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Make solid contact from the rough stuff - by Ernie Els

I see even fairly accomplished golfers struggle to make solid contact from the rough, especially the thick stuff. It shouldn’t be that difficult, though. I mean, even from the juicy stuff that we play out of in tournaments such as the US Open it is possible to make a decent strike and generate good distance. The key is making a few subtle adjustments to your set-up and your swing. Trust me, you can’t just treat it like a normal shot and hope for the best. That won’t work!

When the ball is sitting down in the rough, follow these simple rules:

Take at least one more club
Choke down on the grip an inch or so
Play the ball back in your stance
Aim a little left of target and open the clubface

All of these measures help pre-set a slightly steeper angle of attack. Now, focus on the back of the ball and make an aggressive swing, accelerating through the hitting area (picture right). You’ll be surprised how good you can hit it, even from the most unappealing lies.

Tip provided by Ernieels.com

Ernie Else

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