Trouble with pitches out of the rough

[anthony]

I'm having trouble with pitch shots out of moderately high rough where the ball is sitting up. The problem is, I'm sliding right underneath the ball. If it's sitting down, I just swing a little harder and it seems to work fine.

For reference, I'm using this technique for my pitches: http://thesandtrap.com/t/39411/quickie-pitching-video

Off the fairway and tighter lies, my short game is the best it's ever been. In the rough...it's rough. I've considered adjusting my stance so I setup with the clubhead off the ground to match where the ball is, but haven't tried it yet.

Any ideas?

[carpediem4300]

position your weight either 50/50 or slightly more on your back foot,.........as soon as you put your weight forward like you normally would for a pitch your gunna slide right under it

youtube search for mickelsons short game and specifically chipping/pitching from the rough,....he demonstrates really well that weight forward = air shot

[saevel25]

I don't come across this shot that often, For me i tend to really quiet the swing down, really focus on making a compact movement, and i try to just control the the strike ont he ball with the hands more. This means picking it clean through the rough. I don't lik the weight back, because you can still end up hitting behind the ball and going underneath it because your weights not forward. Go to the practice range and set upt his shot specifically and work on it.

[dsc123]

If I recognize that the ball is sitting up and that I'm at risk of sliding under it, I just adjust for the height.  Instead of setting up with my club on the ground I rest my club at the height of the ball.  That and I swing a little harder and expect some more roll out.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by carpediem4300

position your weight either 50/50 or slightly more on your back foot,.........as soon as you put your weight forward like you normally would for a pitch your gunna slide right under it

youtube search for mickelsons short game and specifically chipping/pitching from the rough,....he demonstrates really well that weight forward = air shot

That's not entirely true, but it is something to watch for a bit, definitely.

To the OP, I recommend a few changes when the ball is well off the ground sitting up in the rough.

1. Ball a little farther back in the stance - you want a "flatter face" and one that hasn't had a chance to lay back quite so much. The decrease in friction from the grooves will help to launch the ball as high as you'd expect.
2. Weight stays forward, but you'll use the hands a *little* bit more to hold the angle a bit so that the face doesn't lay back more.

Basically, you're shifting back ever so slightly into a "chip" mode where the leading edge is employed a little bit more (i.e. a flatter face), because the goal is not to allow the face to lay back and slide under the ball, hitting it high or off the toe and resulting in a weak strike or even a whiff.

FWIW, I do hover the club because you have to get a feel for what the height of the ball is.