How to Pitch from the Rough
By Steve Silverman
Golfers tend to panic when they find themselves in the rough, especially the deep rough. However, if you stick to your fundamentals and use your body when taking your swing, you can get the ball out of trouble.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Use your pitching wedge when you are in the deep rough. Take a bit of a wider stance than normal because you want to maintain your balance when you swing. Don't fall into the trap of swinging harder because you are in high grass. Instead, use your entire body and make sure you get in a full body turn when you make impact. This will get you much better results than just swinging hard with your arms.
Play the ball back in your stance when hitting out of short or medium rough. The ball should be an inch or two closer to your back leg and you need to angle the face of your pitching wedge so it is a bit more closed than usual.
Bring the club back slowly and make sure your wrists are angled at about 90 degrees before you come forward. As you come through the ball, you will be hitting down on the ball and it should jump up out of the rough and fly toward the green or your intended target.
Stay down on the ball whether you are playing from short, medium or long rough. Many golfers fail to finish the shot because they pick up their heads. While it is natural to want to see the results, you have a better shot of having a successful shot if you keep your head down.
Practice hitting from the rough before starting your round. Most golf courses have a practice area that includes rough. It is not a difficult shot as long as you have confidence in what you are doing and have some positive experience with it.
Tips & Warnings
Turn your hips as you come through heavy rough. This will engage your front side and allow you to get your clubhead through and make a strong shot.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
