Playing out Of The Rough For Golf Swing

You should never underestimate the resistance that grass will put up against your swing when playing a shot out of thick and heavy rough.

Even light, fluffy fringe grass, or semi rough, that you often find lurking inconspicuously just off the edge of the fairway is enough to get between the ball and the clubface, taking a considerable number of yards or meters off your shot.

Play it rough

There are two things you should remember when faced with this situation:

- when hitting out of the rough, you must accept that there is no substitute for strength. There are certain techniques that you can use to make the shot easier but ultimately power plays a key role in removing your ball from the rough. You have to swing hard. Unfortunately, there is no other option available

- you should try to create a steeper attack into the ball in the downswing so that you avoid swinging the club head through lots of thick and heavy grass in front of the ball that will inevitably slow your swing speed down considerably.

With this in mind, you will find it helpful to set up with a little extra weight on your left side, this will make it easier for you to hit down on the ball through impact.

Most top players will also open the club face at address because they know that the grass is likely to wrap itself around the club head through impact, closing the face and producing a low shot that travels sharply to the left, usually into even deeper trouble.

Access your chances

Weight up the risks involved when playing out of the rough and think realistically. Many amateur golfers underestimate how much the thick rough will affect their shot, and they still believe that they can hit the ball almost as far as they can from the fairway.