This week's golf tip: Playing out of the rough

After hitting the ball into the rough, a good recovery shot can help to save your score. The golfer often attempts too much from the rough or does not make the necessary adjustments to get the ball back into position.

If the ball is sitting poorly, the strategy for the shot must change. Hitting the green from a bad lie in the rough is unlikely; therefore, care must be taken to hit the ball to a position that allows for the easiest next shot.

To make as clean a contact as possible from the rough, the first adjustment is to move the ball a little further back in the stance than normal (perhaps an inch behind center). As you form your posture position, your weight should be a little more on the front foot.

Both of these subtle adjustments encourage the club to swing down to the ball on a steeper, more abrupt angle. This angle through impact will help you avoid making contact with too much grass before you hit the ball. It is important to realize that these adjustments also serve to reduce the amount of loft on the club face, making it necessary to select a more lofted club.

The long grass will tend to wrap itself around the hosel of the club, making it very easy to pull the shot. To avoid this twisting of the club head through impact, a firm swing is required. The feeling to have in the swing is that the hands are very firm and inactive, and the swing is not quite a full swing - more of a punching motion.

Practice these adjustments on the range before attempting them on the course.

- The Golf Learning Center is offering drop-in junior lessons every Wednesday from 4:30-6 p.m. Cost is $7; children from the same family are $6 per person.

Upcoming junior golf camps are July 11-13 and July 18-20. Camps are $55 per person. Call now to sign up at 885-8225. The drop-in lessons and camps are held at Eagle Valley Golf Course.