Miles Bennett
Golf is a challenging sport, especially when it comes to mastering pitch and chip shots, which are crucial for achieving low scores. Pitch shots require a solid technique as they carry a greater distance than chip shots, and a mistake can lead to greater errors. This article will provide an introduction to pitching in golf, covering the fundamentals of stance, grip, and swing, as well as some tips and drills to improve your pitching skills. By the end of this article, you should have a basic understanding of how to pitch a golf ball and be ready to practice and refine your technique on the course.
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What You'll Learn
Pitching vs chipping
Pitching and chipping are two different types of shots in golf, and understanding the difference between the two is crucial for improving your game. While some golfers may argue that the specific type of shot doesn't matter as long as you can get the ball close to the hole, there are distinct characteristics that differentiate pitching from chipping.
A pitch shot typically spends most of its time in the air, even if the trajectory is low. It is considered a longer shot that flies most of the way to the hole. The backswing of a pitch is generally more than half a swing, and it can be used to get up and over obstacles such as bunkers guarding the green. Pitching is also useful for getting out of heavy roughs due to the loft on the club, which is designed to launch the ball up and out of deep grass.
On the other hand, a chip shot has a more compact stroke, similar to a putting stroke. It is often considered a short shot that carries just to the green and then rolls out towards the hole. The club's backswing during a chip typically comes back to a maximum of parallel with the ground. Chipping is generally preferred over pitching as it is easier to manage and can be effective in most situations.
There is some debate among golfers regarding the distinction between pitching and chipping, especially when it comes to the distance and trajectory of the ball. Some golfers define a chip shot as having a low flight path with a shorter carry and a longer roll. However, others suggest that a chip shot can also include longer carries of 70-90 yards, depending on the style of golf being played.
In summary, the main difference between pitching and chipping lies in the ball's time spent in the air versus rolling on the ground. Pitch shots are designed to cover longer distances in the air, while chip shots focus on shorter carries followed by a roll towards the hole.
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How to hold the club
Holding a golf club is a fundamental aspect of the game, and arguably the most important. It is the only connection between you and the club, and mastering the art of golf begins with understanding the crucial role of grip.
There are three main types of grip: weak, neutral, and firm. The grip you choose should be the one that feels most comfortable to you, and you should be holding the golf club with the same pressure you would hold a small bird—tight enough so it doesn’t fly away, but soft enough so you don’t crush it.
If you are right-handed, you should start by placing the club in your left hand, and vice versa if you are left-handed. The club should be held in the fingers, not the palm, and placed about half an inch above the end of the grip. Wrap your fingers around the club and place your thumb down the right side of the grip. You should be able to see 2.5 knuckles on your left hand.
Then, add your right hand. Place your right pinky on top of your left index finger and wrap the rest of your fingers around the grip. You can also try an interlocking grip, where the pinky finger of the right hand crosses between the pointer finger and the middle finger of the left hand. This grip was used by both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Finally, check your grip pressure. You want to be in the 4-5 range on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is so light you are barely touching the club, and 10 is so firm you are squeezing the club to death.
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Ball position
The ball position in pitching is critical to achieving consistent and accurate results. Here are some detailed instructions and tips for ball placement to improve your pitching in golf:
Centre your Weight and Stance
Position your weight in the centre and place the ball at the centre of your stance. This centred placement is a reliable starting point and helps achieve a consistent strike. While you can make minor adjustments to control the ball's flight, starting with a centred ball position is recommended.
Adjust Stance Width
The width of your stance can impact the effectiveness of your pitch shots. Avoid standing too wide, as this can lead to instability and poor shots. Keep your feet close together, with approximately a clubhead's width between your heels. This narrow stance improves balance and allows for better hip rotation, making it easier to pivot without excessive lateral movement.
Control Distance with Setup
To control the distance of your pitch shots, you can adjust your setup by altering the location of your hands on the grip and the width of your stance. For shorter shots, place your hands lower on the grip and narrow your stance. For longer shots, grip higher on the grip and widen your stance. This adjustment will help you control the size of your swing and, consequently, the distance the ball travels.
Practice with Different Clubs
Experiment with different clubs, such as the gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge, and pitching wedge, to find the right equipment for your pitch shots. Each club will give you different pitching distances and rollout around the green. For example, a lob wedge is suitable for when you need more height and less rollout, while a gap wedge provides more rollout.
Wrist Action Awareness
Understanding the role of your wrists during the pitch is essential. While you may not need as much flexion in your lead wrist as in your full swing shots, it's crucial to not flip your wrists near the impact position. A flat to slightly extended wrist is acceptable, but too much flexion can cause inconsistencies in your shots.
Remember that mastering pitch shots takes practice, and understanding the nuances of ball position will help you improve your pitching accuracy and consistency.
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Stance
The stance you take is a key part of setting up a good golf shot. Getting the stance right will make your swing better and help you hit the ball farther and straighter.
For shorter pitch shots, you should narrow your stance, with your feet nearly touching. You should also open your stance, with your feet and hips pointing left of the target for right-handed golfers, and place more weight on your front side (about 60% of your weight on your front foot). A slight knee flex is recommended, but nothing more than you would have with a normal, full swing shot. You will want to bend a little more forward from the hips, which makes sense given that you will be using a shorter club for a pitch shot.
For longer shots, you should take a wider stance. Your stance will be widest when using a driver, with your feet just outside your shoulder width. Your stance will be narrowest for a full wedge shot, with your feet just inside your shoulder width. For most pitch and chip shots around the green, your feet will be much closer together. A slight flare in your toes enhances stability and allows for better hip rotation, making it easier to pivot without excessive lateral movement.
Once you have taken your stance, rotate your head and look at your target to reinforce in your mind where you want to hit the ball. It is important to make sure that your feet, knees, hips, arms and shoulders are all aligned in the same direction.
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Drills
The ""Target Drill" helps you work on your accuracy by hitting chips at a specific target on the green.
The ""Clock Drill" helps you focus on different parts of the green by hitting chips at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock.
The ""Ladder Drill" helps you work on your consistency by hitting a series of chips with increasing distance.
The ""High-Low Drill" helps you work on your distance control by hitting chips with varying heights.
The ""Bunker Drill" helps you improve your bunker shots by practicing hitting chips out of the sand.
A great drill to increase the amount of turn through the ball and improve your angle of attack is to hit some shots with your right foot up on its toes. This will help you achieve more body rotation in your swing.
To master pitching onto the green, you can try a five-second exercise before each shot. Let the club drop, get out of the way, and maintain the natural rhythm. To control the distance, embrace the momentum. Think of it like throwing a ball with rhythm – a shorter swing for less distance, and a longer swing for more.
To master the pitch shot, you must land the club in the correct spot every time, understand that the golf swing is a circle or an arc, and control the depth of the low point and the arc of the club swing. A drill to help with this is to scratch lines on both sides of the ball and swing back and forth with one hand.
To improve your pitching consistency, place a pen in your mouth. This will help you achieve the proper head movement during the swing.
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Frequently asked questions
Pitches carry a greater distance than chip shots, which roll more. Pitch shots require a swing of a larger size, which can lead to greater errors if not hit properly.
You want a relatively centred stance with a narrow footing. This placement helps achieve a more consistent strike.
You can use your hands and wrists to make your swing steeper, increasing the spin and producing a higher launch. You can also use a higher-lofted wedge to hit the ball higher.
The length of your backswing and follow-through will determine the distance of the ball. The longer you want the ball to travel, the larger your setup should be by widening your stance.
