Irons · Tip
Think Like the Ball in Deep Rough
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In deep rough, picture the shot from the ball's view. It's sitting down in thick grass. Its only way out is up. Yet many golfers grab a hybrid or long iron. Play it a bit farther back so the club comes in steeper. If the only way out is straight up, take a wedge and aim at the fairway. If the ball sits up nicely, play a normal shot. In thick grass where you can barely see the ball, play safe. Expect thin grass to grab the club and pull the ball.
Step by step
- Picture how the ball needs to get out.
- Move the ball back in your stance.
- Take a wedge if it has to go straight up.
- Aim back to the fairway.
- Allow for the grass to pull the shot.
Why it works
In deep rough, grass sits between the clubface and the ball. A shallow swing drags through that grass and loses speed before it reaches the ball. A ball played farther back and hit with a steeper club gets to the ball with less grass in the way. A wedge has more loft, so the ball can climb out of the grass instead of staying low.
Common mistakes
- You grab a hybrid or long iron because you want distance.Pick a wedge when the ball sits down, and accept a shorter shot that gets back in play.
- You leave the ball in the middle or forward in your stance.Move the ball back a bit so the club comes down steeper into the ball.
- You aim at the green and ignore how the grass will grab the club.Aim back to the fairway and expect the clubface to be pulled left for a right-hander.
How you'll know it's working
- The club reaches the ball and the ball leaves the grass instead of the club stopping behind it.
- The ball climbs out and lands in the fairway, even if it comes up short.
- You can feel the club stay steep through impact and cut through the grass without twisting in your hands.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start with a ball that sits up in light rough, and use your most lofted wedge with the ball just back of center.
Harder: Practice from thicker grass where the ball sits low, and pick a specific fairway landing spot before each swing.
Common questions
What club should I use in deep rough?
Use a wedge if the ball sits down in thick grass and has to go almost straight up. If the ball sits up nicely, you can play a more normal shot.
Why does the ball go left out of the rough?
Grass wraps around the hosel and slows or closes the clubface at impact. For a right-hander, that pulls the ball left, so allow for it in your aim.
