Getting out of the rough

[King Norre]

Hi all,

Somehow I have a hard time getting out of the rough. My swing at the driving range, off the tee and from the fairway is good enough (for a beginner) but when I get in the rough I'm lost So I was wondering, can you guys give me any advice? Maybe I should aim for the fariway instead of aiming for the green? Should I use a club with more loft (wedge maybe)? Is the swing from the rough the same as a swing from the fairway or should I change some things? Any advice is welcome

Thanks in advance,

KN

[Shindig]

Hi all,

This depends on how heavy your rough is and how your ball is positioned in it. If it's in deep, your best bet may be to chop it out with a SW/LW. If you can move it somewhat down the fairway in the process, great. Your wrist strength may play a part in how well you can get a club out of the rough. A sports supply store should have hand sets that you can squeeze while at your desk or in the car (waiting at a light: not while moving!) to build up wrist strength. I keep one in my car, one at home, one at my desk, and one in my laptop bag. It's nice to have something easy to do for 15-30 seconds while you're waiting that can improve your golf game.

[tm22721]

The rough is intended to be difficult. At my course it is only 2 1/2" but it is thick like Mohawk carpeting. Really impossible stuff and you can hurt your wrists swinging too hard.

I just try to advance it up the fairway with an easy swing using a mid iron if it is a reasonably flat lie. For severe lies just use a wedge pitching it sideways onto the fairway.

Open the clubface and take a steeper club path because the grass grabs the hosel, shutting the club face.

[907golfer12]

The thing that my coaches have all told me is to make sure you accelerate all the way through the ball, and don't decelerate or stop the club in the rough.

[lamebums]

Hi all,

Loosen up your grip slightly. Trying to wring the club out and muscling the ball into the air almost never works (if anything, it makes your shot even shorter than before.) And then club one, perhaps two clubs more than you usually would, and make a normal swing.

If the rough is especially bad (US Open bad) than you may have no choice but to hack it back out to the fairway. The rough is average to dense at my course, usually 2-2.5inches long. I don't have much of a problem with it, at least, mainly because I'm in it all day and I've gotten used to it.

[King Norre]

Thanks for the advice guys.

[golfchief]

If your rough is that thick aim to the fairway not the green. one shot back into the fairway is better than three or four shots in the rough trying to get to the green. Play smart golf.

[mikelz]

This depends on how heavy your rough is and how your ball is positioned in it. If it's in deep, your best bet may be to chop it out with a SW/LW. If you can move it somewhat down the fairway in the process, great.

All good especially the part about wrists. I use a really handsy, vertical takeway in deep, thick rough and whatever loft gives the best chance of getting the ball up. I get a lot of flyers that way and my 9 iron will sometimes go 150. Anybody else notice that in your game?

[Divot]

I recently played at a course with some serious rough...2.5-3"...it was hell! All of my lies were "down" into the stuff and I honestly had a difficult time getting out. Thanks for the tips.