How to Putt from the Fringe and Rough: Lessons from Collin Morikawa at Pebble Beach

TL;DR: How to Putt from the Collar and Fringe

1. Inspect the Lie: Check grass density immediately behind the ball. If thick blades press against the back of the ball, switch to a bladed wedge or chip.
2. Setup Level and Forward: Set the putter sole flat on the turf with the toe and heel level. Position the ball slightly forward of center without forward-pressing your hands.
3. Lengthen the Stroke: Use a longer, smooth pendulum backswing rather than a short, punchy hit. Let clubhead momentum drive the ball through the grass.
4. Pace Over Line: Allow for initial turf deceleration, then gauge green speed once the ball breaks out onto the putting surface.

1. Lie Assessment: Reading the Turf Around the Ball

• The Grass Behind the Ball: Inspect the area 2 inches directly behind the ball. Thick grass will catch the putter heel or sole, twisting the face open or closed prior to impact.
• Surface Irregularities on the Line: Look for aeration holes, ridges, depressions, or bare spots between the collar and the putting surface. Walk parallel to your intended line (without stepping on it) to verify a smooth rollout.
• Downhill Slopes Past the Collar: If the putting green slopes steeply downhill from the fringe, a putting stroke firm enough to chop through heavy grass will often shoot past the hole. In downhill scenarios, a soft chip that flies over the friction zone offers superior speed control.

2. Putter Technique from the Fringe

• Maintain Natural Loft: Place the ball slightly forward of center in your stance. Avoid pressing your hands aggressively forward at address; delofting the putter drives the ball directly down into the turf, causing it to bounce erratically.
• Sole Alignment: Keep the putter sole completely level—do not raise the toe or heel.
• Practice Sweeps: Hover the putter blade a fraction of an inch above the grass and make practice strokes beside the ball. If the grass consistently grabs the club sole on rehearsal swings, abandon the putter.
• Lengthen the Pendulum: Let the stroke lengthen naturally on both sides of the ball while maintaining steady wrist pressure. Inertia—not wrist snap—should produce the required speed.

3. Comparison: Putter vs. Bladed Wedge vs. Chip Shot

What is a "Bladed Wedge"?

Blading a wedge off the fringe means setting up with a high-lofted wedge (such as a 56° or 60°), hovering the club, and striking the equator of the ball with the leading edge. This launches the ball on a low roll along the grass without dragging a wide putter sole through heavy rough.

4. Practice Routine: Dialing In Off-Green Distance Control

1. The 1-Foot Fringe Ladder:
   Find a flat hole approximately 25 feet away. Place four golf balls one foot into the fringe on clean lies. Stroke each toward the hole with the goal of stopping every ball within a 3-foot radius.
2. Diagnose Poor Strikes:
   If an attempt finishes short, evaluate contact before simply swinging harder. Striking the turf behind the ball or missing the sweet spot kills rollout speed; correcting contact often fixes distance problems without requiring a larger stroke.
3. Step Back One Foot:
   Move back another foot into thicker grass while keeping the target distance the same. Note how much more backswing length is required to push the ball through the additional friction.
4. Side-by-Side Wedge Test:
   From the deeper lie, strike three putts and three bladed wedges toward the same target. Compare your proximity to the hole to confirm which shot delivers more consistency under pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions