Ball sitting down in lush rough

[JohnnyDee]

Now Winter's gone and we're nearly into the season of lush thick rough - perhaps just a few feet off the fairway.

It's one of my big weaknesses as I can't hit it far from here. If I try and swing hard I inevitably end up with a nasty Barclays Bank costing me another two shots.

So what's the answer? Do I swing softly with a SW or 9-iron getting it safely back onto the short stuff, or do I muscle it in an attempt to get on the green. If it's the latter what do I use and what's my strategy? Am I smashing it with molto vim and vigour or playing a nice steady swing?

This really does cost me so many shots and I so desperately need a plan.

Answers on a postcard.,,

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I'm afraid there is no answer, you have to look at each individual shot and assess your options. Sometimes it's a wedge sideways, other times you can muscle it out and run it onto the green if there are no hazards to negotiate.

Every situation is different.

 

[ScienceBoy]

If your swing is too shallow then this shows it off easily.

Only a good "hitting down on the ball" swing will extract from rough with any decent contact. That goes from a pitch out sideways to an attempt at a shot for a green.

 

[Slab]

Lush 1st cut rough round the greens really killed my game last weekend, far too late I realised I'd need to be more careful to avoid or be a lot smarter at how I went about extracting it on chips/pitch shots

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Firstly, if the rough is that penal just a few feet from the fairway, the course manager needs to take a look at his policies.

The second answer is always try get the ball back in play, even if it means going sideways. Playing your 3rd from the fairway is always preferable to playing it from the same thick rough as your second.

 

[USER1999]

The obvious answer to your question is, have you tried hitting the fairway?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

In the words of Sam Torrance, (cue smoky sounding Scottish drawl) "take your punishment". Of course it depends on the lie but if in doubt, chip it out and get it back into play. Try it for a couple of rounds and see the impact.

It is a similar situation as to if you play at a tree heavy course, forest Pines springs to mind. The first time you try your luck and attempt to hit through the trees. After hearing the sound of ball on wood repeatedly you decide to chip sideways and get back on the fairway. My own experience is that sideways works better. Darn those trees.

 

[Alex1975]

Depends on the distance that needs to be covered.

 

[Sybez]

Johnny - you posted yesterday saying that you haven't been to the practice range for 10 years, maybe its time to go and practise this shot you struggle with....? :thup:

 

[JohnnyDee]

Johnny - you posted yesterday saying that you haven't been to the practice range for 10 years, maybe its time to go and practise this shot you struggle with....? :thup:

Good idea but don't know any ranges with rough mats 😜 though suppose I could find a field somewhere 😄

 

[rksquire]

The rough over the weekend wasn't just lush - it was jungle-esque! Lots of complaints already, dry fairways meant the ball ran further than recent times, and even running into the rough by a few foot meant a search party and occasionally lost balls. Even finding it there was no chance there was a route through to ball - steep or shallow! Hopefully it's a blip and the growth spurt caught them off guard.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It's becoming a problem at a few courses I've played recently. Maidenhead was brutal just off the fairway at the weekend. I just try and play a normal shot with a lofted club dependant on the lie and aim to hit down on it and get it out. Get it out and try and get the next close. On a shot hole, remember bogey is never a bad score so don't try to be a hero

 

[nickyj4]

I always try and put a bit more weight on the front foot for this kind of lie(maybe 60/40), it encourages you to hit down on the ball a bit more. Works for me but might not work for others

 

[dewsweeper]

The 'leather mashie' always does the trick!!!!
Dewsweeper