We know every golfer has experienced a Rough!
For instance, you hit what you believed to be a good shot, only to have your ball vanish into that area of dense grass, known as the rough. And the result is your confidence suddenly falters!
Do you use extreme force to hack it out?
Or have faith in your abilities and methods?
In actuality, playing from the rough is about making the correct decisions rather than chance. Every obstacle on the course, in our opinion at Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy (TSG), is a chance to improve your skills. And one of those crucial skills is to produce a confident golfer who is not scared of playing from the rough.
Here are a few practical tips to help you tackle shots from the rough like a pro.
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Determine the Length of the Grass and Lie
- Examine the ball and the surrounding grass closely. This is a basic but frequently overlooked initial step.
- You will need a higher loft club(like a wedge) to lift the ball out neatly if it is buried deep in thick rough.
- You have more alternatives if it’s sitting up correctly; you might have more flexibility in club selection.
- You can avoid making unnecessary mistakes by quickly reading your lie. Just let the lie inform you what shot is conceivable before you swing.
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Modify Your Grip and Stance: Having encountered a rough involves minor but significant changes in the way you approach a shot. It may involve the following-
- Ball position: To help strike down on it, move a little back in your stance and take a shot.
- Grip: Take a somewhat more challenging grip than usual. By doing this, the clubface may cut through dense grass without twisting.
- Swing path: To increase the likelihood that your club will cut through the grass, aim for a sharper angle into the ball.
- To keep control without strangling the club, tighten up just enough. Think of it as preparing for a “rough fight.”
And that’s it, your preparation for a good shot will be done!
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Don’t Swing too much
Attempting to muscle the ball out is one of the most common blunders golfers make in the rough. Here, more power does not equate to greater outcomes. Just remember the following-
- Club selection is important: Select a hybrid or lofted club that is made to cut through grass more readily.
- Smooth is intelligent: Making clean contact is advised for a compact, controlled swing.
- Maintain equilibrium: Frequent overswinging can lead to instability, resulting in more misses and uncertain outcomes.
Why these adjustments matter
Not all golf games are played on flawless lies. It’s the golfer’s ability to change their grip, stroke, and stance when the ball hits in the rough. And that’s what makes a good golfer different from a bad one. By doing regular practice, you also improve your ability to think creatively in the game and make decisions under duress, which are just as crucial as your swing mechanics.
We regularly remind our students at TSG that while anyone may look fine on the fairway, champions know how to bounce back from setbacks.
Some Final Words!
You don’t have to let the rough ruin your round. You may make a confident recovery from a difficult situation if you have the proper assessment, a clever stance, and a controlled swing. We wish for you to trust your modifications and play smart the next time you’re looking down at a ball that’s buried in the grass.
Our goal at Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy is to help players become proficient in all facets of the game, from fairway drives to those challenging recovery shots. Contact TSG for more insights on golf!
Happy Golfing!
