Chipping From Greenside Rough
Also known as: chip out of the rough, chipping out of the rough, chip from greenside rough, chipping from thick rough, chip out of thick rough around the green, greenside rough shot, pitch out of greenside rough
From thick rough near the green, use a lofted wedge, open the face slightly and play the ball in the middle of your stance. Make a steeper swing with more wrist hinge and keep accelerating through the grass. Expect the ball to come out with little spin and roll more than a chip from the fringe.
Greenside rough grabs the hosel and slows the club. A low chip made with a putting-style stroke often snags and comes up short. The fix is a steeper angle into the ball. Less grass gets trapped between the face and the ball, and the club cuts through instead of tangling.
Read the lie first. If the ball sits down, use a sand or lob wedge, open the face a little and hold the club a touch firmer in the lead hand. Hinge the wrists early and swing down with enough speed to reach a short, firm finish. If the ball sits up on top of the grass, do the opposite. Hover the club at address and make a shallower swing. That way the club does not slide under the ball.
Plan for the ball to come out with little spin. It will release more than a chip from short grass. Land it earlier. From a very heavy lie with the green running away, the middle of the green may beat the flag as a target. The bounce on a sand wedge helps it glide through the grass. A sharp leading edge tends to dig.
Tips by skill level
Before you chip from rough, look at the ball from the side. The less of it you can see, the steeper and firmer the swing needs to be.
From a fluffy lie where the ball sits up, grip down and hover the club level with the middle of the ball. That keeps the club from passing under it.
Example
Her ball sits halfway down in thick grass just off the green. She opens her sand wedge slightly, hinges early and makes a firm, steep swing. The ball pops onto the green and rolls out to six feet.
Why it matters
Missed greens often finish in the rough around them. A reliable method from that grass saves strokes and avoids chunks and skulls.
Common mistakes
- Using a putting-style chip that snags in the grass
- Slowing down because the green is close
- Sliding the club under a ball that sits up and popping it straight up
- Expecting the ball to stop as quickly as from the fringe
Frequently asked questions
How do I chip out of thick rough around the green?
Use a lofted wedge, open the face slightly and play the ball in the middle of your stance. Hinge your wrists early, swing steeper and keep accelerating through the grass. Expect the ball to roll more than usual.
Why do I leave chips from the rough short?
The grass grabs the club and slows it down. A soft swing cannot get through it. Make a steeper, firmer swing and commit to the finish.
What club should I use to chip from the rough?
A sand wedge or lob wedge is a common choice when the ball sits down. The extra loft gets it up quickly, and the bounce helps the club pass through the grass.
Related terms
- ChippingChipping is a short shot played from just off the green. A small swing gets the ball rolling on the green quickly so it can run to the hole.
- Hitting Out of the RoughTo hit out of the rough, first judge the lie, and play a ball that sits up much like a fairway shot. If it sits down in thick grass, take a more lofted club, play it slightly back and grip a little firmer. Swing more steeply so less grass gets trapped between the club and ball at impact.
- Sand WedgeThe sand wedge, usually 54° to 58° of loft with generous bounce, is built for bunker shots and short, high greenside shots. Its wide, high-bounce sole keeps it from digging into sand.
- Flop ShotA flop shot is a very high, soft-landing chip or pitch played with a wide-open lob wedge. It stops quickly and is used when there is little green between the ball and the hole.
- Up-and-DownAn up-and-down means holing out in two strokes from off the green: one chip or pitch (the "up"), then one putt (the "down"). It is a key short-game measure.
- Chunked ChipA chunked chip is fat contact on a short finesse shot near the green. The club hits the ground well before the ball, loses speed, and leaves the shot far short of the target.
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