By Debbie Clum
The spring can be wet and cool. Consequently, when the heat comes, so does the rough. The rough will be thicker and harder to hit from. Here are a few tips to make this task easier:
Determine your lie: ball sitting on top; ball halfway down; ball all the way down; and all in tall grass or fescue.
Ball sitting on top:
Ball position in stance same as on fairway.
Use same club as you would on the fairway.
Key to this lie is to address the ball at the level the ball is in the rough. If you address it too low, it is very easy to swing under the ball and pop it up.
Ball half way down:
Play the ball further back than normal.
Use more lofted woods or irons.
Key is to pick up the club with the shoulders turning, so your angle of attack is steeper than normal. This prevents less grass getting between the club and ball at impact.
Ball all the way down:
Play ball back in stance.
Put weight on your left foot and keep it there on the back swing.
Use more lofted woods and irons.
Key is to keep weight on left foot so your angle of attach is much steeper than normal.
Ball in tall grass or fescue:
Ball off right foot.
Weight totally on the left foot (no weight transfer on back swing).
Pick club up with the shoulders turning and hit down.
Use wedges and get the ball back onto the fairway.
The rough can be tough. So, the deeper the ball is sitting, the further back you play the ball in your stance and the more weight you put on the left foot, resulting in a steeper angle of attach. This will prevent too much grass from getting between the club and ball at impact.
Debbie Clum is the teaching professional at Mad River Golf Club.