The Short Game - Downhill Pitch Shots from Rough

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Staring at a downhill pitch shot out of rough can be intimidating and may even seem hopeless. You’re not alone. We’ve all been there, and in this video, I’ll show you how to hit the perfect, lofted shot that’ll save you a ton of strokes. You’ll learn the 6 keys to hitting downhill pitch shots from the rough.

  • Weaken the Left and Right Hand Grip to Hold Off Release of Face
  • Use 60 Degree Wedge
  • Keep Face Open With Lot of Loft
  • Move Ball Back in Stance
  • Match Shoulders With Slope
  • Stance Open With Target
  • Steeper Swing to Match Slope

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Kyaw Thet
Is there any video related to stock shot from rough? Is that the same as RST?
August 3, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyaw. For stock shot in the rough. Stand a hair closer and firm up the wrists a little bit. This will create a slightly steeper plane/AOA and keep the club face from turning too much.
August 3, 2020
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Kyaw Thet
Hi Craig, Thanks so much for your reply. Squat to square and Post-up are the same as RST?
August 3, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyaw. Yes.
August 3, 2020
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Ronan
Hi, On shot like this or on any chip/pitch shots, do you want to be aiming for the hole or to select a landing spot and aim for it ? Ronan
January 25, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ronan. Look for an aiming spot and how the green/break will take it to the hole.
January 25, 2019
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Ronan
Thanks Craig, Even from the Bunker ? Ronan
January 27, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ronan. Unless you are trying to fly it in the cup. You need to judge how it will roll out and spin to leave yourself the best opportunity from its landing spot.
January 27, 2019
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Ronan
Thanks Craig, And how do you train your brain to aim a specific spot? I’ve always been better at judging the whole distance and to strike with feeling.. Last question, do you want to do the same when you roll a 6 iron for example or is it more on chip/pitch shots with open clubs?
January 29, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ronan. I agree. You need to visualize and see the whole picture in your head. How it will roll out, break, check, etc. Once, you have the picture in your mind. Optimize the best spot for you ball to land to take the break and roll out the proper distance. It is a feel shot. Don't delete the feel, but visualize where the ball will have the best chance to go in, or leave you the best tap in spot. Usually with the longer clubs you won't have a lot of flight. Tougher to gauge landing spot. But, you still can pick the spot and see the ball roll out like a putt in your mind.
January 29, 2019
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GC
Did chuck even hit the ball? How similar is this to a bunker shot?
June 8, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Grant. Yes, he did hit the ball. You can see the ball fly under the slow motion conditions at about 4:55. Not very similar to the bunker. The ball position, stance and holding off will change.
June 9, 2016
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terrence
where was this taken? Great video, but I want to play this course.
November 26, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Terrance. The Golf Club at Black Rock in Coeur d'alene, Idaho. It is a fantastic track.
November 27, 2015
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Loran
My short game is terrible on the golf course. When I attempt to get the ball from downhill to the green, it always comes up short. Even worse, when the grass is so high, like weed-length, I don't know if I should hit at a steep angle or slide under the ball. Should I even attempt? Or just take a penalty?
May 29, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Loan. You need to get a steeper angle matching more of the slope. It will help you cut through the weeds and pop the ball out more.
May 30, 2015
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Loran
Ok. Should I limit my follow through so the ball will not be a flier? Is this technique mostly from feeling and experience?
May 30, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Mostly from experience. You learn to chop down on the ball to let it pop up versus full steam ahead which can result in the flier.
May 30, 2015
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Loran
When my lie is half in the rough and the other half in the fairway, greed for distance takes over and I am tempted to use my woods instead of an iron...what club should I select in this case?
May 22, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
You can use either one. The key is to know that the rough may grab the hosel or toe depending on ball location.
May 23, 2015
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Shane
What about weight distribution?
December 13, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Shane. The weight will tend to lean more towards the trail side.
December 13, 2014
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Shonn
What about a down hill tight lie on burmuda grass? Faced that one two days ago at Indian Wells and came up short after short siding my second shot.
October 17, 2014
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R.J. (Certified RST Instructor)
Shonn, I've been doing some reading on burmuda grass as it pertains to golf since you asked this question, which is why my response took so long. From what I have read, if it is buried and you don't have much green to work with, you might want to treat it like it's a bunker shot in order to get it to pop out of the grass. However, if it's not buried, the suggestion was to brush the top of the grass with your practice swings because if you get under it too much, you'll inevitably come up short. The reading that I was doing also suggested using a club with less loft (providing it's not buried) when you have more green to work with and treat it more like a bump and run shot. I'm from Pennsylvania and we don't get a lot of Bermuda grass up here like there is say in Texas so, my advice is solely from reading about Bermuda grass and not from personal experience. If you encounter Bermuda grass a lot, I would focus on hitting many shots out of this grass and play different shots to see which works best for you. I will get in touch with some of the other RST instructors and see if any of them have more of an expertise on playing out of Bermuda grass. Also, in my reading, shortening the backswing and accelerating through the ball was said to be paramount in getting desired results. R.J.
October 18, 2014
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ashish
can you do a video on uphill pitch shot from the rough.
October 9, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Thanks for the suggestion Ashish! We will put it under consideration.
October 9, 2014
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suresh
Very good technique and video. How does the setup and swing changes if we want to pitch from uphill ..... Thanks .. Suresh
July 19, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Suresh. Pretty much the opposite. Other than stance. Keep the stance slightly open. Shoulders level to the slope. More weight on the lead leg. Ball tends to be up in the stance. Don't want it back because of steep/chunk side effect. Club will naturally want to be lofted. Don't need to open it up as much. Keep the lead side going through.
July 19, 2014
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Jacek
It seems that you have a much wider stance than in any of the other videos I've seen thus far. This isn't addressed in the video from what I understood. Is that unique to an uphill or downhill lie?
June 11, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
His stance is a little wider in the video to support standing on such steep angle. It doesn't look that steep on camera, but I've been on that spot. A lot more downhill than it looks.
June 11, 2014
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lisa
Very good technique to handle this tough shot. What 's about technique for a 120 yard down hill shot, over a lake?. Thank you.
April 11, 2014
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
This sort of shot would take minor setup adjustments. You want to make sure that the shoulder plane is more level to the slope so you may have to adjust your access tilt. You also need to make sure the lower body is very sturdy and that you are trying to swing the clubhead down the plane of the slope through impact.
April 14, 2014
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