To have a clear understanding of what a fluffy lie is, you should approach this shot from a technical standpoint. In this section, we are going to talk about some strategy keys you can use to make smart decisions when you find yourself in this situation. Decision making is critically important in golf, especially when you are left to deal with a less-than-ideal lie. If you make the wrong choice when playing from a bad lie, poor outcomes are almost sure to follow.
The list of tips below should help you make the right call the next time you have to deal with a fluffy lie around the green.
Avoid forced carries. One of the big risks you face when playing a chip or pitch shot from a fluffy lie is catching the ball high on the face. If you do hit the ball too high on the face, the shot will lack the expected power and will come up well short of the target. This is a problem no matter what kind of target you have selected, but it is especially damaging if you chose to attempt a carry over some kind of hazard. For example, if you need to chip over the corner of a bunker to reach the hole, coming up short could place your ball down in the bunker – and in a world of trouble. In this situation, the better choice would be to play slightly away from the hole in order to avoid the risk of finding that bunker. This is a conservative game plan, to be sure, but conservative play is exactly what is needed when you have a poor lie.
Favor the low side. You simply aren’t going to have the level of control from this kind of lie that you will have from a good lie around the green. That means you won’t be able to expect the same kind of accuracy in terms of the final destination of the ball – so you should play toward the low side to at least give yourself a better chance to make the putt. If the green slopes up from left to right, play your chip shot toward the left side to make sure that you can be aggressive with the upcoming putt to save par. If you wind up on the high side, you will have to be careful with the putt, meaning it will be much less likely to go in. You always want to position your ball on the low side whenever possible, but it is even more important when you are chipping from a poor lie.
Do your best to keep the ball on the green. Believe it or not, it might be difficult to even hit the green when chipping or pitching from a fluffy lie, depending on the circumstances. This is likely to be the case when the greens are firm, because you won’t be able to get enough spin on the ball to stop the shot quickly. If the green is sloping away, it might be a challenge to bring the ball to rest before it runs off the other side. As you are preparing to hit your shot, evaluate the slope of the green and pick a path that is going to let you at least hit the putting surface. You don’t want to have to chip again, even if that means dealing with a long putt for your next stroke. Be honest with yourself as you prepare for the shot and take the path that you feel will ensure you can put your wedge away and pull your putter out of the bag.
It is easy to overlook the importance of strategy when you are just off the side of the green. These kinds of shots seem simple on the surface – just aim at the hole and hope for the best. Unfortunately, that lack of strategic thinking can get you into trouble. You need to plan out these shots just as carefully as you plan out any other shots during your round. Take all risks into consideration, evaluate all your options, and proceed with what you believe is your best bet.
