How To Pick The Right Club In The Rough

Playing well in tricky conditions is a test of your golfing instincts. Nowhere is this more applicable than when it comes to how to pick the right club in the rough. In the video and article below, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Andrew Jones shares some simple tips that will help you choose the right club in every scenario.

When you are in the rough, there is far less margin for error regarding the strike. Fractionally heavy contacts are punished even more severely, so you should approach with caution. In the video above, I've set up three very different lies barely a foot apart, illustrating how flexible your game plan needs to be. These three shots will help you deal with any lie you face in the rough.

Bad lie

If your ball is sitting down or in a muddy or wet lie, reach for your wedge. This will offer you more distance than any other club. When thinking about how to judge your lie in the rough, working out the perfect ball position is vital. In this instance, place it back in your stance at address and put a fraction more weight on your lead foot. This will create a steeper angle of attack to help you find the cleanest strike possible in this difficult scenario.

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.

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 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 lie you’ve found.

Quick tip

In the off-season, the 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, don’t pass it up!