Playing from Long Rough

Playing golf shots from long rough near the green is not difficult when you know a few techniques. These techniques are used either at set up or during the back swing. Our goal is to get the club striking the ball on a steeper angle as it approaches the ball on the down swing and to keep the club sliding through the deep grass.

We can help the club to travel on a steeper approach angle by taking advantage of several set up positions. The position of the ball between your feet should be behind the middle of your feet. How far back the ball is placed behind the middle can vary. It can be lined up behind your back foot or just a few inches back of middle. Players should experiment and notice what happens from various positions. Secondly the players body center points, their head,sternum,and pelvis should all be adjusted several inches laterally in the direction of the target. The player will feel their weight standing firmly on their target side foot. Additionally the hand position must be ahead of the ball. The amount it is ahead can vary. Players should experiment and notice results. Lastly at address the clubs toe should be rotated back. Rotating the toe back is commonly known as laying the club open. It necessary to lay the club just a little so it will slide through the tall grass. These combined set up positions promote a steeper angle of descent into the deep grass.

The steeper angle should be accentuated even more by taking the club back with an earlier and steeper wrist cock than during normal swings. This early steep hinging promotes a steeper angle of descent into the deep grass and to the ball.

The set up positions combined with the steep take away make playing from long grass easy.