3 Pro Tips For Hitting Iron Shots From The Rough

Zane Scotland hitting an iron shot from the rough with an inset image of the golf ball in long juicy rough with the club behind to showcase length — How should you change your approach when hitting iron shot from the rough? Our Top 50 Coach has three great tips...

(Image credit: Future)

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1. Steeper Angle Of Attack
2. Grip It Firmer
3. Make Sure You Get It Out
What To Do In The Juicy Rough

Hitting iron shots from the rough is something every golfer has to do, but so many trip themselves up by misguidedly assuming it's the same as a shot from the fairway.

Sometimes, despite all the best ball striking lessons talking about the importance of a centred strike with irons - we can get a bit brave and rush into a bad strategy.

When you are playing out of the rough, it's important to take a moment to assess the lie and commit to a realistic plan.

3 Pro Tips For Hitting Iron Shots From The Rough

Not even the best players in the world hit every fairway, so this is a skill you are going to have to get used to.

In fact, most amateurs will have plenty of rounds when they play more shots from the rough than the fairway.

It’s important to analyse your lie and make a few tweaks to your set-up to increase your chances of hitting good shots from the longer grass.

1. Steeper Angle Of Attack

Zane Scotland demonstrating more shaft lean and a steeper angle of attack when hitting iron shots from the rough — A steeper angle of attack reduces the amount of grass between clubface and ball at impact

A steeper angle of attack will reduce the amount of grass between your clubface and the ball at impact. It’s easier to encourage this with your set-up, rather than actually trying to swing steeper.

Get your lead shoulder a touch lower at address and shift a bit more weight into your front foot. Also have a bit less forward shaft lean than for a normal iron shot to keep more loft through impact.

2. Grip It Firmer

Zane Scotland hitting an iron shot out of the rough, with the ball just popping up at impact with his hands down the grip — Strap in and commit to the shot with a firmer grip

Having a good golf grip is important for better ball striking, but grip pressure is also important when hitting from the rough.

Focus on keeping your left shoulder low in the downswing to get that steep angle of attack.

Grip the club a bit tighter to resist the grass wrapping around the hosel, taking the speed out of your swing and turning the clubhead over.

Allow for the fact that gripping tighter will make your swing shorter and the ball won’t go as far out of thicker rough.

3. Make Sure You Get It Out

You've got to be realistic about how much loft you need to get the ball out – sometimes you have to take your medicine.

Do a few practice swings in similar rough relatively near to your ball (not behind it or in a position where you can affect its lie) to see how the clubhead reacts through the grass. If in any doubt, take more loft.

Zane Scotland showing two different lofts for two different severity of rough — Don't be a hero - play strategically and pick the correct loft for the situation

What To Do In The Juicy Rough

The thicker the rough, the harder you’ll have to swing. If the green is out of reach, try and aim for a wide part of the fairway as it will be difficult to control distance.

Location: The Leatherhead Club

Zane has been coaching for six years after a playing career that saw him feature in two Opens. He has worked with and been inspired by the likes of David Leadbetter, Claude Harmon, Pete Cowen, Mac O'Grady and Robert Rock and he has coached a huge number of male and female tour pros in recent years.

Most common impact fault:

Not enough compression There are many ways of correcting it, hitting full speed shots and putting the brakes on post impact is one of the main ones.

A typical lesson:

Start with a conversation with some analysis and then working on which fundamental to tackle and improve - contact, power, curvature. Then help the player understand and gain clarity on the improvements that can be made and map out how we are going to tackle them. Then will demo improvements and, if needed, move through different drills and feels to get the best ones for the player. After a time of learning the new improved feels and moves we will do some performance drills as to see how much or how little the player can use straightaway and what is more long-term work that may take some time to show up in performance. We will close the session by agreeing on a practice/training plan going forward and then I will make a video with the client watching so they have that 3-5 minute video for reference when they go to practise/play on their own.

Students learn best when…

When they are open and are comfortable enough within the environment to fail. Helping them understand that when we are together working on their game that they are in a place where they are allowed to fail they are able to learn at a better rate.