Chip shot from the thick rough—Adam Scott: Read the lie
In the thick rough around the green, it all depends on the lie. Adam Scott demonstrates how to read it by placing the club behind the ball, then applies two rules: if the ball is buried, use a standard bunker shot; if the ball is resting on grass that’s lying flat toward you, use a modified bunker shot where you don’t try to hit the ball.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
First and foremost, Adam Scott position the club behind the ball To read the lie: the texture, the amount of grass between the clubface and the ball, and the depth. On the first lie, which is very poor, the ball isn’t all the way back, and the grass is mostly lying flat, with little texture. The grass behind the ball will interfere with contact: a little more energy is needed, without having to strike too hard. He plays it like a simple bunker shot, with a 60° open face, being careful not to slide under the ball and not to let your swing path drift too far to the left.
The second lie is trickier: the ball is resting on a blade of grass that’s lying flat toward the player, against the grain. It looks clean, and a lot of players step back to hit the ball first—it's a lost cause from the start. Scott plays a modified bunker: open face, wrists almost stationary, reduced angle of attack, knowing that he won't make contact with the ball. Without cocking his wrists, he has no speed at the top: he generates it during the follow-through, a sort of “double speed”. The ball comes out without spin, floats, and rolls. With a classic explosive swing, the leading edge digs into the flattened grass, the grass gets caught between the ball and the clubface, and the club loses speed.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Place the wedge behind the ball and observe the grass, the grain, and the depth.
- Buried ball: Open the clubface to 60°, just as you would in a bunker.
- Stay on a path that doesn't veer too far to the left, and go under the ball without picking it up.
- Ball placed against the grain: Do not move the ball back to hit it first.
- Open your face, keep your wrists almost still, and reduce the angle of attack.
- Really step on it as you cross.
- Choose a ball that floats and then rolls.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Play without having read the text.
- Move the ball back so that it first touches the grass lying flat toward you.
- A blast that drives the leading edge into the grass.
- Slow down when crossing.
- A shot that veers too far to the left and a ball retrieved.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Balls landed in the rough; assessing the lie before each shot
- “Buried ball” shot played like a bunker shot
- “Against the Grain” Series: Fixed Wrists and Speed in the Cross-Over
- Watch the ball roll after it falls
Your Questions
How do you read a lie in thick rough?
Position the club behind the ball, just like the players on the tour do. Look at the grain, the amount of grass between the clubface and the ball, and the depth of the ball.
Why not move the ball back when it looks like it's in a good spot?
On a blade of grass lying toward you, the ball looks clean, but it’s very difficult to make solid contact with it. Adam Scott sees this as a lost cause and prefers a modified bunker shot.
What does “double speed” mean in the traverse?
With his wrists almost stationary, no speed builds up at the top of the swing. Scott compensates by accelerating sharply after contact; otherwise, the ball wouldn't go out.
Isn't the classic explosion effect enough?
Not on this lie: the leading edge goes under the flattened grass, the grass gets caught between the ball and the clubface, and the club loses all its speed.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Adam Scott). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.