If you want to become a great pitcher, all you need are a few keys. Below I’ve included everything you need to know to execute these shots like a pro and leave them close enough for a tap-in putt.
Follow along to find out what they are.
1. Use a higher-lofted club
Selecting the right club for your pitch shot might seem tricky, but it’s easier than you think. Remember that you need to get the ball in the air, so you’ll want to use one of your most lofted clubs like your lob wedge, sand wedge or gap wedge. These clubs are also designed with a rounded bottom, or a bounce, that helps them glide across the ground and decreases your chances of catching the leading edge.
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2. Take your full-swing posture
Most pitch shots require a longer swing, which means you need to set up to the ball like you would any other full-swing shot. That means getting into a balanced, athletic position. Bend from the hips and let your arms hang naturally, with your hands below your shoulders. Having a proper stance and posture will help you make solid, consistent contact, and give you complete control over your distances.
3. Position your club properly
Not knowing how to position the club at setup is a common mistake that I see from amateurs. Most amateurs I see think the leading edge should be even with the ground, but if you’re doing it right your club will actually rest on the bounce, thereby raising the leading edge slightly off the turf.
Another issue I see players run into is knowing when their clubface is square. The increased loft of a wedge actually gives it the appearance of being open, but many players don’t know that so they usually close the face thinking they’re squaring it up. Unfortunately, this actually increases their chances of catching the leading edge. Instead, try finding a marking or indicator on your shaft or grip that’s in the center to know when your face is square, open or closed.
A great way to check if your clubface is positioned properly is to take a few practice swings. If the club hits the ground and digs, there’s a good chance that it’s not positioned correctly at setup. When you reset, check that it’s resting on the bounce and square at setup.
4. Ball position slightly forward
Ball position is crucial for every shot in golf, especially pitching. As a general rule of thumb, your ball position on a pitch shot should be slightly forward of center to catch shots cleanly.
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However, depending on the lie, sometimes your ball position may change. For instance, a nice lie may require a slightly forward ball position to increase the loft and bounce. If you’re ever unsure, a good way to check where your ball position should be is to take a few practice swings and see where your club naturally clips the ground.
One thing to keep in mind when setting up to a pitch shot is that you never want your ball position to drift behind center. Playing the ball too far back creates too much forward shaft lean, which decreases the loft and bounce. It also causes the leading edge to catch and dig, resulting in the dreaded chunk.
5. Use your backswing to control distance
The most effective way to control your distance on pitch shots is to adjust the length of your backswing. That’s because it helps you naturally adjust the speed at which the club moves. And a great trick for distance control is the clock method, where you think of your swing like a clock and assign your yardages to different ‘times.’
6. Match your setup to your swing
It can be helpful to match your set up size to your desired swing size. For some players, making a small swing from a full-swing setup is difficult. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, try choking down on the grip or narrowing your stance. Both of these adjustments can help you control how much power you deliver into the shot.
7. Think ‘brush the grass’
If you struggle to make solid contact on pitch shots, try taking a few practice swings first and think about brushing the grass with the bottom of your club. If you’re doing it right, you’ll hear a satisfying ‘thump’ when you hit the turf. Not only will this help you utilize the bounce and get the ball in the air, but it will also help you avoid those pesky chunks and thins without overthinking the shot too much.
8. Use the scrape drill
One of my favorite drills for pitching is the scrape drill because it helps players that lift up and corrects contact issues. To try it, get into your setup and without making a backswing, drag your club across the grass. You should feel your club pressing, or scraping, the turf on the path to your finish.
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As you do this a few times, you’ll notice how low you need to be to the ground in order for your club to sweep the ground and make solid, center face contact with the ball. Remember, the club can only do the work for you and get the ball in the air if you hit it in the sweet spot.
9. Don’t forget to pivot
Although pitches are shorter, feel-based shots, they still require a small rotation or pivot when you hit them. A great way to check that you’re turning through properly is to see if your trail heel lifts up when you’re in your follow through. If you’re doing it right, your heel will rise in reaction to your body rotating.
10. Calibrate your distances
If you want to hit your wedges with great precision, you have to calibrate your distances. A great way to do this is to figure out what club and swing length you need to carry the ball various distances. I tell my students to work in increments of 10 and write down their combination of backswing length and club selection to get the ball to carry and land 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards, 40 yards and so on.
Write it down somewhere you can refer back to it when you’re playing. And next time you’re on the course you won’t be guessing, you’ll know exactly what club to use and how long of a swing to take.
If you’ve found this information helpful, you can access more of my pitching tips here or follow me on instagram for more great golf instruction.
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