PGA Tour pros are fed up with tackling the issue of mud balls, and golf fans are tired of reading about it every other day and yet nothing happens. You see, the problem is that mud balls can significantly affect ball flight, making it unpredictable and often resulting in wayward shots. When mud accumulates on the ball, it can alter its aerodynamics, causing it to veer off course or drop short of the target. Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele both expressed frustration with the rules regarding playing the ball as it lies after encountering mud balls at the 2025 PGA Championship.
Scheffler argued that the current rules can unfairly penalize golfers for hitting perfect shots that end up with mud on the ball, stating, “I don’t think you should get punished for hitting the ball in the middle of the fairway… In golf, there’s enough luck throughout a 72-hole tournament that I don’t think the story should be whether or not the ball is played up or down.” However, one golfer begs to differ. Padraig Harrington, with his vast experience, offered a contrasting view as he suggested that dealing with mud balls is part of the skill of the game. “I don’t make the rules. I think when you’re looking at the purest form of golf, on a links golf course, there’s absolutely no reason you should play the ball up”, he said, and well, he is somewhat right. Somewhat. Therefore, we are here with the top 3 tips to tackle the problem with ease.
Tip 1: Keep the ball low
Mud balls are like uninvited guests at a party – you never know what they’re going to do. To mitigate their effects, Scottie Scheffler recommends keeping the ball low. “In theory,” he said, “the more time a mud ball spends in the air, the higher chance it has of going somewhere you don’t want.” It’s like trying to navigate a minefield – you want to minimize the risk of an unexpected explosion. By hitting low shots, Scheffler reduces the risk of the mud affecting the ball’s flight. He demonstrated this approach on the 6th hole at the 2022 Hero World Challenge, hitting a 3-wood with mud on his ball and managing to keep it low, getting it out about 200 yards.
Justin Thomas also employed this strategy at the same tournament, but it didn’t quite work out for the golfer. When Thomas hit the ball, the mud affected its flight in an unexpected way, and he ended up scrambling for a par. Ball flight can be significantly impacted by mud, and keeping the ball low can help reduce the uncertainty. It’s all about damage control, folks.
Tip 2: Assess the mud position
When it comes to mud balls, knowing where the mud is can give you a slight edge. Collin Morikawa offers a useful tip for guessing where a mudball might go. “It’s pretty simple,” he said. “If the mud’s on the right, the ball’s going to go left, if the mud’s on the left, the ball will go right.” Morikawa used this approach on the 4th hole at the 2022 Hero World Challenge, aiming to the left due to a left-to-right wind and mud on the right side of the ball. While it’s still guesswork, assessing the mud position can help golfers make a more informed decision. Think of it like reading tea leaves – you’re not always sure what you’ll get, but it’s worth a shot.
Tip 3: Be prepared for uncertainty
Mud balls are the ultimate wild card in golf. Both Scheffler and Morikawa highlight the uncertainty of playing mud balls. Scheffler noted that “You can’t practice it on the course… Sometimes the mud flies off, sometimes it sticks, sometimes it’s heavy, sometimes it’s not. Something you can’t really figure out.” Morikawa echoed this, saying “It’s a guess, it’s an absolute guess and it sucks.” Given the unpredictability of mud balls, being prepared to adapt and make the best guess possible is crucial.
By combining these tips, golfers can improve their chances of tackling mud balls effectively. It’s all about being flexible and ready for anything – like a ninja warrior, but with more mud and fewer ninja moves.
The post Golf 101: Top 3 Tips to Play Mud Balls Like a Pro appeared first on EssentiallySports.
