04 Apr Short Pitch
The Short Pitch: A short pitch is a lofted shot that carries a specific distance and is often over rough or hazards. The pitch shot is designed to stop quickly near the target we have chosen. Club selection is vital in achieving the best result. As many golfers carry three wedges today, the short pitch requires the most lofted wedge in the bag. This wedge will generally have 58 or 60 degrees of loft.
After this choice is made it is best to choke down on the handle until the right forefinger is near the bottom of the grip. Shortening the club makes the club/lever less and gives the player more control of the club. The shortening of the hand position also generates less club head speed and makes the ball travel a shorter distance.
The next set up adjustment is to narrow the feet to a point of having only two inches between the inside of each foot and having a majority of the weight on the left side. The legs and hip rotation are primary sources of power in the golf swing and this narrowing of the feet will produce less pivoting and ultimately less power. The narrowing will also decrease lower body movement, minimizing the chance for a misplayed shot.
Now that all of the necessary adjustments have been made to the setup and club selection, the swing can be made. Try to liken your distance of the swing to that of an underhanded toss. Professionals can often be observed emulating this tossing motion in their pre-shot routines. In using a clock dial for reference, the swinging motion should travel from 8 o’clock to 4 o’clock for the short pitch.