet off the club face, but clearly, if it is flying 20 yards or 18 meters more or so, the final result neither might nor be so sweet.

But once you have detected a flying lie, you can make allowances and take a club less than normal if you are playing to the green.

Magic 150 Yards or 137 Meters

When you are looking to escape trouble and are forced to lie up, do not take the high risk club that will get you 20 yards or 18 meters nearer the green if you are lucky.

Instead, look for the 150 yard markers instead. All you need to do is be inside these, as soon as you are within 150 yards or 137 meters, you have a chance of hitting it close and taking one putt, most likely two, but no worse. Rough is the area of unmown grass that lies either side of the fairway.

Trouble Rules

7/10 rule – When you are eyeing up an escape shot, stop. Have a think about the shot you are tempting, it is really within your ability to shape a ball 200 yards or 183 meters around a large oak tree from the thick rough?

If you think you could pull the shot off seven times out of ten, and then have a go. If the odds are less, chip out sideways. If your backswing is totally restricted by a tree, chip the ball out sideways and back on to the fairway.