Following the sandy trail of those who came before
It is that time of year. At some point during this time you are
going to have to play on sand covered aerated greens.
Following the sandy trail of those who came before
It is that time of year. At some point during this time you are going to have to play on sand covered aerated greens.
I don’t like it. You don’t like it. No one does, but we have to do it, so let’s see if we can make the best out of a bad situation. Keep in mind that if golf courses didn’t aerate their greens, they wouldn’t be called greens, they would be called “browns” because all the grass would be dead and we would be putting on dirt.
Before we talk about putting, let’s discuss how a sanded green accepts a shot. If a shot is coming in low, when it hits the sand it will react a little like a rock skipping across water and won’t bite as much. So you need to play for a little extra roll. If a shot is coming down steep, it won’t change.
When a ball rolls on a sanded green it will leave a trail, so when you are lining up your putt be aware of the trails you see and use them to help you judge the break when aiming your putt. If you are the first one to putt on the green just know that you are doing your part in helping your fellow golfers.
The main thing you need to do is hit your ball so that it has over spin; this will get the ball on top of the sand pulling towards the cup. In order to do this you are going to have to make some physical adjustments; you are going to have to move the ball further forward in your stance. This will cause you to hit the ball on the upswing and thus create over spin. Make sure that your hands are in line with or slightly behind the club head. If they are in front of the ball (where they should be under normal circumstances) this could cause you to hit down on the ball and may create backspin.
The last thing you need to guard against is when the ball is more forward in your stance, there is a tendency for the putter face to close, so focus on keeping the heel of your putter moving towards the hole. This will help keep the face square as it hits the ball on the upswing. With this knowledge you will look forward to putting on sandy greens.
OK, that may be a stretch but these few adjustments should make you a better putter facing a less than desirable situation. Play well.
Have any golf related questions? From rules to club fitting you can call me at 408-846-4531 or e-mail me at sk*****@ea**********.com.
And don’t forget, if you’re not having fun playing golf call your local PGA or LPGA instructor. Golf is more fun when you are improving.
