How To Pick The Right Club In The Rough

How you cope with tricky conditions and escape trouble on the golf course can say a lot about a golfer. The ability to pick the right club out of the rough is an under-appreciated skill, but one that could save you shots and your sanity.

In this video and article, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Andrew Jones shares his expert tips on choosing the right club in any scenario...

How To Pick The Right Club In The Rough

When playing from the rough, there is a much reduced margin for error in terms of the strike. If you are fractionally out with your contact in the thicker grass you could be punished, so approaching with caution is recommended.

In the video above, I've staged three different lies in close proximity to each other to demonstrate how flexible you need to be when assessing your next shot on the course.

1. Bad Lie

When your ball is sitting down in a wet or muddy lie, it's time to reach for the wedge. It's important in this spot to really focus on the perfect ball position, specifically placing it back in your stance and allowing your lead foot to take a fraction more weight.

This in turn will create a steeper angle of attack and provide assistance in achieving the cleanest possible strike from this difficult position.

2. Average Lie

 Without much grass around the ball, it sits slightly down but there is nothing stopping the clubface making a full contact. In this scenario, set the ball in the middle of your stance so that your hands are a fraction ahead of the ball at address.

This will help you learn how to compress the golf ball for a better strike that still allows you to flight the shot and generate a good amount of power.

3. Good Lie

One of the reasons that lies differ so much is the uneven growth of the grass. Patchy areas, particularly in the rough are typical and you’ll sometimes find your ball perched up.

In this scenario you can opt for whichever club you need to reach your target, but place the ball further forward in your stance. Make sure your posture is as athletic as possible and then make a smooth swing to get the most from the great (and perhaps fortunate) lie you’ve found.

Quick Tip

In the off-season, most clubs have local rules in place, one of which usually allows golfers to ‘prefer their lie'.

This means moving the ball anywhere within six inches of its original location, but not nearer the hole. This is a chance to give yourself a great lie, so don’t pass it up!