Rough Success

photo credit: Tom Purves   Most players, when playing from greenside rough, try to put spin on the ball to help control or stop the shot once it lands on the green.  The problem is that it’s very difficult to know exactly how much spin will actually be on the ball.  The primary factor that determines the amount of spin is how deep the ball is in the grass.  When contact is made, if there is too much grass between the clubface and the ball, the shot will come out hot.

Try to play this shot as if you were in a sand trap.  Open your stance and with an open clubface, make a more upright swing.  You will get plenty of height and the ball should land softly on the green.