Blast out: Just like on a greenside bunker shot, stick the club in the grass behind the ball and keep it moving to an abbreviated finish...

Face Up In The Rough

By Tiger Woods

Chipping & Pitching

30 April 2009 10:07

How to keep it square
Controlling the clubface is equally important on long and short shots. When pitching from the high stuff, the secret is to keep the face from closing through impact, which occurs when the tall grass wraps around the hosel and the toe turns over. I open the face of my 60-degree wedge slightly and grip the club a little tighter to keep the toe from flipping closed. Then I play the shot much like an explosion from a greenside bunker, keeping my upper body and lower body connected as I turn through the shot.

The key is to start the wrist cock early and swing your arms on a more up-and-down plane. It also helps to have a high-spin ball to keep the shot from rolling out too far. So keep the clubface pointing to the sky through impact for higher shots that land softly.

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