Home About Us The Instructors Clinics Private Lessons Junior Golf Instructional Tips Oak Marsh Golf Club Phone: 651-730-8886 Fax: 651-730-6711 institute@wpgolf.com Summer is finally here! - July 2004 By David La Pour Finally, summer is here and golf right behind it. With all the rain we've had it's nice to see warmer temperatures and sunny skies. As you may have noticed, the grass also likes the warm weather. How the ball sits on the ground is a very important topic for golfers. People may not realize this but how the ball sits dictates what shot we can hit. As most people already know, when we play golf we want to catch the ball first and the ground second (except for the greenside bunker). If you do take a divot, which is not the most important thing in the shot, it should start just a little after the ball (toward the target). Now we can talk about the rough and how to play your shot. Notice the order of how to decide what you can and can't do with your golf shot:  • How is the ball sitting, up or down?  • Are there any obstacles?  • How far do you have to go?  • What club should you hit? If the ball is sitting down in the rough, play the ball toward your back instep, put your hands forward of the ball, use a club that will make clean contact with the ball (wedge, 8 iron), and swing down which should pop the ball up. We are looking for a "V" shaped swing instead of a "U" shaped swing, which will get the club on the ball sooner. Depending on the rough, try and follow through using your legs, the bigger muscles tend to be more reliable in the rough. In really difficult situations the rules of golf allow for an "unplayable lie" ruling where you may under penalty of one stroke drop the ball no closer to the hole. See your USGA rulebook for more information. Try the above tips for your rough play and if you have any questions check with one of your WP Golf Instructors. Enjoy your summer of golf and see you on the course! MORE TIPS Home / Putting / Short Game / Full Swing / Mental / Health / Other "Depending on the rough, try and follow through using your legs, the bigger muscles tend to be more reliable in the rough."