Last Updated on March 18, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
When I play golf with my 7 and 10-year-old, they LOVE it when their golf ball rolls into the first cut of rough. When they have a tight lie on the fairway, they struggle sometimes to hit a solid shot. Why is this? What is a tight lie in golf? How do you play from these lies? I’ll explain all of this. As a professional golfer, even I have to remind myself at times that the tight lie is the best one you are going to get; you have to trust yourself that you will make solid contact.
What Is A Tight Lie In Golf?
A tight lie in golf occurs when your golf ball sits on very little grass. To hit this shot correctly, you essentially need to know how to hit from a bare lie. It’s easier said than done for some golfers, and without a descending blow, you’ll probably hit the shot thin.
Some players find that a fluffy lie with a little more grass (like the first cut of rough or a longer fairway) is much easier to hit. However, If you want maximum distance and playability, the best type of lie is the tight lie in golf.
Is A Tight Lie A Good or Bad Thing in Golf?
Although I like tight grass because it looks great and the ball can roll on the fairway for quite some time, it’s not always the easiest when trying to hit certain golf shots. It’s made even harder when you’re hitting from hard ground. The truth is that to hit great shots from the short grass, you need to make clean contact. Recreational golfers struggle with consistency in their shots, making it harder to clip this golf ball clean.
Chances are you are doing a few things that are making it harder for you to make the most of your tight lie.
7 Tips For Hitting From A Tight Lie
Now that I’ve defined a tight lie, let’s get into the important part: how to hit from one. Start by practicing this from the driving range. Stop adjusting your lie on the range to be perfect every time. If that happens to you on the course, I want to play your golf course!
Be Aware of Too Much Bounce
Take a look at your sand wedge and lob wedge to see how much bounce they have. The higher the bounce, the worse the wedge is for your shots from a tight lie. Bounce helps the golf club skip across the surface, making it easier for you to hit shots from the sand or the rough. However, when hitting any shot from a tight lie, bounce could make you hit the golf shot thin.
Play The Ball Just A Little Further Back In The Stance
Ball position varies depending on the golf club you have in your hand. Don’t change ball position too much for these full shots from a tight lie, but you can move it back just a bit. If the ball is slightly further back, you’ll be sure to hit the ball first and then the turf.
Hit Down and Through
Your angle of attack needs to be steeper to hit a great shot from a tight lie. A normal divot occurs after the ball. When I hit from a tight lie, I picture a little spot of grass just after the ball and make sure that I take that in addition to the golf ball. This mindset works from a good lie or a bad lie.
Keep Your Lead Wrist Flat – or Flexed
I spend a lot of time working with HackMotion to get the right technique for my wrists through impact. When you have a tight lie, ensure your lead wrist is flat or slightly flexed as you swing through the golf ball. Practice this in your short game. There will be a little forward lean on the shaft, and the wrist will just be slightly flexed.
Put Some Weight On The Lead Side
Lean a little on your lead side at setup. When you swing back, incorporate a turn from your lower body, but don’t let your head move too far off the golf ball. If you have too much movement, you may hit behind the ball. I try not to overcomplicate the shot, and the results are considerably better.
Choke Down A Half Inch
If you have a very tight lie and are worried about hitting a thin shot, choke down on the club just a little. With a shorter club in your hands, you’ll feel like you have more control and increase your chances of hitting a good shot. In this situation, it may also make sense to choose a club with a little more loft, as it’s almost always more forgiving.
Let The Club Stay In The Impact Zone Longer
Keep your golf club down low through the impact zone as long as possible. I try to finish a little lower than usual, which helps ensure that I hit the ball first and the divot afterward. Even with this lower finish, you should still be able to hit a high shot that stops quickly when it hits the green. Try this when you have tight greenside lies to avoid skulling your chip shots over the back of the green.
What Club To Use From A Tight Lie?
When I have a tight lie, I like to use a golf club with which I have the most confidence. Something like a seven iron or a pitching wedge may help you feel more capable of hitting down and through the ball. A tight lie with a fairway wood is another issue amateur players encounter.
I would consider using a hybrid from these lies; the club face tends to be a little more forgiving, and the shorter club length will also give you a little room for error. Experiment with different clubs and see which helps you the most from these tight lies.
Final Thoughts
Now you know what a tight lie in golf is and how to hit from it. Hopefully, you can now look at these lies as an opportunity to play a clean shot that stops and then spins toward the hole. The more you practice, the more you’ll be glad you aren’t dealing with a buried lie. Tight lies are a path to birdies if you know how to approach them.
