Pitching shots. Less than 100% - how do you go to work.

[Christo]

What is the rule when hitting pitching shots shorter than your normal 100%. Do you shorten your backswing,speed of swing,feet closer together? Should I know what my 100% wedge is and then take distance to the pin and adjust according to the meters/yards? Having difficulty getting my wedges constantly close to the pin. Sometimes over or short.

[bloodredsun]

Re: Pitching shots. Less than 100% - how do you go to work.

By "pitching shots" I assume that you mean shots using your wedges from about 100 yards and in, rather than pitching from the side of the green.

This is why I carry a gap wedge!

In reality when you are between clubs it depends on the situation.

If there's no wind and I only need to take a small bit off, I might open the face a little (weaken my grip) and make a normal swing. My stance is normal and swing speed is the same. Opening the face plays a slight fade and can drop the distance by about 10 yards and also make the landing softer.

If the distance is a fair bit less than a full shot, I would play a 3/4 swing (my hands only just go up to my eyes, definitely not above my head) - making sure that I still remained agressive into impact. If you don't stay agressive, you run the risk of duffing the shot and moving the ball about 6 feet forward. This can be very tempting to do if you aren't that confident of making the shot as you then try to 'control' the shot rather than swing through the impact zone.

A bit less distance still and I might make a 1/2 swing shot as above but my hands only go back to my hips.

If it's windy, then I prefer to play a more punchy type of shot where I don't release through it so much and keep the face straight or slightly closed even. The ball comes out with a lower trajectory. Be careful with this shot if you are using a budget ball as the ball can come out hot without enough backspin to stop when it lands so it just bounces through the green.

All of these shots require a bit of practise to find out which you do most consistantly

If you are less than a 1/2 SW, then you should just look to chip or pitch as normal, altering your stance as you normally would.

[LowPost42]

Re: Pitching shots. Less than 100% - how do you go to work.

I'd say the rule is shorten your backswing, so you can still be accelerating through the ball. I played with a guy this weekend who took a full backswing on EVERY SHOT, including putts and chunked and skulled chips. Once he started taking a short backswing on his chips and pitches, he made great contact.

[BrianW]

Re: Pitching shots. Less than 100% - how do you go to work.

Hi,

Lets consider the PW; You can shorten the length of the swing and you can choke down lower on the grip. Both will shorten the shot, choking down will maintain height though. I use the same swing tempo for all shots and match my follow through distance to my backswing.

These are my distances:

PW

full swing : 120 yds

Shoulder high to shoulder high: 85 yds

waist high to waist high: 65 yds

Knee high to knee high: 35 yds

You can work out the similar shots with your sand wedge and/or gap wedge. Some people stick a label to the shaft with these distances written on them as a reminder (It is legal)
Hope this helps!