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We all
know that putting plays a very important role in the game of golf. Most
players, however, don’t set themselves up for good putts because they never
seem to get their pitch shots close enough to the hole. With the pitch shot,
the goal is to get the ball close enough to the hole so that you can
possibly one-putt or, at best, hole it out.
Let me
share with you how I hit my basic pitch shot. As with any shot, I work my
way from the ground up.
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1.
My weight distribution is about 60 percent on the forward foot and 40
percent on the back foot. My body is open to the target as if I were
pointing my sternum toward the target. 2. I
play the ball just forward of center in my stance with a slightly open club
face. The reason I slightly open the club is to assure the club doesn’t dig
or bounce through impact, leading to chunks and thin shots.
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3. My
shaft plane is on the same angle as my forward arm. I place my hand toward
the center of my forward thigh, which positions my hands slightly in front
of the golf ball’s address position. One key element I have learned over the
years and
saw Mark Lye demonstrate on The Golf Channel is to grip the club
close to the steel. You will be amazed at the control you will gain over the
golf ball with a little practice.
4.
I employ the clock drill, which helps you set the club at the proper angles
for distance control. For me to hit a 40-yard shot, I take the club back to
4 o’clock and swing it through to 9 o’clock. With practice, you will develop
the time slots that work best for you and help you determine distance
control. As Harvey Pennick wrote, “It’s better to have some type of routine
than to trust your efforts to luck.”
5. Here is how I
start my action. Because more of my weight is on my forward foot, my
first move is to turn my back shoulder back, making sure the club
stays in front of my shoulder line. Take the club back to the
desired time slot and without decelerating, allow the club to flow
through impact. |
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6.
During the downswing, continue to hold your back shoulder back until the
club head starts to reach impact. If during the follow-through, you go past
your desired time slot, it’s OK. When you try to be too exacting and stop
suddenly in your swing, your pitch shots go astray because you end up trying
to control the club with your hands and small muscles. Try to use the bigger
muscles of the thighs and your back muscles. This gives you more control and
consistency while employing the clock drill. Remember that you are
training your mind to get a sense for the clock position to give you a
chance to gain some control over your game without leaving it up to chance.
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7.
One of my key thoughts throughout all my golf swings is to make sure my
back knee doesn’t jolt out toward the target
line. It must stay behind the
forward knee throughout the swing (section on Proper Knee action). Because
these shots require more precision, it is key to acquire stability in the
lower body.
I hope
this brief overview of my basic pitch shot will help you with your shots and
lower your scores.
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