At last summer’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, the players dealt with some of the gnarliest rough they saw all year. But whether you’re playing in a major or with your buddies on Saturday morning, knowing how to handle heavy cabbage is a game changer, and it starts with reading the lie.

Before you swing, ask yourself: How much grass is behind the ball? In thick rough, no two lies are ever the same, even if they look similar. A ball sitting down deep is going to require a steeper angle and more speed to power through. If it’s sitting up a little more, you can get more creative.

For the deeper, buried lie, move the ball slightly forward in your stance and use more loft — something like a 60 degree. You want to catch it later in the swing arc, so you can really get under it and pop it out. If the ball is sitting higher, move it slightly back in your stance to catch it earlier, which helps reduce grab and keeps the face square through impact.

Once you’ve committed to the shot, make a hinge and release motion. Trust what the lie is telling you. If you’ve read it right, you’re giving yourself a recipe to escape and maybe even save par.

McLachlin is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and PGA Tour short-game coach. Learn more from McLachlin at shortgamechef.com.

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