Best way to escape the clag..

[vkurup]

Last week I had a very rough game... I mean, I was in the clag on almost every hole (some of it nearly waist high). Till a few months ago, I would never be able to escape from it without dropping a few shots. I once played bestball with a 11HC. Everytime I put it in the rough, he would get the next one out easily. So the obvious question to him was.. HOW??

His advice was to use a 'heavy club' like a 9i or a SW. Keep the ball on the backfoot and give a might sharp heave (not so much a swing). Though I never understood the meaning of 'heavy club', I have used it successfully.

Anyone else has a secret sauce?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Close your eyes and whack it with a wedge

 

[CMAC]

play it like a sand shot, open the face, pick it up steeply, grip tight and smash into the ball, it will pop out lovely

 

[tsped83]

Smash it!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I grip tight with a sand wedge hit down and pray. Best advice would be for both the OP and I to hit it straighter

 

[GreiginFife]

play it like a sand shot, open the face, pick it up steeply, grip tight and smash into the ball, it will pop out lovely

As above. Treat it like a really long sand shot. Just swing steeply on it with an open face. Wont go far but wi get you back in play.

 

[vkurup]

As above. Treat it like a really long sand shot. Just swing steeply on it with an open face. Wont go far but wi get you back in play.

Having been in it so many times, I think you can control the distance by switching between the 9i & SW. 9W gives me about 50y while the SW is more like 20-25y. Obviously it depends on how thick the rough is. As it gets thicker I choose to use the SW.

 

[vkurup]

I grip tight with a sand wedge hit down and pray. Best advice would be for both the OP and I to hit it straighter

Agree.. the best advice is to hit is straight and not get in it in the first instance..

 

[Imurg]

Important to not quit on the swing.
Give it all you've got but don't stab at it
Swing like you're trying to shift a ton of earth and grass.....

 

[Andy808]

Wouldn't work at our place as the really nasty stuff is in the trees so it's out low or hack away in there for a couple of shots.

 

[USER1999]

You don't need bounce. You want a sharp edge to cut through the rough. 9i is fine. Sw is not the club.

 

[GreiginFife]

You don't need bounce. You want a sharp edge to cut through the rough. 9i is fine. Sw is not the club.

Surely you play the club that fits the distance you need to cover? If you have mental thick grass and only 10 yards to travel surely a SW (which has a "sharper" leading edge IMO) would be better than a 9i which might fly the intended target area?
9i if that was what was called for but not sure you can say any club "is not the club" or are you a one size fits all kind?

 

[palindromicbob]

Commit, commit and commit. When I fail it is usually because I didn't do that because of fear that I might wrench my wrist. Worst part is that I find this outcome is more likely if I don't stay strong and commit. A battle of mind over matter that I often lose. .

Same as yourself though. Ball back, steep angle of attack and usually go for a more lofted club. Rarely lower loft than 9i never or higher than 54. Aim is always to give myself a chance on the next shot so usually just get it back to the fairway.

I a comp if I am within 2 club lengths of a better lie and it's very heavy clag I will admit to letting fear take hold and make use of an unplayable.