Swing hard and hope you don't break your wrists. In all seriousness, judging how to come out of thick rough is one of the hardest parts of the game. Just watch the tour pros when they come out of it, most of them struggle.

I play a high lofted club (58 or 56) swing hard, and play for a "good" miss. Try to get the ball back into a bunker or fairway or fat side of the green. I don't try to attack the pin.

Thanks.
I appreciate it!

A pro always told me to treat it like a sand shot. The main thing is to take a club that will get you out of the rough into the fairway where you can hopefully have a good third shot to the green. I normally go with a wedge or a pitching wedge if it is deep, something with a thicker bottom. Taking a deep smooth back swing and complete follow through.
I went to see my pro. Most of us will not play out of six to eight inch rough, unless we go to Ireland, or play in the US Open. Takes practice and that will increase your confidence.

Thanks I appreciate it!

I have about 4 strips of lead tape on the back of my 58 to add 3.5-4 swing weights in order to help me power the clubhead through the thick green side rough.

That’s interesting, I will have to try it out.

It's definitely different at first, but it's also helped me to not decelerate in the bunker as well. It's easy to remove if you don't like it!

I like Chuck's response: play it like a bunker shot.

Having played in very thick rough, my number one goal was to get it out to the fairway. Took a very lofted club even up to a pitching wedge and swung very hard. Best of luck Aidan.

Aidan,

Yes, similar to a bunker shot in technique. First thing, the grass will really slow the club down and this shot requires an open face because the grass will want to "twist the lead edge shut". Having said that, keep your speed up!

At set up- assess the lie and determine how "high or low" the ball is sitting in the rough. The lower it sits, the more "down" and steeper the attack angle. Open the face and move your weight into your lead foot. You weight will remain there for the entirety of the motion. Never back up in weight, only move further towards the target. In the motion, set the wrists early on the back swing and be sure to chop "down" aggressively with an open face all the way to the finish, which is about waist high. It should feel "underhanded" in the trail hand release action. Lastly, be sure to turn your upper torso while taking backswing and downswing, otherwise it will be incredibly inconsistent on the strike. Take a look at Tom Watson's 1982 Pebble Beach #17 motion and copy!

Good luck,

Layne S

I have this same problem and these responses are helpful. Thanks TT

An uncontrolled hard swing in the rough spells disaster. Can go anywhere or nowhere. With respect.

A easier swing with a higher loft club would serve you better.

The thing about short game shots is that they aren't all created equal. There are many variables to each shot. You gotta judge the lie and what is ahead of you like the slope of the green, speed of the green, where you wanna try to put from. I always remember a clip from Lee Westwood talking about chipping in US open rough, he said to almost drop the leading edge right on top of the ball. A steeper angle of attack and pop it on to the green. Easier to see him do it than do it ourselves, but it has helped!