False front greens are very deceptive on golf courses and can cause golfers problems with hitting and holding their golf ball on the green. A false front green is a green where the front part is mown at the length of the green so that it looks like it is part of the green. However, a false front green has a slope, so even though it looks like the green, if your ball lands on this area it will roll off and down on to the fairway below the green.

If you are faced with a false front green, you need to play a shot that will land over this slope so that the ball stays on the flatter surface beyond it. To ensure that you get the ball over the false front, use at least one extra club than you usually would. If you would normally hit a 7 iron for the distance you have to the green, play the shot with a 6 iron or 5 iron instead to ensure the ball lands over the slope.

If you do hit the false front and see the ball rolling down it to the fairway below, you now have two choices. Your first choice is to play a high shot up and over the slope so that the ball lands on the flatter surface beyond the slope. Use a sand iron or pitching wedge for this shot to achieve the height that you require. When you are next practicing, play this high shot and work on your distance control by doing the following. Take 6-10 shots and play them all by swinging your wedge waist high on your backswing to waist high on your follow through. Work on making a good connection and maintaining a constant swing speed and then notice, on average how far the balls went. Now do this again for a chest high to chest high swing and also for a full swing. Note down how far each of the three swing positions went and then when you are out on the course next, you will find it much easier to judge the distance you need to hit the ball.

The second option that you have if you are at the bottom of the false front green, is to play a low running shot up the slope to the flatter surface above. Take your rescue club or 4 iron and play the shot as you would for a big putt. Have the ball centred between your feet, hold lower down on the handle for control and create a straight line from your left shoulder down to your left hand and then to the club head.

Maintain this straight line as you swing back and through and this will allow you to play a low running shot up the slope and on to the flatter green above.