Caught in the thick stuff? Here’s how to escape and save strokes like a pro.
Every golfer has been there—you stripe one off the tee, but it takes a bad bounce and dives into the rough. Suddenly, you’re staring at a ball buried in thick grass, wondering how to escape without chunking it or sending it across the fairway.
Good news: Hitting out of the rough doesn’t have to mean disaster. With the right technique, club selection, and strategy, you can recover like a Tour pro. Let’s break it down.
1. Assess Your Lie Before Anything Else
Before grabbing a club and swinging away, evaluate your lie. The rough varies—from light, wispy grass to deep, gnarly, club-grabbing stuff.
What to Look For:
Is the ball sitting up? You can make clean contact.
Is it buried? Expect resistance and limited distance.
Is there grass behind the ball? This can shut the clubface, sending shots low and left.
What’s the direction of the grass? If it’s against you, expect more resistance.
Pro Tip: If the rough is thick, play smart and get back in position rather than trying a hero shot.
2. Use More Loft (and the Right Club)
Trying to muscle a long iron out of thick rough? Bad idea. The deeper the rough, the more loft you need.
Best Clubs for Hitting Out of the Rough:
✅ Light Rough: Mid irons (5-7 iron) if you have a clean shot.
✅ Thick Rough: Short irons (8-9 iron, PW) for more height and control.
✅ Deep, Gnarly Rough: Wedges—sometimes a sand wedge is the only option to escape.
What to Avoid: Don’t reach for a fairway wood or long iron unless the ball is sitting up nicely. These clubs don’t cut through thick grass well.
3. Adjust Your Setup for Better Contact
When hitting out of the rough, you need to tweak your stance and ball position to compensate for the grass grabbing your clubhead.
Key Setup Adjustments:
✅ Grip the club slightly firmer—thick grass can twist the clubface.
✅ Move the ball slightly back in your stance for better downward contact.
✅ Stand slightly wider for more stability.
✅ Steepen your angle of attack to reduce the amount of grass between the clubface and ball.
Common Mistake: Many golfers try to scoop the ball out—don’t! Instead, focus on making a descending strike to avoid the clubface getting tangled in the rough.
4. Swing With Power and Acceleration
In thick rough, you need speed and commitment. A slow, tentative swing will cause the grass to grab your club, reducing distance and control.
How to Swing in the Rough:
✅ Take a steeper backswing—avoid getting too shallow.
✅ Use a firm, controlled grip to prevent the club from twisting.
✅ Accelerate through impact—let the loft do the work.
✅ Focus on solid contact, not maximum distance.
Pro Tip: Expect less spin and more roll when hitting from the rough. Plan accordingly when aiming at greens.
5. Plan for Less Spin and More Roll
Even if you make clean contact, shots from the rough don’t spin like fairway shots. The grass between the clubface and ball reduces friction, meaning:
Expect:
- Lower trajectory.
- More roll on the green.
- Difficulty stopping the ball quickly.
How to Adjust:
✅ Land the ball shorter than usual to allow for roll.
✅ Use a higher lofted club if you need more stopping power.
✅ If chipping from the rough, expect the ball to release more—adjust landing zones accordingly.
6. When in Doubt, Take Your Medicine
Not every shot from the rough needs to be a highlight-reel recovery. Sometimes, the best move is to take your medicine and get back into position.
Ask Yourself:
- Can I advance the ball safely? If not, take a wedge and get back to the fairway.
- Am I trying to do too much? If you’re 200 yards away in deep rough, don’t force a low-percentage shot.
Smart Golf = Lower Scores. Don’t turn a bad situation into a double or triple bogey by trying to be a hero.
Final Thoughts: Escape the Rough Like a Pro
Getting out of the rough is all about smart decision-making and proper technique. Follow these steps to give yourself the best chance at recovery:
✔ Assess your lie before choosing a shot.
✔ Pick the right club—more loft in thick rough.
✔ Adjust your setup for clean, solid contact.
✔ Accelerate through impact—don’t decelerate!
✔ Expect lower spin and more roll—plan accordingly.
✔ Play smart—sometimes the best shot is a simple punch-out.
Master these fundamentals, and you’ll stop fearing the rough—and start escaping it like a pro.
FAQs: Your Rough Questions, Answered
Q: What’s the best drill for hitting out of the rough?
A: The “Towel Drill”—Place a towel just behind your ball and practice avoiding it on your downswing. This teaches a steeper angle of attack, which is key for hitting out of thick grass.
Q: How do I stop the club from twisting in thick rough?
A: Grip the club slightly firmer than usual to maintain control. Also, position the ball slightly back to ensure solid contact.
Q: Can I use a hybrid to hit out of the rough?
A: Only if the ball is sitting up. Hybrids work best in light rough, but in deeper grass, switch to an iron or wedge for better results.
Q: How do pros hit amazing shots from the rough?
A: They use stronger wrists, steeper angles, and commit to the shot. Plus, their club selection and experience help them make the best decisions.
Next time you find yourself in the rough, don’t panic—use these pro tips and get back in the game!
