One of the most obvious mistakes golfers make from a tight lie is trying to pick the ball perfectly clean.

If you’ve been around the game for a while, you probably know you can’t help this shot into the air. The loft of the wedge has to do that for you. Trying to lift it usually brings thin shots, chunks and all kinds of unnecessary manipulation into play.

However, there’s another mistake that’s much easier to overlook: letting the handle get too low at setup.

Why a low handle can cause problems

When you set up to a tight lie with the handle sitting low, the heel of the wedge gets closer to the turf.

That doesn’t give you much margin for error.

If the heel catches the ground first, it can slow or twist the clubhead and cause the leading edge to move into the ball. That’s when you get the shot that shoots across the green or the club bounces into the middle of the ball.

It’s a small setup adjustment but it can change how the club moves through impact.

The Fix: Grip down and raise the handle

Start by gripping down on the wedge.

You don’t necessarily have to go all the way to the bottom of the grip but shortening the club allows you to stand a little closer and get the handle higher.

From there, the wedge sits more upright and the toe becomes more involved with the turf interaction. It’s not a swing fix, just a simple adjustment at setup.

I also like keeping pressure favoring the lead side and making sure the body keeps moving through the shot. You don’t need a lot of wrist hinge or forearm rotation. This is a controlled motion where the arms and chest work together.

Make a few practice swings and pay attention to where the wedge is brushing the turf. If you constantly feel the heel digging, raise the handle slightly, move a little closer to the ball and see if the strike starts to feel cleaner.

Final thoughts

Tight lies don’t give you much room for mistakes which is why small setup details matter.

Most golfers know they shouldn’t scoop or try to lift the ball. The position of the handle is much easier to miss.