Every golfer, regardless of his skill, should learn to play trouble shots. They invariably come up during a round of golf, usually when you least expect them, and, if you have the experience and good judgment to cope with them, they shouldn't cause you too much concern.

I would say that about 95 per cent of golfers do not know how to play trouble shots and, as a result, their scores (and handicaps) are usually several strokes higher than they should be.

If you are faced with a trouble shot, don't "go for broke" and hack the ball into further trouble.

Play the shot that you are capable of hitting, not the one that you think you can hit. Get the ball out of trouble as fast as you can, and don't begrudge giving up a few yards in doing so.

Always remember to play the percentage shot, the one that you know you can hit, and trouble shooting will be easier for you.

THE HIGH SHOT. If you find yourself in a situation where you must hit a high shot, position the ball a bit farther forward than normal, or about even with the left heel (Fig. 77). Aim to the left of your target, as the tendency here is to fade or slice the ball. The weight should be evenly distributed on both feet. On the downswing, be sure and keep your head and shoulders behind the ball so as to catch the ball at the extreme bottom of the clubhead arc. On the follow-through, bring the arms up more quickly than when hitting a normal shot, to give added height to the trajectory of the ball.

THE LOW SHOT. When hitting this shot, play the ball back toward the right foot (Fig. 78), and set up with your weight on the left side. Take a three-quarter swing, and be sure to shift your weight very quickly to the left side at the start of the downswing. When following through toward the hole, extend the arms and hands fully toward the target, but do not allow them to swing up beyond shoulder height. This will keep the shot lower, for a punch shot into the wind or from underneath low-hanging branches of a tree.

Fig. 77. Hitting a high shot. Position the ball a bit farther forward than normal, about even with the left heel. Open the blade a little, and aim slightly to the left of the target, as the tendency is to fade or slice the ball. The arms are swung more upward on the follow-through to ensure a high flight of the ball.

Fig 78. Low shot. Play the ball back toward the center of the stance, and shift your weight more quickly on the follow-through. The arms and hands are not allowed to swing up beyond shoulder height on this shot.

Fig. 79. Intentional hook. Assume a closed stance, and swing from the inside out more than usual, making sure the hands turn over on this shot.

Fig. 80. The slice. Open stance, and swing from the outside in as much as possible, forcing the clubface to cut across the ball. The palm of the left hand remains facing down toward the ground through the hitting area on this shot, thus keeping the face open at impact.

Fig. 81. The uphill lie. Play the ball a bit farther up than normal, and take a club at least one number longer than you would if you had a level lie, to compensate for the upward contour of the ground.

Fig. 82. It pays to practice the trouble shots. Here Gene Littler found trouble on the long par-three seventh hole at the Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas, but a good pitch from out of the rough salvaged a par on the hole during the 1959 Tournament of Champions. (AP Wirephoto)

THE HOOK SHOT. This is a type of shot, when played properly, that starts out to the right of the target and then is drawn back toward the target by terrific right-to-left English which is put on the ball by the clubface swinging from the extreme inside out. Figure 79 illustrates how to set up for an intentional hook around a tree which may be blocking a straight-away swing toward the hole. Assume a closed stance, open the blade of the club slightly, and swing the club from the inside out more than you usually would. Make sure the hands turn over on this shot. With a little practice, you will be able to hit a controlled hook whenever the situation arises.

THE SLICE. Assume an open stance, and swing from the outside in. Be sure to aim to the left of the target, and do not allow your hands to turn over in the hitting area. Thus you will impart left-to-right English to the ball, causing it to veer left and then right as it nears the target (Fig. 80).

Fig. 83. Downhill lie. With this type of shot, play the ball farther back in the middle of your stance, and take a club with less loft. When hitting this shot, try to make the clubhead travel down with the slope of the hill and be sure to stay on the shot a bit longer than usual, otherwise you might top it.

THE UPHILL LIE. Since most courses have rolling fairways, you will always have a shot or two during a round when the ball is slightly uphill. The important thing to remember here is to play the ball a bit farther forward at the address (Fig. 81) and take a club at least one number longer than you would if the ball was on a level lie. This is because this type of lie automatically increases the loft of the club that you are using. Since the left foot is higher than the right foot, the tendency is to have the weight a little more on the right foot than on the left.

One other thing: Try to make the clubhead conform to the contour of the ground as it enters and passes through the hitting area. This swing is more of a sweeping stroke, and very little divot is usually taken.

THE DOWNHILL LIE. With this type of shot, the ball should be played farther back in the middle of your stance (Fig. 83). Take a club one number shorter than you normally would, as you are already hitting down on the ball and you will need the extra loft to get the ball into the air. When hitting this shot, try to make your clubhead travel down with the slope of the hill; otherwise, you may pull back off the shot with your shoulders and arms, resulting in a topped shot.

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