Most of the golf courses in the US have undulating greens, club houses, pro shops, pool, nine or 18 holes, towering trees, pristine lakes, and of course a challenging rough. The golf courses of Dallas, Texas, for example, throw a little of all these things at golfers who come to tee off out there. Every player finds himself in the thick rough some time or other while golfing in one of these courses. The rough is that area in a course that has longer, thicker grass that is not mowed or is left unkempt. Therefore, hitting the ball out of thick grass or rough is really a challenge. So, if you’re stuck with a shot in the thick rough, here are six tips to maneuver the golf ball out of the hazard:
- Find a Suitable Grass Patch
When you are playing in the rough, look for a patch of grass that is more or less identical to the patch where the ball is stuck. You can try a few practice swings here, but make sure that you avoid taking a practice swing too close to the ball. You may end up disturbing the grass your golf ball is resting on. In such a case, the ball will move, resulting in a penalty shot for you.
- Choose the Right Club
Pick out the right club if you want to hit the perfect shot from the thick rough. Many golfers make a blunder when it comes to club selection. Choose a lofted club, such as a wedge, if you want the ball to go high up in the air fast. Opting for a lesser lofted club would make the golf ball come in at a less deeper angle. The ball may get stuck in the thick grass.
- Take the Right Decision
Thinking right and acting upon it is crucial when the golf ball is stuck in the rough. It’s not necessarily about hitting out better from the rough that matters. Often, the decisive element is the kind of shot you choose that lessen the damage to a round.
- Play the Ball for a Sharper Angle of Attack
Play your ball in the back third of your posture. It will help you get a sharper angle of attack on the ball that is buried in the thick grass. Try joining your wrists a bit sooner while back swinging. It will give you a feeling as if you’re picking the golf club up.
- Find the Straightest Line
You need to look for your straightest line from the thick rough to the fairway. It will get you out of the most difficult situation even if you happen to make a bad contact. There is no point in pinching a few more yards by choosing a more direct line to the flag or hitting the ball with a less lofted club. Even if this method works for you, it will not make much of a difference to your subsequent shot.
- Picture How Much Grass You Can Trap
You need to figure out how much grass you can trap between the clubface and the golf ball. If you don’t trap a lot of grass when the club hits the ball, you’ll end up hitting the ball smoothly and hit a flyer. Again, that can happen only when the ball is stuck in heavy rough, but it still touches the ground. When hitting a flyer lie (which is dreaded by many golfers), the ball tends to farther than you’ve expected; and that is not good. You can hit a flyer lie best by identifying the lie and figuring out how far the ball will travel. If you trap a lot of grass in the thick rough, it will lead to a measured swing speed affecting distance. It’s the lie of the ball that ascertains the club speed and amount of backswing.
While practicing a shot out of the thick rough in one of the golf courses in Dallas, Texas, first learn how to hit the ball. It will come with practice, and you’ll improve.