Rough in Golf

Nothing is more frustrating than hitting an inaccurate shot that directly lands on the rough. Rough in golf course is a pretty tricky area. The grass is deliberately kept longer there and if it’s wet then you are in trouble. So, in case you are wondering about how to play safe and different techniques to help you get back to where you want to be, keep reading!

What is rough in golf?

The rough in golf course typically borders the fairway and the grass in this area is deliberately kept longer than the grass on the fairway. The concept behind it is to punish the golfers for making inaccurate shots as it is harder to get your ball out of the long grass.

So, playing out of rough can be tricky and then there are bunkers and hazards to think about as well. If you are someone who ends up in a rough and struggles to get it right then follow the techniques below!

How to get out of the rough on the golf course?

Identify the quickest route back to the fairway:

Once you land in the rough, it will be extremely hard to generate much distance even if you get out of it. Therefore, it’s important that you take the shortest and quickest route leading back to the fairway.

Use a more lofted club to play better shots on Rough:

When you are trying to get your ball out of the rough, it is important to achieve sufficient height and loft on the ball for easy delivery. In order to do this, you should use a more lofted club.

For example, if you are using a 6-iron, you can use a 7 or 8-iron instead. You can get more information on how many clubs you can carry and how to arrange them

In simple words, long and thick grass tends to have more grip. This means that the grass will grip to the bottom of your clubhead when it is at the bottom of the downswing. This will deloft your clubface during impact, making it hard to achieve the necessary left. This is why you need to select a more lofted club.

Put weight on your front foot:

When you are trying to play normal shots, you usually follow the 50-50 weight distribution strategy. However, this is not very helpful when you are stuck in rough. This is because there is thick long grass sitting between the clubface and the ball. So, your strike can become less clean affecting both distance and accuracy.

One simple way to solve the issue is to steepen your angle of attack on the ball at the bottom of the downswing. You can achieve this by putting around 70% of your weight on your front foot during the impact.

Take your medicine:

If you are a regular golfer, you must have come across the words “take your medicine”. But what does this mean and how can it help you get out of the rough?

When your ball has strayed off onto the rough, you may find yourself stuck with other obstacles as well. These obstacles may include bunkers, water hazards, and trees as well. So, when you find yourself in this situation then aiming for the green directly may not be the wisest option. Therefore, this is when you can “Take your Medicine” and play the ball out sideways and back onto the fairway.

Final Thoughts:

Playing an effective game on the course takes a lot of years of experience and practice. However, you will naturally figure out how to play better over time. However, you should always keep your focus on limiting the damage and following a strategy that will quickly lead you back to safety.

Moreover, remember that rough is meant to act as a penalty for not making an accurate shot. Therefore, there is no point in being aggressive or being hard on yourself. Just keep your calm and even the toughest situation will ultimately turn in your favor.