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Pitch ShotsObstacles & Hardships Irons Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 3 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Hitting Over a Tree on the Golf Course: The Club Shaft Trick

A good drive, but there are trees between you and the green: over or under? For the FFGolf, Karine Icher demonstrates a very simple test to help you choose the right club before you even take your shot.

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Karine Icher
Karine Icher · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

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What the lesson shows

It's a classic situation: a drive that curves slightly to the right, with trees in front, making it impossible to attack the green in a straight line. Two options:, go over or go under, and a club to choose. Karine Icher's tip: place the clubface on the ground in front of the ball, the handle pointing toward the obstacle, then press down on the face with your foot to flatten it completely. The angle of the shaft corresponds to the ball's launch angle.

With a pitching wedge, the swing shows that the ball can clear the trees; with an 8-iron, it can't. To get the ball under them, we do the same test with a much more closed club—in this case, a 4-iron. All that's left is to Follow the basics of the high ball (or low): To hit a high shot, position the ball toward your left foot, shift your weight slightly onto your right leg, aim to lift the ball, and, if necessary, keep your clubface slightly open.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Evaluate both options: going over the trees or going under them.
  2. Place the clubface on the ground, just in front of the ball, with the shaft pointing toward the obstacle.
  3. Use your foot to press down on the surface so that it lies completely flat.
  4. Look at the baseline: if it goes above the branches, the ball can get through.
  5. Try again with a different club if necessary (open it up more to go over, close it more to go under).
  6. For a high ball: aim the ball toward your left foot, shift your weight slightly onto your right leg, and open your stance slightly if necessary.
  7. Play with the intention of lifting the ball, without changing your mind at the last moment.

Key Takeaways

The clubface is positioned flat relative to the ball, with the shaft pointing toward the obstacle: this is the takeoff angle.
The test is conducted before playing, for each club under consideration.
To get underneath it, try the same test with a club with a narrower head.
The test isn't enough: you have to hit a real ball, whether it's high or low.
High ball: ball toward the left foot, weight slightly shifted to the right.
Opening the front up a little adds a bit more height.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Choosing a club “on a hunch” without checking the launch angle.
  • Place the face without flattening it: this will cause the shaft angle to become incorrect.
  • Picking up an 8-iron and thinking you can clear it: the test often shows that you can't.
  • Choosing the right club but forgetting the basics of a high or low shot.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Behind a tree or a net, test the shaft angle with several clubs
  2. Compare the height indicated by the bat to the ball's actual height
  3. High balls: ball toward the left foot, weight slightly to the right
  4. On the course: the test before each recovery shot over an obstacle

Your Questions

How can I tell if my club will clear the tree?

Place the clubface flat on the ground in front of the ball, with the shaft pointing toward the tree, and press down on the clubface with your foot. According to Karine Icher, the angle of the shaft determines the ball’s launch angle.

Does the test also work for getting under branches?

Yes, in the same way, but with a much tighter swing. In the video, a 4-iron lets you get underneath the ball, but it’s “touch-and-go”: you also have to hit a truly low shot.

How do you position the ball so it goes up?

Position the ball toward your left foot in your stance, with your weight slightly on your right leg and the intention to lift the ball. Karine Icher adds that you can open the clubface just a tiny bit.

Learn More

All “Pitch Shots” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Obstacles & Struggles” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Zone-Based Course Strategy: A Lesson from a Shopping CartA former Tour caddie teaches players how to play specific areas in reverse order starting from the flag: course notes, “short flag, long club,” reading the putt from the bottom up. Ball Position Relative to the Club Sole: Two TestsLet the club dictate the ball position (sole flat, grip toward your left eye) and check the distance by releasing your right hand. Weight on the front leg during the approach: the head, tooWeight on the front leg but head behind the ball: align your upper body with your weight to let the club glide along the ground and rotate your shoulders. Karine IcherAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Karine Icher). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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