Every golf I know has played a golf shot from long, thick grass. It is the nature of golf courses to leave certain areas long and unruly in order to add some degree of difficulty to the playing area. Many times hitting out of this tough location I felt that just making it to the fairway was a blessing. In order to limit the number of stroke added to my scorecard it is important to take our medicine and not try to compound our mistake by trying to hit the ball too far down the fairway. It can be a challenge to keep our ego in check, but from a course strategy standpoint ensuring our next shot is played from the short grass is key. Once we understand what we need to do with a shot out of long grass, the next thought is how we actually accomplish this task. This aspect of the overall golf shot may be easier than you think.

I was always taught that hitting a tough golf shot out of long grass was always very difficult. I believed this nonsense until I figure out that I already had this type of shot in my golf bag. Yup, hitting this type of shot is like hitting a deep bunker shot. The mechanics are the same and the ball flight very similar. Since I knew how to hit this shot already, then there was no need to fret….right?

The technique used in the video is very similar to how I play my ball out of the thick rough. There are a couple of points I want to emphasize that will make this shot even simpler for each player. The first is to find a practice swing area similar to your current lie. I neglected to take this step in the process earlier in my career, but now it is a must. Many times I was surprised by how easy the ball popped out of the tough lie or the exact opposite….never moved an inch. Understanding what the conditions are like around the ball will help extricated it from trouble.

The second and equally as important is to commit to the shot. This might seem strange, but many players try to overswing or under swing this golf shot. Basically, they do not commit to the shot by making the swing decided upon; while standing over the ball, they change their entire thought process. This indecision generally results in a poor shot rife with frustration. Commit to the shot you chose and be confident that you are playing the proper shot.

Hitting the ball out of long, thick grass is a challenge. It is also important to understand your options such as calling it an unplayable lie. “When you decide that your ball is unplayable, you have three relief options, all for one penalty stroke. Your first option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke and play again (stroke and distance relief). Your second option is to go back as far as you’d like and drop on the line from the hole through the spot where the ball lies (back-on-the-line relief). Your third option is to drop anywhere within two club-lengths of where your ball lies, no closer to the hole (lateral relief).” (USGA) Sometimes declaring an unplayable lie is your best course of action. The choice is yours.

Golf is challenging enough without having to make difficult shots out of long grass. If you find yourself in this situation, however, then knowing what to do and how to do it is important. It is a shot that you can practice in order to master the challenges of trying to hit the ball our of a poor position. Regardless of your approach, ensure you commit to what you decide and swing away.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!