Use the description below to decide which type most represents the typical fairways you play.

Soft

A soft lie is finding your ball on wet ground, or the grass is longer compared to the fairway. Just as in a tight lie, perfect contact is necessary to be successful. Hitting too far behind the golf ball when the ground is wet causes the club to dig into the ground too much. A major loss of distance usually occurs as a result. It is very easy to swing under the ball that is sitting on top of any longer grass. A majority of the time, the ball pops straight up into the air.

Firm

Tight lies are positions where only a little to no grass is under the ball. For example, the grass is cut short, or the ground is hard under the ball. Finding these positions in a short cut fairway, a bare spot in the rough, or on the cart path are the most common. To be successful in this position, near perfect contact is necessary. Contacting the ground too far behind the ball causes the club to bounce off of the ground, striking the ball toward its equator. This motion causes the ball to travel on a low trajectory with very little backspin. The ball also continues to roll after hitting the ground. The same result occurs if you swing shallow, trying to pick the ball off of the tight lie. It’s hard to get under the ball.

Bunkers have a variety of sand and varying levels of firmness. Use the descriptions below to decide which type most represents the typical bunkers you play.

Soft
Soft bunkers will have very light fluffy sand, with more than 6 inches of sand in the base of the bunker. You will know you are in a soft bunker when you step into the bunker and sink down into the sand before taking your stance.

Neutral
Neutral bunkers will have slightly heavier sand with about 4-6 inches of sand in the base of the bunker and 2-3 inches on the bunker face. You will know you are in a neutral bunker when you take your stance and the sand covers the soles of your shoes with ease.

Firm
Firm bunkers will have heavy sand with less than 3 inches of sand in the base of the bunker. You will know you are in a firm bunker when you take your stance and the sand barley covers the soles of your shoes.