If you’re like most everyday golfers, chances are you wonder how to play from the trees.
Because let’s get real, missing fairways happens to the best of us. Heck, even the best golfers in the world only hit about 60% of fairways in regulation.
Needless to say, missing fairways is part of golf. It’s how you can escape trouble that will lead to shooting the scores you want.
Today, I’ll outline the mindset and strategies to help you play from the trees and hopefully save a lot of shots during the round.
How to Play From the Trees in Golf
Key Takeaways
- When you’re playing from the trees after an errant shot, you need to first assess the lie and shot you can play.
- Sometimes you’ll need to hit punch shots to stay under tree limbs and get back in the fairway. Or, punch one through a window between trees/limbs.
- Other times you’ll have to hit a high shot over the trees to get back in position.
- When you’re in the trees it’s important to implement course management strategies to avoid the dreaded double bogey (or worse).
Keep reading to learn the step-by-step process to hit from the trees and minimize big numbers.
Check Your Attitude
Before getting into this tricky shot, it’s important to look at it from a mindset point of view.
If you sliced or hooked a drive into the trees, you might still be mad. Maybe it’s an easy tee shot for you normally but you hit a bad one and now you’re out of position.
It’s important to first check your attitude and emotions. Don’t forget, having the right mental attitude in golf is key to playing your best golf. If you’re still mad about the bad tee ball, it’s harder to make the right decision and focus on the upcoming shot.
Start by taking a deep breath, understanding that bad shots happen, and then get into the next steps. Don’t let one bad shot turn into a bad hole or stretch of holes from getting overly emotional.
If you need help with your mental game, make sure to read these articles:
Determine the Lie and Shot
Once you’re level-headed, it’s time to put your detective hat on to analyze the shot and lie. Start by assessing the lie before anything else.
Is the ball in thick rough? Is it sitting down or a flier lie? Or, is it in pine straw, desert, or something else?
Next, look at your options to escape the trees.
Is your best bet, chipping out sideways to get back in the fairway? Can you advance the ball 30-60 yards (or more)? Is there a window to punch a shot through? Or, can you take it over the trees?
Every situation is dependent on so many factors that were just mentioned.
But my biggest tip is to trust your instincts. If you think chipping out is the right play when you get to your play, it probably is the best strategy.
Here’s why…
When you trust your gut, you have less doubt over the ball. This leads to a more confident swing and usually a better result.
Now that you’ve analyzed the shot, keep reading for specific tips on each type of shot.
Hit a Low Punch Shot Under Trees
Chipping sideways is pretty straight forward and nothing more than a long chip shot like you’re around the green.
However, sometimes you might have a “window” to hit a hero shot through the trees. As the old saying goes, “Trees are 90% air.”
Not sure if that’s accurate, but let’s go with it. If you have a window to punch a shot through or need to keep a shot under tree limbs, follow these steps:
- Take the right club. You want less loft (which is found in longer clubs like mid to long irons). Avoid utility irons as they’re typically meant to launch the ball high. Fairway woods aren’t a great option either as they help with a high launch and the club will twist more if you’re in the rough.
- Choke up. Make sure to choke down on the grip to make the club shorter and easier to control. Remember, the goal isn’t to hit the shot with 100% effort like a full iron.
- Change ball position. To hit a punch shot you need to move the ball more in the middle of your stance. Avoid going too far back though as you might get too steep and make poor contact.
- Get clear about your target. Make sure you have a good picture of the shot you want to hit to give your mind a clear target window. This isn’t the time to doubt your decision and why it’s so important to trust your gut. Also, make sure to evaluate if anything is through your target line (OB, water, etc.) to avoid trouble.
- Shorter backswing. You don’t need a full backswing where the club nearly reaches parallel position with a punch shot. A shorter backswing also makes it easier to have a shorter follow through too.
- Minimize follow through. To hit a lower trajectory shot, make sure you have a shorter follow through. The shorter the follow through, the lower the shot.
Click here to learn more about hitting punch shots.
Hit a High Shot Over Trees
If you decide the best strategy is to go over the trees, you need a totally different approach than a punch shot.
First off, make sure the lie is good and not sitting down too much. The more a golf ball is in a thick rough, the harder it is to launch it in the air and over trees.
If the lie allows for it, the next thing to consider is the tree height.
The number one goal is to make sure you take a club that will get over the tree, even if it’s short of the green. The last thing you want to have happen is hit a tree, come straight down, and have to deal with trees again.
This is the same mindset as a fairway bunker.
It’s better to take less club and clear the lip of a fairway bunker, even if you end up short of the green. The same rule applies to hitting over trees – take the club you know will clear the tops of the trees.
Once you have the right club, make sure to:
- Open the face slightly to help increase loft. This also helps if the ball is in the rough as the thick grass will close the clubface.
- Play the ball slightly further up in your stance. This will help launch the ball higher faster than normal.
- Swing hard. To hit a “moon ball” you need speed so swing a little harder while still staying balanced to increase launch angle.
Also, make sure nothing is short of the green like OB or water to avoid unnecessary penalty shots.
Stick to Your Pre-Shot Routine
Whether you’re punching out under the trees or hitting a moon ball over them, stick to a good routine. While having a consistent routine is important for every shot, it’s very important for recovery shots that require intense focus.
A consistent routine will help you:
- Analyze the shot.
- Get clear about your target.
- Pick the right club for the shot.
- Eliminate mental distractions and stay in your “bubble” to focus on the shot at hand.
- Take the right practice swings to “rehearse” the upcoming shot. This is even more important when trying to play a punch shot that is nothing like a normal iron shot.
Tiger Woods is one of the best examples of rehearsing swings for a specific shot. If he’s going to hit a high fade, you can see him rehearsing this move behind the ball. If he’s going to hit a low punch, you can clearly see this as he’s making practice swings.
Rehearsing the motion you want to make primes your mind to hit a good shot.
Click here to learn more about creating a pre-shot routine.
Practice Recovery Shots on the Range
The final tip to help you play from the trees (or any trouble area) is to simply practice them more often. It’s hard to have a lot of confidence on the course if you don’t practice them at the range or simulator.
During some of your practice sessions, make it a point to hit some punch shots. Try to hit different trajectories and shot shapes (draw vs. fade, high and low, etc.). This is also great for your imagination and a good way to get your mind involved in your practice session.
If you need help with these shots, check out these articles:
FAQs About Recovery Shots
Do you have more questions about recovery shots to save shots every round? If so, keep reading through the most frequently asked questions and answers now.
How do you punch out under a tree?
To hit a punch shot out from under a tree you need to first make sure the lie will allow it.
If the ball is sitting up (known as a flier lie) it’s hard to flight a golf ball at a lower trajectory. But if the lie does allow it, make sure to:
- Take a club with less loft (usually a mid to long iron).
- Play the ball in the middle part of your stance.
- Move your hands forward at address.
- Short follow through to flight it down.
Is a punch shot the same as a stinger?
No, a punch shot is typically with a mid-iron to flight something under tree limbs and other obstacles. It’s not a shot you’re trying to hit with 100% effort.
Learn more about hitting the Tiger stinger here.
How do you hit a golf ball over a tree?
First, make sure you have enough loft on the club to get over the tree. Next, move the ball up in your stance to promote a higher trajectory. Then, swing harder with a high follow through to improve launch and hopefully clear the tree.
My Experience
Whenever I hit an errant tee ball and find myself in a tricky situation, I always ask myself this one question. “How can I make bogey or better?”
Here’s the thing that most golfers don’t realize… bogeys are not the end of the world. However, double or triple bogeys are absolute round killers and can derail a good round fast.
Most doubles or triples happen from two bad shots in a row thanks to excess emotions.
For example, let’s say you hit a big slice in the trees and know you have a small window to hit through. You’re still mad about the drive, don’t make the right decision, hit the tree on your punch shot, and walk away with a big number.
This can usually be avoided by simply asking, “How can I make bogey or better?” In this case, chipping out, hitting a wedge on the green, and hoping for a putt to save par is the ideal strategy.
Avoid doubles and stop playing hero golf when you’re out of position. Remember, bogeys aren’t the end of the world!
Final Thoughts
Hitting from the trees is part technique and part strategy.
You have to make sure the lie will allow you to hit the right shot – whether it’s through a window or above the trees. Otherwise, chipping out sideways might be the way to go to get your golf ball back in play and hopefully make a bogey or better.
Make sure to practice these recovery shots on the range before trying them out on the course. If possible, when you’re playing solo, try out recovery shots on the course too. Test out different clubs and see how you can flight shots to prepare better for when it inevitably happens on the course.
Next, make sure to read these guides to get yourself out of trouble and play more consistently:
- Consistent Golf 101
- How to Bounce Back in Golf
- The Hardest Shot in Golf – Mastering the Long Bunker Shot
Michael Leonard
Michael is an avid golfer of 25 years who played in high school, college, and now competes in Arizona amateur events. He is a full-time writer, podcast host of Wicked Smart Golf, and mental golf coach.
