When addressing a flier lie, which combination of changes best improves contact and trajectory?

When addressing a flier lie, which combination of changes best improves contact and trajectory?

• A. Higher lofted club and steepen the angle of approach
• B. Lower lofted club and flatten the swing
• C. Use a driver
• D. Open stance and shallow the swing

Answer: (A)

When the ball sits down in longer grass, the grass itself tends to grab the club, making it hard to strike the ball cleanly and keep the shot lofted. To counter this, using a higher lofted club and taking a steeper angle of attack helps you get under the ball and through the grass, so you make solid contact and launch the ball higher. The extra loft helps overcome the interference of the thick grass, and the steeper path ensures you strike down through the turf rather than gliding along the surface. Lowering the loft or flattening the swing would worsen contact from this lie, producing a lower, less controllable trajectory. A driver is not appropriate from rough because it’s hard to control and typically won’t give you the required height and accuracy. Opening the stance and shallow­ing the swing reduces the downward strike needed and tends to produce less loft and a flatter trajectory, which isn’t ideal for a flier lie.

When the ball sits down in longer grass, the grass itself tends to grab the club, making it hard to strike the ball cleanly and keep the shot lofted. To counter this, using a higher lofted club and taking a steeper angle of attack helps you get under the ball and through the grass, so you make solid contact and launch the ball higher. The extra loft helps overcome the interference of the thick grass, and the steeper path ensures you strike down through the turf rather than gliding along the surface.

Lowering the loft or flattening the swing would worsen contact from this lie, producing a lower, less controllable trajectory. A driver is not appropriate from rough because it’s hard to control and typically won’t give you the required height and accuracy. Opening the stance and shallow­ing the swing reduces the downward strike needed and tends to produce less loft and a flatter trajectory, which isn’t ideal for a flier lie.