Struggling from greenside rough? A top teacher reveals how this simple swing key can increase your contact and control.
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As spring settles in, you may start to notice your local course coming back to life. The fairways green up, the trees fill out and the thin wintergrass becomes a thick, juicy rough. It’s like that old saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” but in this case, they bring a lush second cut that is challenging to navigate — especially around the greens.
That’s because getting out of the rough takes a little extra speed in your swing. But around the green, that can feel counterintuitive. After all, these shorter shots still require a bit of finesse. Fortunately, Parker McLachlin, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher to Watch, has a quick swing key that will help you execute these shots with confidence. Use his simple tip from the clip below to start getting up and down more often.
Deliver more loft for more control
McLachlin says the key to escaping greenside rough is loft — and having a lot of it through impact.
“I want to provide some loft to this golf ball on the way through,” McLachlin says. “This is going to allow [the ball] to come out high and soft, even though it’s sitting down in this rough.”
When the ball is sitting down, it’s tempting to lean the shaft forward or get steep to try and “dig” it out. But, if you’ve tried it you know it rarely works. That motion actually exposes more of the leading edge at impact, making it easy to catch too much grass. The outcome? Your club stalls out, and you end up hitting that dreaded shot that barely travels forward. On the flip side, if you don’t catch enough grass, you risk blading it across the green.
Instead, focus on delivering the clubhead with a bit more loft. As McLachlin demonstrates in the clip above, this can mean keeping the hands or handle neutral, rather than ahead. It also means avoiding the downward, stabbing motion and opting for a swing that allows the club to continue through the grass. You can even preset some loft at address to ensure you’re maintaining enough through impact to get the ball out.
By keeping the clubhead moving and letting the bounce do the work, the ball will pop out higher and land softer every time.
ShortGameChef.com, created by PGA Tour winner Parker McLachlin, provides golfers with a comprehensive resource to improve their short game. Through personalized tips, drills, and expert insights, Parker helps players of all levels gain more confidence and a deeper understanding of their short game to lower their scores. You can browse membership options here.
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