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Obstacles & Hardships Wedges Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Wedge from Pine Straw: Scottie Scheffler

Is your ball sitting in pine straw, a wedge away from the flag? Scottie Scheffler, for TaylorMade, shows how he plays this 90-yard shot with a bunker in the way: solid footing, hitting down on the ball, and the right distance control.

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Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

4 minSame problemJack Nicklaus's high shot: clearing the obstacleJack Nicklaus · Intermediate5 minSame problemChip shot from the thick rough—Adam Scott: Read the lieAdam Scott · Intermediate / Expert20 minFrom the same proScottie Scheffler's Range Session with Randy SmithScottie Scheffler · Expert

What the lesson shows

Scottie Scheffler is in pine straw, with a clean lie, about 90 yards from the flag with a bunker in his line. The mistake he often sees amateurs make at this distance: trying to lift the ball to clear the hazard. For him, on this kind of surface, the key is contact: he hitting down on the ball to compress it, just as you would on regular grass, without trying to clear the bunker—simply play toward the flag.

He adds a distance adjustment: even from a clean lie, the ball generally comes out a little softer from the needles. So at 90 yards, he makes his 95-yard swing. Another key point: digging your feet into the needles, down to the sand, to get a stable base, “almost like in a fairway bunker.” His only thought: solid contact and his 95-yard swing. Since the lie was clean, the ball was able to spin and stop on the correct tier of the green.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Check the lie: Is the ball clean or buried in the pine needles?
  2. Dig your feet into the needles to find a firm foothold.
  3. Add about 5 yards to the actual distance.
  4. Aim for the flag—don't worry about lifting the ball over the obstacle.
  5. Hit down on the ball to compress it.
  6. Keep just one thought in mind: contact.

Key Takeaways

In the needles, the priority is contact.
Hitting down on the ball to compress it, without trying to lift it.
The ball comes out a little softer: play about 5 yards more.
Plant your feet firmly for a stable base, just as you would in a fairway bunker.
One thought only: solid contact and a swing for the right distance.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Trying to lift the ball to clear the bunker.
  • Playing the exact distance even though the ball comes out softer.
  • Keeping your footing shallow on top of the needles.
  • Piling up swing thoughts instead of focusing on contact.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Wedges hitting down on the ball, as from a fairway bunker
  2. Distance swings + 5 yards, feet dug in
  3. One thought per shot: contact

Your Questions

Should you try to lift the ball out of pine straw?

No: Scottie Scheffler hits down on the ball to compress it, just as he would from normal turf, without trying to carry the hazard.

Does the ball travel as far as it does from the fairway?

According to him, it generally comes out a little softer. At 90 yards, he hits his 95-yard swing.

How do you position yourself in the needles?

He sinks his feet in until he feels the sand, to get a solid footing, almost like in a fairway bunker.

Can you put spin on the ball from pine straw?

With a clean lie, yes: in the video, the ball spins and stops on the correct tier of the green.

Learn More

All “Obstacles & Struggles” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Jack Nicklaus's high shot: clearing the obstacleTo hit the ball higher, Nicklaus keeps his usual swing, moves the ball forward, opens the clubface slightly, and then shifts his weight to his left foot instead of staying back. Chip shot from the thick rough—Adam Scott: Read the lieAdam Scott reads the lie by placing the club behind the ball, then plays either a standard bunker shot or a modified bunker shot with fixed wrists against the grain. Hitting Over a Tree on the Golf Course: The Club Shaft TrickPlace the clubface flat in front of the ball, with the shaft pointing toward the obstacle: the angle of the shaft indicates whether the ball will go over or under the trees. Scottie SchefflerAll of his lessons

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

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros