Chipping From the Rough: Learn How in 6 Easy Steps (2024)

When you’re chipping from rough near the green, there are a few things you need to consider before selecting a club and taking your shot.

In this post I’ll give details on the things you need to consider when chipping from the rough.

Take a look at your lie initially

Walk up to your ball and take a look at how it’s sitting in the rough. Is it sitting down or is it sitting up in the grass?

If it’s sitting down you’ll need to think about whether or not you can make good contact with your ball to get it on the green.

If the ball is sitting up, you’ll need to make sure you’re not coming underneath the ball and not making good contact as a result.

Check how far your target is

It can be much more difficult to get your ball on the green when your ball is buried by long, rough grass, so you need to think about the best way to try and save par.

Your best option is to take any hazards or bunkers out of play completely. Don’t get overconfident with a bad lie! 

You’ve played yourself out of position and now need to take your medicine, this means playing the shot most likely to decrease your chances of a high score. You’re better off making sure you can get on the green and giving yourself a chance at par than you are trying to hit a perfect flop shot that stops just next to the flag.

However, if your ball is sitting up in the rough, you can play it a bit more aggressively. Just remember that shooting your ball out of the rough gives much less backspin, so make sure you allow for the ball to run out enough up to the flag.

Consider any hazards or bunkers

The last thing you want to do is give yourself a more difficult shot than the one you’re already taking, so make sure that you commit to your swing to clear any potential bunkers or water. 

If you need to chip over a bunker, for example, make sure you give your shot enough power to get well over it. You’ll likely be looking at a long putt anyways so there’s no point in trying to make the perfect shot in this scenario.

Choose your line and landing area

Make a choice as to what line you want your ball to travel on as well as where you want to land. Pick a 2-to-3-yard wide circle and try to land your ball anywhere within it. Remember that birdie is likely out of play here, don’t cost yourself more harm than you need to.

Make some practice swings behind the ball, facing your target

Take a few practice swings behind the ball while facing the flag. Visualize your shot.

Get a sense of how thick the rough is through your hands.

Thick rough can slow the head of your club considerably so you’ll need to adjust your power accordingly.

Brush the rough with some practice strokes until you have a feel for how deep the rough is while visualizing your shot.

Step in and make your shot!

Once you’ve gone through all these steps, step into your stance and make your shot. Don’t make any decisions at this point. Now is the time to act on what you’ve already decided. 

If you feel you need to re-adjust your plan, take a step back and go through the steps again until you feel confident you’re ready to take the shot.

Conclusion

Chipping from the rough near the green is not easy! But when you consider all the variables and come up with a plan before you address your ball, the more likely you are to get your ball closer to the hole for a chance to save your par.