Ian,

If I understand #1 correctly your in the grass shooting a high lofted shot over the bunker and landing in the bunker. Fear factor 10 on a scale of 1 - 10 for most players. I play 3 different shots for the main 3 lies.

1. A thriller uphiller - This lie (see photo in the photo gallery) is a severe uphill lie that missed the bunker. Anchor yourself with the downhill leg. The uphill leg is for balance and angle off the hill. The shot setup varies depending on the distance from the hole and how much uphill angle it is. I will give you the constants in the shot. Once your stance is set the only hinge that moves is the wrists. Hinge them back and through. The clubhead will return to the point it started. The ball will popup with little spin it goes up and stops. If it lands on a downslope it will roll like putt. Around the green I play this with a 52*, 56* or 60* depending on the distance. This is a very consistent shot and easy to work into your shot selections. Tip: when taking a practice swing keep choking down on the club until you can release up the hill without hitting the ground.

2. Opposite hand releases - this shot came from a Jack Nicklaus "Golf MY Way" video from the 1980's, The Golf Machine by Homer Kelly and GolfBald research. I was looking for a way to get a high lofter that stops dead on the pin with absolute minimum roll from a flat lie. I play this if I flew the green or off to the side on the flat area by side of the green. This can be played if the ball is sitting up. Here's how it goes. Grip is important in this shot. Strong right hand, weak left hand. I use a double overlap grip to get more clubhead speed. The stance should be square to the target. Posture more upright than normal, try to get the club swinging about 4 - 6 inches from your toes no more. Do not open the club!!! Play the ball n the middle of your stance. The swing is no weight tranfer, weight in the middle through the swing. Allow your arms to swing in front of your body on the shoulder line. With the crossed grip it will hinge off the ball and snap through at the bottom. Almost a perfect V. Work your practice swing to get the swing speed up. Adjust distance by changing clubs not the swing. The shot will come off very high and stop dead. I've stopped this shot dead with a trickle on a good downslope. If you incorporate this shot into your game work it on the practice green first when minimal people are around. With the velocity of the release and a skull you can do some damage. Hit it correctly and those 20-30 yard shots are gimmies. Aim for the top of the flagstick!!!

3. The Thriller Downhiller - The most dreaded shot around the green. You fly a green and it ends up on a hill in back or side of the green and have to hit it back on. The common shot is to duff it to the botton of the hill or skull it across the green and having to play another greenside shot. I came up with this shot watching my beloved Chicago Cubbies on TV. Moises Alou has an interesting batting stance he stays centered on the plate and swings through, his back foot turns like a driver and he gets line drive power through the ball. I used this a base for a solid downhill shot. I figure if you start in an impact position as a setup downhill you can swing through knowing you will return to the impact position and then follow through. Here's the shot:

Downhill foot is the anchor foot, turn it out slightly almost like a driver stance. the uphill foot is slightly in back of you, the downhill side should be pre-weight shifted at the begining of the swing and the uphill knee will be kicked in. Check this by swinging through waist high and coming to a belt buckle at the target regular swing finish. The ball will be played off the downhill heel and close to the foot or a skull will occur. Take the club about waist high cock you wrists and make a regular swing. Play it with a pw - 60*. You will have to work with it to get it right. Don't declelerate through it. Think of it like a 8i fairway shot. Don't help it up in the air just swing through. If your stance is adjusted properly it will look like a level ground shot as these are all the adjustments. The ball will come out medium high with a little backspin. I have experimented with opening the blade and stance and getting it to come out high but you have to swing through it well. Not for the faint of heart or anyone who doesn't put time into thier short game but if you do give it a try. It is a fundementally sound shot.

The fairway bunker shot is not as tricky. Pick a club you can have enough loft to clear the front lip or hill. It you don't think you can clear the front lip or hill. Pitch out sideways and get on the fairway. That is the goal here. If you decide to go forward, remember clear the front hill don't try to hit the Pro on the green miracle shot, save yourself a shot or two by playing to your ability. Onward, you want to try to pinch it off the sand not exploded it. Play the ball abou t a half inch farther back than normal and choke down on the club to compensate for the dug in feet. Take a normal swing!!! Hoover the just above the sand the half inch ball back will compensate for the hoover and take a normal swing, did I mention take a normal swing. That is the key here.

Remember use you imagination around the green!!!

Hope this helps please post any comments or questions,

GolfBald

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