Trees are a great addition to any golf course. They provide shade and a great aesthetic. But your feelings toward trees can quickly change when your shot lands behind one. Then, they become an obstacle that stands between you and par.

But all hope isn’t lost. There might be a birdie somewhere between those branches. Whether you pull out hybrid golf clubs or your favorite iron, here’s how you can escape the trees and get back on track.

Punch It Underneath the Branches

There are three different strategies for playing from behind the trees. If you decide to shoot underneath the branches to escape the rough, you can balance risk and reward as you shoot for the green.

With this strategy, the goal is to keep the ball flight low while still producing enough velocity to get out of the rough and near the green.

Start by picking a lower lofted club. If you’ve had a custom golf club fitting, you might have some mid-irons with a lower loft, or you can grab a hybrid.

Then, put the ball back in your stance and keep your hands forward at address. These will help you keep the ball low. Then, lean forward and make sure you don’t bring your follow-through all the way up. Put it all together, and you can keep the ball down enough to punch it underneath the branches.

If you need to swing with more power, whether that’s to increase distance or to break through some low-hanging branches, grip the club tight and lower down than normal so you maintain control while adding the extra swing speed you need.

Soar It Over the Tree

What if you want to go over the trees instead of under them? This is a much riskier shot—if you miss, you’ll hit the branches and fall well short of your target—but it can pay huge dividends if you’re successful. By clearing the tops of the trees, you could find yourself playing on the green with your next shot.

While playing it low was all about limiting loft, now you want to create a good amount of it—probably more than usual. But you still need distance, so instead of clubbing down, take the iron you’d normally play at this distance and get ready to make some adjustments.

First, you’ll want to widen your stance and play the ball further forward than usual. The goal is to swing down on the ball. Create a steep backswing by bringing the club outside of your hands and opening up the clubface. This leads to a faster downswing that gets under the ball and launches it up. Combine this with a follow-through that carries the clubhead up and open as long as possible, and you give yourself the best shot at letting the ball soar up and over those trees.

Play It Safe with Some Damage Control

The least risky option is to play it safe and find the shortest branch-free shot back to the fairway. This might mean shooting sideways or hitting a low roller, but it also means avoiding the risks that could set you back even further.

Getting stuck in the rough for three or four shots because you can’t clear a group of trees is much worse than cutting your losses and getting back on the fairway for a clear shot on your next swing. Take it as a life lesson from the game: sometimes, taking one step back might be necessary to take two steps forward.

About PXG

Ultimate performance. Superior forgiveness. A sweet spot the size of Texas. These are just a few of the things you can expect from PXG golf clubs. These high-tech, aesthetically pleasing clubs not only look great on the course but also help you perform to the best of your abilities. From hybrid golf clubs with a high-speed face to putters that feature a customizable weighting system, PXG makes sure every one of their clubs is ready to perform. They continue to refine their designs to be the best in the business. Plus, they offer custom golf clubs and golf apparel at the best golf store Houston, Chicago, and other cities have to offer. If you want to elevate your game on the course, there’s no better choice than PXG. 

Fill your bag with clubs that can help you clear every shot from behind the trees at https://www.pxg.com/

Golf is a game that’s as unique as the person swinging the club. Some lean forward on their swing. Others lean back. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of golf intricacies, it’s obvious that standard, off-the-shelf clubs won’t cut it. You need a custom golf club fitting. It’s one of the best ways to find clubs that work with you, not against you. Here are the four biggest benefits of custom-fit golf clubs.

Monologue of thoughts on a crazy week of Club Championship week golf. A broken driver. A 5-wood for all seasons. A gem of an old course. It's all here. Blind Shots Podcast Short Game Session 11 - Club Championship Week

This is Short Game Session 11 – A monologue of thoughts on a wild Club Championship week that included playing for keeps with a 5-wood, a great old course, and bad nerves before a driver fitting. Come for the golf talk, stay for the amateur physics lessons.

Links for the show:

The results of the Gay Brewer Jr. Course at Picadome Club Championship

Brad Bachand, the head professional and general…