Playing a ball sitting on Kikuyu grass is a challenge. The ball
sits up like it’s on a tee, but the moment you try to hit a shot,
everything within two feet of you moves except the ball.
Playing a ball sitting on Kikuyu grass is a challenge. The ball sits up like it’s on a tee, but the moment you try to hit a shot, everything within two feet of you moves except the ball.
When the ball is teasing you sitting up nice and high, try choking down on your club.
So that when you take your normal address at the ball, the clubhead is now barely touching the top of the grass.
Now swing normal and ‘pick’ the ball off the grass instead of trying to hit down at the ball.
If you try to hit down or use the entire length of the shaft like you would for normal shots, you will more likely ‘chunk’ the shot and the ball won’t move.
With fairway woods, it’s real easy to go under the ball. By choking down on the shaft, you will be more likely to sweep the shot.
For short pitches and chips, you have to be a little more aggressive with the stroke. So if the grass does snag your clubhead, you can still move the ball forward.
For more help with your game, see your local PGA or LPGA golf professional.
Pat Larkin is a Class A golf professional based at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. His column appears every other week in the Free Lance.
