tall grass

Question
can you give a good way to get the ball out of tall thick grass
when it is about 15 to 20 feet from the cup.

Answer
Hi Len:

No problem.  I learned this myself when I played in my first US Open at Oakmont C.C.  Being only 15-20 feet from the cup is intimidating simpy because we feel as though we cannot hit it very hard or we'll go way by.  However, in deep grass around the greens, the one thing you do need is speed.  But I learned a cool trick back at Oakmont.  Try it and see what I am talking about.  Use your lob wedge or sand wedge, open the clubface just a bit, hold on tight with the left hand.  The grass will have a tendency to grab the hosel and shut the face if you're not careful.  Use your hands and wrists to make the backswing, similar to a bunker shot.  You'll pick the club up into the backswing making sure the face is open.  Then, here is the trick I learned.  Allow the clubhead to simply fall or drop behind the ball purposely hitting it fat (remember you are in thick grass).  MAKE SURE THE CLUBFACE STAYS POINTED AT THE SKY.  There will be no follow through at all.  So the trick to guessing how hard to hit it is to make a BIG ENOUGH BACKSWING.  The momentum of the clubhead thumping in behind and under the ball will produce the lift needed to get it out of the tall grass.  By keeping the face open and hanging on very firmly in the left hand, this will help the ball come out a little softer onto the green.  Remember, big enough backswing and let the clubhead fall behind the ball, keeping the face skyward.  Watch what happens.  You'll be able to get a good idea of how big of a swing to make and start to get a good sense for it soon.   

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member