Hitting a Ball Out of Thick Grass

By April 12, 2019Tips & Tutorials
playing out of thick grass

Hitting the ball out of think grass can pose a huge problem for golfers, especially beginner players.  It is easy to become disheartened when the ball lands in deep rough but the first thing to do is accept the challenge.  See this is a chance to show off your skill.

The first thing to consider is what you can achieve with the ball in the thick grass.  For example, if you are 200 yards from the green, it is best to accept you will not reach the green on this shot and get the ball back on the fairway.  It can be a difficult pill to swallow but getting on the fairway and then the green is preferable to leaving the ball in trouble again, getting on the fairway and then the green.

You will lose power on the swing when playing out of thick grass and that means you need to compensate for that loss.  You can do that with your club selection and you may decide to move up a club depending on the distance you want the ball to travel.  If the ball is 100 yards from the green and you would usually use a 9 iron, you could opt for an 8 iron instead.

Try moving your grip lower down on the club as this will aid stability when hitting the ball out of thick grass.  If you use your standard grip, there is a good chance the club will twist in your hand as it comes up against the dense grass.  If the club twists, it will lose power and direction on the shot but you can combat that by choking down on the club.

Think about the amount of grass you are likely to trap between your club face and the ball.  If you believe you will not have a great deal of grass between the two, there is a chance you could catch what is known as a flyer.  This will see the ball run fast when landing and could result in your ball being in trouble again or travelling beyond the green.

If you believe you have a good chance of catching a flyer, you could take a little off the shot but always run the risk of catching more grass then expected, which will slow the club down further.  You need to use your judgement before deciding the size of your backswing and swing speed.

When hitting the ball out of thick grass, play it from the middle of your stance.  This will help you to keep balance should you meet a lot of resistance on the shot and see the club come down at angle to generate some loft.