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If your pitches resemble knuckleballs or screwballs, you're playing the wrong sport. Those are fine for baseball, but not on the golf course. A good golf pitch should have a high trajectory and land softly on the green, regardless if there are hazards or long rough between you and the putting surface. "The difference between a pitch and a chip is the height and length of the shot," said Erik Horve, director of instruction at Tustin Ranch. "Like a chip, you should pick a spot on the green and land the ball there and let it roll toward the pin, but the trajectory will be different. The main focus in pitching should be on maintaining the loft of the club through the ball so you get consistent bounce and consistent spin." The main problem Horve sees with his students when it comes to pitching is trying to help the ball in the air or closing or opening the clubface too much at impact. "You want to keep your hands and arms moving through the shot," he said. "Maintaining momentum through the ball is crucial." Keys to remember for a good pitch shot (as pictured above from left) include : • Narrow your stance. • Pull your front foot back a few inches. • Play the ball back in your stance. • Grip down on the club and press your hands forward. • Open the clubface slightly. • Take a short backswing and cock your wrists. • Accelerate through the ball and let the clubface slide under it. • Hold the loft of the clubface with through impact. Unlike chipping, where Horve recommends experimenting with different clubs, he suggests using the most lofted club in your bag when it comes to shots played from 20 to 50 yards from the green. "Once you get comfortable with using the lofted clubs and letting them do the work for you, your short game will improve dramatically," he said. N Next month: Bunker shots. Erik Horve can be reached at (714) 734-2104 |
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