Hit a Normal Pitch Shot

The pitch shot is a short approach shot which goes up in the air first and then lands without moving forward too much. The pitch shot can vary in length from anywhere between {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} to nearly {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. This shot is mostly used to get the ball to fly over bunkers or water hazards which are guarding the green.Hitting a pitch shot to a well bunkered green can be intimidating for many players. Read on to find out an effective method...

Steps

  1. Make sure you either use a Pitching Wedge or a Sand Wedge to practice your pitching with. These have lots of loft. If the ball doesn't go as far as you would like it to, then you could also use a 9 iron.
  2. Hit down on the ball to get the ball up in the air.
  3. Make sure that when you address the ball, the end of the grip, or the "butt" of the club as it's called is pointing left of your belly-button and the ball is positioned opposite your left breast. (With a slight lean of the shaft towards the target, you will be able to hit down on the ball much easier than if the end of the club was leaning away from the target or more towards your right leg.)
  4. On the backswing, create a good 90 degree angle between the left arm and the shaft of the club as soon as possible.
  5. Try to get the clubhead higher than the hands as early as possible, then when you swing the club back to the ball, try to hit down on the ball with the shaft leaning towards the target.
  6. The Law of Opposites will come to your rescue. If you can remember to hit down on the ball, then the ball will go up in the air. If on the other hand you try to "scoop" or "lift" the ball up into the air, the ball will not go up, rather it will go down!
  7. At impact you should try to keep both arms fairly straight until you feel yourself being pulled round towards the target.
  8. Try to move the club and arms together. Let the body respond to what the arms do. Provided you have a good posture, your weight shift will go over to the inside of your right foot and then when you start to swing back towards the target you should find your weight going over onto the left leg.
  9. Try not to force your body into the shot. If you find your body moving too much during the swing, simply try to swing the arms faster. This will at least give you a better chance of maintaining your balance.
  10. You should find your shots flying up in the air and hopefully landing on the green. Keep practicing and hit it with passion!



Tips

  • Don't forget to hit down on the ball, if you want it to go up in the air!
  • Depending on which grip you use, make sure that the left thumb is favouring the right side of the grip - just right of centre.
  • If you try to hit the ball up in the air, it will do the opposite and go down along the floor! Don't lift or scoop, just hit down with the shaft leaning towards the target!
  • Use an "Open-Stance" to hit your pitches and short shots. You'll find that with the body being a little more "open" you can swing your arms more towards the target. Simply pull the left foot a little way back from the normal "square-stance" and if you just open the toe of your shoe a little to the left as well, you may find your follow through is easier and you can stay in balance better. The reason for this is because with the toe of your left shoe turned out slightly, your left knee can catch your body weight easier than if you had both toes at right angles to your "ball-to-target-line".
  • Although this is just one basic shot in golf, it does need to be mentioned here that the fundamentals still apply. The swing should be done by using your arms.
  • Create good posture before you begin - stand upright, then stick your bottom straight back so that your legs straighten automatically. You will notice as you do this that you have created a good back-angle. Maintain this back-angle and then release the knees. You will notice that your arms hang nicely downwards out of the shoulders.
  • Remember the logo on the grip is positioned in the middle or you may find an arrow at the end of the grip.
  • Use a club with lots of loft. They are easier to hit, because the side spin element is reduced which is not the case as the clubs get longer. Maximum club to use would be a 9 iron unless you want to hit full short irons.
  • Shift your weight over onto the inside of your right foot on the backswing and then as the arms swing down to the ball, let the weight go over onto the left leg. If it straightens at impact, that's fine.
  • Regarding the position where the base of your left thumb and index finger come in contact with each other, make sure that the line they create points past your right shoulder.

Warnings

  • Don't be in too much of a hurry. Keep it rhythmical and enjoyable.

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