Best Approach to hitting a ball sitting up partially in thick rough with an wedge.

[newtogolf]

I played a new course today and the rough was really thick and plush.  The ball was positioned in the middle of the rough so it was tough to tell how much space was below the ball.  This happened to me two different times and both times my wedge swept under the ball and just popped it up in the air with little forward movement.   On the 2nd shots I tried to sweep the ball which resulted in a thin shot that travelled much too far.

I've seen the pro's also sweep below the ball so I'm not sure that there is a standard shot to play here but if anyone knows I'd appreciate the tip, thanks.

[SavvySwede]

If the rough is to thick too really tell how much the ball is sitting up it really is just a guessing game on what sort of technique to use. You're probably best off taking the most conservative approach, clubface relatively square and a steeper angle of angle making sure to get the clubface on the ball and picking a line that allows for some roll out. Blasting it out is just too risky because even a great motion isn't going to guarantee success.

[Mr. Desmond]

Reminds me of Johnny Miller ... "OMG, he's grounding his club ... biggest mistake."

Don't ground the club - put it level with the bottom of the ball

Do not lean weight on the front foot at address unless you want to hit under the ball - have the weight more even at address.

[boogielicious]

I played a new course today and the rough was really thick and plush.  The ball was positioned in the middle of the rough so it was tough to tell how much space was below the ball.  This happened to me two different times and both times my wedge swept under the ball and just popped it up in the air with little forward movement.   On the 2nd shots I tried to sweep the ball which resulted in a thin shot that travelled much too far.

I've seen the pro's also sweep below the ball so I'm not sure that there is a standard shot to play here but if anyone knows I'd appreciate the tip, thanks.

Reminds me of Johnny Miller ... "OMG, he's grounding his club ... biggest mistake."

Don't ground the club - put it level with the bottom of the ball

Do not lean weight on the front foot at address unless you want to hit under the ball - have the weight more even at address.

If you have to use your sand wedge or log wedge, do what @Mr. Desmond suggests. Play it like a sand shot. If you can use a lower lofted club, you will be less likely to sweep under it. In either case, choke up a bit and hover the club so it won't sweep under.

[newtogolf]

If you have to use your sand wedge or log wedge, do what @Mr. Desmond suggests. Play it like a sand shot. If you can use a lower lofted club, you will be less likely to sweep under it. In either case, choke up a bit and hover the club so it won't sweep under.

Thanks guys I'll give it a try.

[mvmac]

Also raise the handle a little at address and make sure to pivot through the shot.

[Big C]

I tend to grip down a little bit when the ball is sitting up in thick rough. It's simple but it works for me.

[mckaymental]

Interesting info guys! I'll give it a shot for sure!

[Duff McGee]

I was on an extremely steep hill a few weeks ago as in it was a mogul on a steep cliff hill. I used a gap wedge and had about 70 yards to the pin. I made great contact and it went right for the pin.......only it shot about twice as high as even my typical highly lofted shots and landed halfway there lol.

[bm85]

Awesome thread and answers. This shot can be a bi@#h.

[newtogolf]

I tried it out today but I clearly need to practice this shot more as the distance the ball travels varies greatly from a shot that is sitting down in the rough.  I was 1 for 2, the first shot I skulled over the green and the second landed on the green but not nearly as close to the hole as I'd thought it would, I guess I was too far under it.

Not grounding the club definitely helped but I'm so used to hitting down on the ball against the ground that I had difficulty finding the right "bottom" of my downswing giving the ball was sitting up from the ground.