Irons · Tip
In Long Grass, Read the Lie Before the Yardage
Part of our irons programs for fat or chunked, uneven lies. Build a program with it
In long grass, the lie decides the shot. The yardage comes second. Look behind the ball. Can the club reach it without catching a lot of grass first? Don't touch the lie. Just look. How deep does the ball sit? What will the club have to cut through? Then pick your exit before your target. Find the widest way back to short grass. Choose a club that gets you there and leaves an easy next shot.
Step by step
- Study the grass behind the ball.
- Judge how deep it sits.
- See what the club must pass through.
- Pick the widest exit to short grass.
- Choose your club for the exit.
Why it works
Long grass between the clubface and the ball absorbs speed and twists the hosel, so the club arrives slower and with the face turned. The ball then comes out low, weak or off line. If you read the lie first, you pick a shot the club can actually deliver. A club with more loft and a wide exit target turns a likely bad result into a safe one.
Common mistakes
- You choose the club from the yardage and ignore how the ball sits.Look at the grass behind the ball first, then pick a club that can get through it and reach short grass.
- You aim at the flag when the grass is deep.Pick the widest exit to short grass first, and treat the flag as a secondary target.
- You press the grass down or touch it while you study the lie.Keep your hands and club off the grass and judge the lie by eye only.
How you'll know it's working
- The club reaches the ball without a large clump of grass wrapping the hosel at impact.
- The ball comes out on your chosen exit line and lands on short grass.
- Your next shot is a simple one, such as a short pitch or a full swing from a clear lie.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a lie that sits up in light rough, and choose a wide exit with a lofted club.
Harder: Practice from a lie that sits lower in thicker grass and pick the exit and club in a few seconds, as you would on the course.
Common questions
How do I know if my ball is too deep in the rough to hit a long club?
If the grass covers much of the ball or the club must cut through a lot of grass to reach it, use more loft. A shorter, more lofted club gets the ball out more reliably.
Why does my ball go left out of long grass?
Grass can wrap the hosel and close the clubface at impact, which sends the ball left for a right-hander. Choosing more loft and a firm grip helps keep the face steady.
