One of the tougher recovery shots you're bound to run into is when your ball sits in such a way -- for example, up against the wrong side of a tree -- that you can't make your normal left-handed swing. You don't have to take an unplayable or twist into a pretzel to get out of the jam. Instead, go for a safe recovery by turning the club over and playing the shot "righty."
To play the right-handed recovery, reverse what you do for a left-handed shot. This is easier said than done, but here are a few tips.
Grip: Reverse the positions of the hands, placing the right below the left, using whatever grip feels most comfortable. The baseball grip may be the best bet since you're not trying to make the fingers mesh or overlap. Hold the club firmly but don't choke it.
Address: Set up square and assume your normal posture. Concentrate on using both hands to bring the club back and through in a rhythmic motion; don't stab at the ball. Imagine the same action you'd make to hit a backhand shot in tennis. Most important, keep your head still and make contact. The worst thing you can do is "whiff" the ball: It counts as a shot and leaves you the same tough lie. So concentrate on hitting the ball; even a topped shot should move it far enough from the obstruction to let you swing normally at the next one.
The club you use depends upon the situation. If it isn't important to get the ball in the air, use the back of a straight-faced club, such as a 3-iron, or, if you have a blade putter, the "wrong" side of that. If loft is important, turn your wedge over: The high face will give you a broader surface to make contact with. Turn the club in your fingers until you get the amount of loft you want.
Finally, don't try to hit the righty shot without first practicing it.
