Short Game · Tip
Pitching Out of Thick Greenside Rough
Part of our short game programs for fat or chunked, high, soft shots. Build a program with it
Thick rough by the green is tricky. Swing hard and you fly the green. Swing soft and the grass grabs the club. Play the ball back in your stance so you hit down and catch less grass. Open the face of a lofted wedge a little for margin. Lean slightly toward your lead side. Hinge your wrists. Don't make a chipping motion. Swing with some aggression and hit down just behind the ball.
Step by step
- Play the ball back.
- Open the face a little.
- Lean toward your lead side.
- Hinge your wrists.
- Swing firmly and hit down.
Why it works
With the ball back and your weight leaning toward your lead side, the club moves down at a steeper angle and reaches the ball before it reaches much grass. Hinging your wrists makes the club steeper still, so less grass gets between the face and the ball. A firm swing keeps the club moving through the rough, and the open face of a lofted wedge lifts the ball and lets it land softly.
Common mistakes
- You make a soft, chipping stroke with little wrist hinge.Hinge your wrists early on the backswing and swing firmly so the club stays on a steep path.
- You stop the club at the ball when the grass grabs it.Commit to swinging through, hit down just behind the ball, and finish with the club moving.
- You let your weight fall back onto your trail foot.Keep a slight lean toward your lead side from setup to finish.
How you'll know it's working
- The club contacts the ball first, with only a short, shallow strip of torn grass just after it.
- The ball comes out on a steady, high line and lands near your target instead of racing across the green.
- The club keeps moving after impact instead of stopping in the grass.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start with a ball that sits up on top of the grass and use a short backswing so you can learn the steep, firm feel first.
Harder: Move to a ball that sits deeper in the rough, or pick a landing spot close to the edge of the green with little room to stop the ball.
Common questions
What club should I use to hit out of thick rough around the green?
Use a lofted wedge, such as a sand wedge or lob wedge, and open the face a little. The loft helps the ball get up and out of the grass.
Why does my club get stuck in the rough when I chip?
Grass wraps around the hosel and slows or twists the club, especially when the swing is soft or shallow. Play the ball back, hinge your wrists, and swing firmly down just behind the ball to cut through less grass.
