[Photos: J.D. Cuban]
Getting the ball to stop quickly out of greenside rough can be challenging, especially if the ball is nestled down or the grass is dense and grabby, like Bermuda grass. Add in being short-sided, where the hole is cut close to you, and the shot might seem hopeless. With some adjustments, it’s actually quite doable.
First, grip the club super-soft to help reduce swing speed. A firm grip usually will cause you to jerk the club; a light grip will keep you smooth. Lay the face wide open and play the ball forward in your stance, just inside your front heel. Now, here’s the key: make as long and slow a swing as you can imagine to hit this shot. You might go halfway back to fly the ball 10 or 15 paces [above].
The common mistake is to take the club back short and add speed with your hands at impact, which pushes the handle forward and causes the ball to come out low and hot. From thick rough, you have to make a big enough swing so the clubhead will slide through the grass. If you do that with the face open, which helps keep the clubhead from getting snagged, and with a slow pace, the club will slip under the ball and pop it out [top].
A great way to think about this shot is as if you’re going to drop the club immediately after impact. That will teach you to swing very slowly into the ball and keep your grip pressure light. You’ll add softness to the shot and make the most of a very delicate situation.
Jackson Koert, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, is director of instruction at Atlantic Beach Country Club in Florida.
