Nina Caldwell
Pitching in golf can be tricky, and there is a lot of conflicting information out there on how to master it. Pitching is different from chipping in that pitches carry a greater distance than they roll. It requires a swing of a larger size, which can lead to greater errors if not hit properly. To hit a pitch shot, you need to select a club with a high amount of loft and bounce. Bounce is the rounded bottom of the club, which prevents it from digging into the ground. To get the ball up in the air, you need to hit down on it, and control the distance to a specific degree. You can also use your hands and wrists to hit the ball higher, but this can be difficult under pressure. Practice is key, and it's important to develop a sense of touch with your club.
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Pitching technique
Pitching in golf can be tricky and requires a lot of practice and finesse. It is important to develop a good technique and a sense of touch with your club. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you improve your pitching technique:
Setup and Stance
When setting up for a pitch shot, it is important to maintain a balanced stance with your weight centered. The ball should be positioned slightly closer to you, with the markings on your grip centered and perpendicular to the ground. Ensure your club shaft is also centered, in the middle of your feet. Avoid excessive forward shaft lean as it can cause the club to dig into the ground.
Club Selection
For pitch shots, select a club with a high loft and bounce. The loft will help you launch the ball higher, while the bounce, or the rounded bottom of the club, prevents it from digging into the ground. Different wedges offer different lofts and bounces, so choose one that suits the conditions and your desired trajectory.
Swing and Follow-Through
A smooth and graceful swing is essential for pitch shots. While the size of your swing controls the distance, a longer backswing can lead to deceleration, and a shorter one can cause excessive acceleration, resulting in poor contact. Therefore, aim for a relatively equal backswing and follow-through to maintain a good rhythm. To increase loft and achieve a higher pitch, use your hands and wrists to add more wrist hinge, making your swing steeper.
Practice and Visualization
Perfect your pitching technique through practice and visualization. Take practice strokes, visualizing your target, the desired trajectory, and the exact landing spot. Always use the same club during practice to develop a sense of touch and confidence. Accelerate the clubhead through the ball at the bottom of your swing, ensuring a smooth and confident release.
Distance Control
Distance control is crucial in pitching. To improve distance control, it is recommended to measure and record the distance of your short, medium, and long swings with each wedge. This information will help you adjust your setup and swing accordingly to achieve the desired distance. Remember, a half swing involves a shorter backswing but maintains full swing speed to prevent deceleration and ensure accurate distance control.
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Pitching vs chipping
Pitching and chipping are two different types of shots in golf. While the two are often confused with each other, they are distinct types of shots and understanding the difference is important for improving your game.
The difference between a pitch and a chip shot is that pitches carry a greater distance than they roll. Pitch shots are high shots that are hit with a club with a high amount of loft and bounce. The loft on the club is designed to launch the ball up and out of deep grass. Pitch shots are a mini version of your full swing. To execute a pitch shot, you need to swing the club back, using your wrists to hinge the shaft and your lead arm at a 90-degree angle. The ball is played in the center of your stance and you grip the club with soft grip pressure.
Chipping, on the other hand, is like putting, except that a club with very little loft is used. It is a low shot that is easiest to manage since the stroke is more compact, like your putting stroke. Chipping is generally used when there is nothing between the player and the flag, and the ball is sent hopping and skipping towards the target. It is best to chip whenever you can and pitch only when you have to.
In terms of technique, pitching requires a swing of a larger size, which can lead to greater errors if not hit properly. Therefore, your technique needs to be solid. When pitching, you need to use the bounce properly by setting up properly and engaging your club's technology. The markings on your grip should be centered and perpendicular to the ground, and the shaft should be centered in the middle of your feet. It is also important to accelerate through the strike and not decelerate or accelerate excessively.
Practising pitching strokes while looking at your target and imagining the distance and flight of the ball can help improve your pitching. It is also important to know how far you carry each of your wedges.
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Pitching drills
Pitching in golf can be tricky, and perfecting your technique is essential. Here are some pitching drills to help you improve your game:
The Throwing Drill
This drill helps increase loft and bounce, resulting in a pitch shot that stops quickly once it lands. To perform this drill, hold a ball in your dominant hand, take your backswing, and throw the ball down into the ground. This drill helps you understand the relationship between your backswing and follow-through, which should be relatively equal on pitch shots to maintain a good rhythm.
The Super Closed Drill
This drill focuses on weight distribution and pivoting. First, set up for a pitch shot as you normally would. Then, adjust your stance by moving your lead foot back so that your weight is predominantly on the front foot. Finally, hit a pitch shot, pivoting around the lead foot. This drill helps improve your balance and weight transfer during the swing.
The One Club Drill
This drill involves using only one club for all your chip and pitch shots. By taking numerous swings with the same club, you develop a better feel for it and gain confidence. It also helps you understand distance control and the relationship between swing length and speed.
The Half-Swing Drill
The half-swing drill is about understanding the relationship between swing length and speed. Take a half-swing, which is a shorter backswing executed at full speed. This drill teaches you to maintain swing speed even with a reduced swing length. It also helps with distance control, ensuring you don't decelerate or accelerate excessively, which can lead to poor contact.
The Loft and Bounce Drill
Understanding loft and bounce is crucial when pitching. Loft refers to the angle of the clubface, which determines how high the ball will fly. Bounce, on the other hand, is the rounded bottom of the club that prevents it from digging into the ground. Experiment with different clubs, each with varying lofts and bounces, to understand how they affect ball flight. This drill helps you make better club selections based on the conditions and desired shot trajectory.
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Pitching clubs
Pitching in golf requires a solid technique and a good sense of distance control. When selecting a club for a pitch shot, it is important to choose one with a high amount of loft and bounce. Bounce refers to the rounded bottom of the club, which prevents it from digging into the ground. Different bounces are suitable for different conditions; for example, if you play on hardpan, a wedge that helps you dig may be necessary.
When setting up for a pitch shot, it is important to ensure that your club shaft is centred in the middle of your feet and not leaning too far forward, as this can cause the club to dig into the ground. You should also feel balanced and make sure the markings on your grip are centred and perpendicular to the ground. While it may seem counterintuitive, you need to hit down on the ball to get it up in the air. Practising your swing and making solid contact with the ball will help you perfect your pitch shots.
There are various techniques and drills you can use to improve your pitching. For example, you can try "throwing" the clubhead, which involves allowing the clubhead to pass the handle on your downswing, increasing the loft and bounce at impact and producing a higher pitch shot. You can also try using your hands and wrists to add more wrist hinge to your swing, making it steeper and increasing the spin for a higher launch. However, it is generally recommended not to use your wrists unless necessary, as they can be difficult to control under pressure.
When approaching pitching, it is important to distinguish between a pitch and a chip shot. A pitch shot carries a greater distance than it rolls, requiring a larger swing that can lead to greater errors if not executed properly. On the other hand, a chip shot is closer to a putt and is often used when you have a clean look at the back of the ball or need to get the ball rolling towards the hole. While pitching wedges, sand wedges, and lob wedges are commonly used for pitch shots, they require more skill to master. For chip shots, 9-irons or 8-irons are often recommended as they provide better control around the green.
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Pitching stance
When it comes to the pitching stance in golf, there are several key factors to consider. Firstly, it is important to maintain a balanced athletic stance, with your feet closer together to limit any deviation in your swing. The ball should be positioned slightly back in your stance, inside the trail heel, to ensure consistent contact with the clubface. This will also help in taking some power out of the swing, which is crucial for controlling the distance of your pitch shot.
The club shaft should be centred in the middle of your feet, with minimal forward shaft lean to prevent the club from digging into the ground. You want to avoid excessive forward shaft lean, which is common in full shots, as it can cause flipping or lifting of the ball. Instead, the handle should be slightly ahead of the ball at impact, allowing the ball to glide off the clubface.
Additionally, it is recommended to have about 70% of your weight on your front foot. This helps in accelerating through the strike, ensuring that the club is not slowing down during impact. A critical aspect of the pitching stance is to maintain a stable base, minimising any unnecessary movements, especially with your wrists. While wrist hinge can be used to increase the loft and spin of the ball, it is generally advisable to avoid relying heavily on your wrists, as they can be challenging to control under pressure.
Lastly, it is beneficial to visualise your target and the desired trajectory, bounce, and roll of the ball. Pick an exact landing spot and select the appropriate wedge to achieve the required trajectory and distance. This mental preparation, along with consistent practice, will help you execute precise pitch shots with confidence.
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Frequently asked questions
Pitches carry a greater distance than they roll. Pitches require a swing of a larger size, which can lead to greater errors if not hit properly.
Pick a club with a high amount of loft and bounce. Set up with your weight centred, your ball positioned centre, and your hands and the club shaft centred in the middle of your body.
Take your practice pitching strokes while looking at your target and imagining the distance and flight of the ball. Always use the same club to develop a sense of touch.
Picking a higher-lofted wedge is the easiest way to hit your pitch shots higher. You can also use your hands and wrists to hit the ball higher.
