Avoid problems with false hardpans by using this trick

Your stray shot found a hard part of the rock, or hardpan, also known as the desert where I teach in Phoenix.

Your first reaction may be to pull your sand wedge back to get the ball back to safety, as you normally do on a sand court. Uh-uh. The bounce angle on your wedges is too high to spin with this type of lie – so the club will literally bounce off the gravel when it hits the ground, so you’ll end up hitting shots. This situation requires some creativity.

The first step is to look for a long club with a straight lie and little bounce. It is 7-iron. Stand close to the ball with your feet together, and, instead of trying to swing fully, use your putting stroke. (You can go as far as using your putting grip.) Now put the ball. The length of your 7 iron is more than enough to get the ball safely down the fairway.

The best part? Using your stroke ensures that you don’t hit too high on the ball, which is another way to catch these types of shots too thin. I mean, who ever tries to lift the ball in the air with their putter? Go back to play and make your estimate.

Tina Tombs is a Top 100 Golf Instructor who operates Tina Tombs Golf at Arizona Biltmore GC in Phoenix.