When and How to Play from a Water Hazard, Golf (Video) - by Pete Styles
When and How to Play from a Water Hazard, Golf (Video) - by Pete Styles

If when you have made your last stroke and you see the ball curving off towards the water hazard you might have that resign feeling that well I will walk up, and I will take my penalty drop when I get that, but actually if you get up to the ball and you can have a good look around and you can actually see the ball, you can maybe see half the ball you can get a good stance if may be worth considering that you can play out of water hazards, legally you are allowed to do it there is a couple of rules you need to abide by but you can do it.

So here’s my golden tips so if you can get into a water hazard and actually play your ball out. Firstly you should be able to see at least half the ball, if it’s buried and submerged below even if you can see but it is buried and submerged below the water, it won't come out we need at least half the ball, you also need to be able get a good stable stance, clearly with no risk of any injury to you and not unduly holding play from the group behind, but if you can get a good stance you can see half a golf ball and this worth a risk, I can get this ball out and I can get it moving whereas dropping it back it is going to put me in not a great situation and it will cost me a penalty shot. So I have to be able to advance this ball at least far enough that it’s worth taking the drop.

If I was going to play this shot, I would play it similar to a bunker shot. So a plenty of loft on the club, good stable stance and just being careful that you don’t actually touch the surface of the hazard or the surface of the water anything inside the yellow or red stack is going to incur a two stroke penalty if I do that, so keep the club off the floor, feet nicely planted, good aggressive downward strike and follow through, if you are going to take the shot on commit to it, understand that you are probably going to get soaked, you are allowed to put your waterproofs on before hand, but you are not allowed to lay a towel down on the surface to kneel on or anything like that, you put your waterproofs on get in there commit to hitting it and don’t be scared of jumping out where the water splashing it, if you are going to get scared of the water, your might as well you’re your penalty and drop it back because you are going to look pretty foolish if you take your shoes and socks off and then leave the balls still in the water hazard.

So weigh up the pros and cons is it worth it, is my new white shirt worth playing this ball out or should I just go back and take my penalty shot, weigh up the pros and cons commit to playing it, play it like a bunker shot. And if you leave in the water and you splash yourself in the face I didn’t tell you anything.

 2012-07-12

If when you have made your last stroke and you see the ball curving off towards the water hazard you might have that resign feeling that well I will walk up, and I will take my penalty drop when I get that, but actually if you get up to the ball and you can have a good look around and you can actually see the ball, you can maybe see half the ball you can get a good stance if may be worth considering that you can play out of water hazards, legally you are allowed to do it there is a couple of rules you need to abide by but you can do it.

So here’s my golden tips so if you can get into a water hazard and actually play your ball out. Firstly you should be able to see at least half the ball, if it’s buried and submerged below even if you can see but it is buried and submerged below the water, it won't come out we need at least half the ball, you also need to be able get a good stable stance, clearly with no risk of any injury to you and not unduly holding play from the group behind, but if you can get a good stance you can see half a golf ball and this worth a risk, I can get this ball out and I can get it moving whereas dropping it back it is going to put me in not a great situation and it will cost me a penalty shot. So I have to be able to advance this ball at least far enough that it’s worth taking the drop.

If I was going to play this shot, I would play it similar to a bunker shot. So a plenty of loft on the club, good stable stance and just being careful that you don’t actually touch the surface of the hazard or the surface of the water anything inside the yellow or red stack is going to incur a two stroke penalty if I do that, so keep the club off the floor, feet nicely planted, good aggressive downward strike and follow through, if you are going to take the shot on commit to it, understand that you are probably going to get soaked, you are allowed to put your waterproofs on before hand, but you are not allowed to lay a towel down on the surface to kneel on or anything like that, you put your waterproofs on get in there commit to hitting it and don’t be scared of jumping out where the water splashing it, if you are going to get scared of the water, your might as well you’re your penalty and drop it back because you are going to look pretty foolish if you take your shoes and socks off and then leave the balls still in the water hazard.

So weigh up the pros and cons is it worth it, is my new white shirt worth playing this ball out or should I just go back and take my penalty shot, weigh up the pros and cons commit to playing it, play it like a bunker shot. And if you leave in the water and you splash yourself in the face I didn’t tell you anything.