How do I chip effectively from rough around the green?

Mastering Chips from Greenside Rough: Technique and Strategy

Chipping effectively from the rough around the green is a critical skill for scrambling and saving pars. The thick grass can grab the club, leading to chunks (fat shots hitting turf behind the ball) or fliers (shots from rough or wet conditions that fly lower and farther with reduced backspin). Success relies on precise setup, club choice, and a controlled swing that prioritizes hitting the ball first. This guide breaks down the fundamentals, step-by-step technique, and drills to build confidence.

Club Selection

• Standard choice: Use a wedge like a sand wedge (54-56° loft) or gap wedge for most lies. Higher loft helps pop the ball out of thicker rough without excessive spin loss.
• For tighter lies or longer chips: Opt for a pitching wedge to promote a low chip and run, where the ball spends more time rolling than flying.
• Avoid flop shots unless expert: A high-lofted flop shot risks skulling or thinning from rough—reserve for pros like Phil Mickelson.

Setup and Ball Position

1. Stance: Narrow stance, weight favoring the front foot (60-70% on lead side) for a descending strike.
2. Ball position: Back in stance, off the inside of your front heel, to ensure clean contact.
3. Hands ahead: Shaft leaning forward to deloft the club slightly, promoting a crisp hit.
4. Grip pressure: Light to medium—firm enough for control but allowing the club to release.
5. Alignment: Aim clubface at target; body slightly left (for right-handers) to account for club path through rough.

For upsloping lies (common around greens), tilt your spine to match the slope's camber and apply forward pressure on the heel with wedges, as seen in Scottie Scheffler's technique.

Swing Technique

Focus on a smooth, pendulum-like motion emphasizing low point control: hit the ball first, then turf.

1. Backswing: Short and low, hinge wrists early. Visualize brushing the grass with the clubhead through impact (Lane The Lever technique).
2. Downswing: Accelerate through, letting the club release freely. Maintain forward shaft lean to avoid digging.
3. Impact: Strike down and through—Sage The Stabilizer emphasizes this for stability. The ball should pop up and land softly, then roll.
4. Finish: Low follow-through matching backswing length; weight stays forward.

This setup excels for up and down or getting up and down: chip/pitch plus one putt to save par.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

• Chunking: Caused by scooping or hanging back—fix with hands-ahead setup and practice hitting divots after the ball.
• Flier lies: Rough reduces spin, so fly it shorter than expected; choose less loft and commit to clean contact.
• Deceleration: Leads to skulls—swing with intent, accelerating through impact.
• Over-swinging: Keep it compact; longer swings grab rough more.

Practice Drills

1. Tee Drill: Place a tee 1 inch behind the ball in rough. Hit without touching it to groove ball-first contact.
2. Low Point Drill: Mark a spot 1-2 inches in front of the ball; focus on turf interaction there post-impact.
3. Distance Control: Set flags at 5, 10, 15 yards. Alternate chips aiming for greenside stops, tracking up-and-down success.
4. Rough Ladder: Progress from light fringe to thick rough, using one club to master trajectory control.

Practice 20-30 minutes daily, filming swings to check low point and shaft lean.

Key Takeaway

Effective chipping from greenside rough boils down to clean contact, forward shaft lean, and a brushing release—prioritizing ball-then-turf. Master this, and your scrambling stats will soar, turning bogeys into pars consistently. With deliberate practice, you'll execute these shots under pressure like the pros.