Pitching = Shanking

[BigdazUK]

I shank far too many Pitch shots. Anything about a half swing where i bring my left arm to about horizontal. Are you supposed to pitch like a mini swing. turn you hips and finish facing the target. or is it more like a chip where it's more in the arms?

Thanks

[BrianW]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

I shank far too many Pitch shots. Anything about a half swing where i bring my left arm to about horizontal. Are you supposed to pitch like a mini swing. turn you hips and finish facing the target. or is it more like a chip where it's more in the arms?

Thanks

You should play a pitch shot like a shortened version of the full swing, the only difference you will need to keep your weight 70% on the front foot, narrow your stance so that your sternum is slightly ahead of the ball and open your stance slightly so your hips are already clearing.

Make a normal take away, cock your wrists and come back to the ball on an inside path with a normal leg and body rotation, follow through so that you are facing the target.

Your shanking is probably caused by coming down on an out to in path and cutting across the ball.

Have a look at this Video lesson, it should help.

http://www.ritson-sole.com/golf-tips...shank-no-more/

[BigdazUK]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

Thats for the tip. I'm sure i'm not coming out to in. I was worried i might be coming to far from the inside. I'll go to the range and keep those point in mind. thanks

[wildwilly911]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

you have to make sure to open your stance so you clear your hips.

[vp27519]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

Some good suggestions already and in addition,

Bigdaz,

Feet, hips, shoulders slightly open with the club face at the target. Maintain your spine angle. A shank is more often than not when one comes out of the shot. Being close to the hole we are eager to see the result of the shot and look up.

IMO the short game is the only shot we need to see the club face hit the ball. Trust it.

Oh another thing, know your distances of the clubs (on the fly). This will determine the length of swing. Eg, my PW is 90m. So for the 45 m pitch shot I'll only have to swing half back and half forward with this club.

In your pre shot routine think about the length of the swing/distance of the shot you need to make. Take a practice swing and look at the target when you are doing this.

[doogkie]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

let the club naturally rotate open on the backswing, dont let yourself hood because it is a shorter version of the swing

[BigdazUK]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

30 yards. At the moment if i'm 30 yards away i Chip. I chip anything up to 50 yards. after that I hit a full lob wedge. I try to avoid pitching due to my problem. I'm going to try opening stance, rotate club head because i do try to keep it closed so i wont shank, and look at the ball through impact.

How much weight should i have on each foot?

Thanks guys for the help.

[BrianW]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

30 yards. At the moment if i'm 30 yards away i Chip. I chip anything up to 50 yards. after that I hit a full lob wedge. I try to avoid pitching due to my problem. I'm going to try opening stance, rotate club head because i do try to keep it closed so i wont shank, and look at the ball through impact.

How much weight should i have on each foot?

Thanks guys for the help.

70% on the front foot but make sure your sternum is in front of the ball and your stance is narrower than a full shot

[vp27519]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

Bigdaz,

If you didn't already know, the reason why there is more weight on the front foot is because it creates an upright/steeper swing plane. Thus hitting down on the ball. You can mix up the projectory of the shot with hand position and ball position.

[BigdazUK]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

Question then. Do you keep 70% weight on the front foot through the pitch (like i would if i were chipping) or do you move weight to back foot and then back to front foot?

[vp27519]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

Interesting and something I don't think about when standing over the ball.

I would say no to the weight transfer. Distance is not the issue - accuracy is.

If one was to transfer weight - the dynamics of the shot would change.

Nicole

[BrianW]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

Question then. Do you keep 70% weight on the front foot through the pitch (like i would if i were chipping) or do you move weight to back foot and then back to front foot?

Darren,

Yes you do.

Think of the pitch as a reduced version of the full swing. The difference is that the backswing only takes you to the position where the downsing would have reached mid swing, your weight has transferred onto your front foot and your hips have started rotating.

Hope you can see the image?

[BigdazUK]

Re: Pitching = Shanking

Guys thats it. you've cured me. I think the 70% weight on the left foot and the slightly open stance that sorted it. I hit about 100 pitches on the range yesterday and didn't S****k a single one. Cheers guys you've all really helped. This is gonna make a big difference to my game. I'm not gonna have to chip from 50-60 yards now.

THANKS!!!!