Winter Fairways

[keef]

Is it just me but i find myself taking lumps of turf with the ball at this time of year, (and getting nowhere), whereas in the summer the "bounce" of the fairways helps a cleaner contact. The obvious "thin" occurs when i try and compensate by trying to avoid "digging".

 

[Mattyboy]

Yep - I agree, a good strike is harder to acheive, and (apart from the saving of the condition of the fairway which is the main reason) is one reason we have winter rules.
Personally, I work on weight and hands forward so the club dosnt bottom out before the ball is struck. I seem to score better in the winter as there are not so many dodgy bounces to be found.

 

[MadAdey]

The problem people normally have in the winter is that they scoop their ball from the fairway so insted of it bouncing like in summer it now digs in 1 inch behind the ball. If you strike down on the ball then you should not really have much of a problem unless your fairways are like a bog.

 

[Slab]

Yup, once every few holes in winter I'm taking a lump of turf, (before ball contact) obviously the tougher conditions are highlighting a shortcoming in my swing that I 'get away with' during the drier months but as this is my first winter playing it's told me what i need to concentrate on before spring so I'm doing range time to see what fix is going to work for me

Irony is that the range matt will mean that I get away with it again & still get reasonable shot but because i'm looking for it now I can feel/hear the pre-ball contact when it happens so those are the shots that would be duffers (easy to hear it up & down the range too as others must be suffering similarly)

 

[DavePhoenix]

suppose the benefit of preferred lies is that you can try and get it in a better position - but totally agree with all thats been said. I just try and work on making a cleaner contact

 

[keef]

Agree Slab, i have been clipping some lovely consistent iron shots off the mats at the range, 9 out of 10 apparently making clean contact. I try and remember my mindset, (and confidence), when i return to the course only to see flying mud and a ball travelling in a half hearted way in the direction i have sent it!

 

[AmandaJR]

Works the other way for me as I'm happy to hit down on a soft fairway rather than in summer when I fear for my elbows and can try and pick it clean...

 

[Mungoscorner]

I don't seem to have a problem getting good contact on soft fairways,probably because i'm quite steep,which isn't perfect,but does help in winter.Having said all this,i do get some juicy divots,and have to do a lot of gardening after playing an approach shot lol.

 

[patricks148]

Fairways are not an issue in winter at our course, from November we switch to " walk to the first cut of rough" or use a mat. or at the monent can't find the ball under a foot of snow or the first cut

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Had a real issue hitting everything fat on Saturday. Its never usually a problem so obviously doing something wrong. I was trench cutting on some shots. Very strange

 

[Karl102]

Our Winter rules are pick and place to 6 inches and If you hit a fairway, you can move to the first cut and place, other Han that we have mats you have to play off and hey are horrible to hit off!

 

[chris661]

Fairways are not an issue in winter at our course, from November we switch to " walk to the first cut of rough" or use a mat. or at the monent can't find the ball under a foot of snow or the first cut

Really? At our place we have placing dont know how happy the masses would be about lifting to the rough especially on a links course.

 

[patricks148]

Really? At our place we have placing dont know how happy the masses would be about lifting to the rough especially on a links course.

Its not a problem a few courses up here do it, or you can use a mat. There are staked area's that you must either use the mat or walk to the edge of the staked area. The rough is pretty thin prob as good as most parkland fairways anyway

Anywhere outsite the stakes you can pick and place.

The only problem is remembering once the comps start not to walk up to your ball and kick it in the rough

Which is what i've seen done in the first open of the year at Golspie at the end of march

 

[Monty_Brown]

Hitting fat shots these past few weeks has been a contributory factor in me giving Stack and Tilt a go.

Tired of fats caused by not getting the weight shift onto the front foot and hitting it chunky.

 

[Shaunmg]

Really? At our place we have placing dont know how happy the masses would be about lifting to the rough especially on a links course.

That’s exactly what we had to do last winter at course in neighbouring county to you Chris. At Ballina Co Mayo last winter we had to move the ball into the first cut of rough. We had a game at the small 9 hole at Swinford and the same rule applied. Although not played it yet I’ve been told same rule applies a Castlebar too. The only time I have personally come across this local rule is in Ireland

At my own club we have to use personal mats, some love them, some (including me) hate them. But I agree with the need for these rules but would rather play off mats than move a perfectly good tee shot into the rough. Normal preferred lies may help the player, but it doesn’t protect the fairway

 

[SocketRocket]

Try playing the ball back around a balls width from your normal position. With wedges focus on the front of the ball rather than the back. Keep your weight centered in the backswing, keeping your knees pointing inwards slightly (knock kneed) helps keep your weight on the inside of your feet.

All these things can help to aleviate hitting fat and thin in winter conditions.