The Short Pitch - Help Please

[Hobeze]

Does anyone have solid advice for the swing technique required for the 30 yard pitch. I never know what to focus on here...

Do you make a conscious effort to cock your wrists early, make no wrist cock, hit down on the ball, keep hands ahead of the ball.... such a short swing should not require so much effort / thought?

[GregJWillis]

Re: The Short Pitch - Help Please

It all depends on your landing area. Assuming the lie is good...

High flop: Open the blade, align closed (to make it so the face is now square to the target), and swing full with full wrist set and release...this will hit it just like a bunker shot. It is hard to get the distance exactly right, but to a pin that requires little running room, this is the shot.

Mid run: Square blade, 1/4 - 1/2 wrist set and a direct attack on the back of the ball will get you lots of spin and mid flight that will have the ball skid for a few hops and stop.

Lo run: Square blade, ball in the back of the stance a ball width, no wrist, and this will get you to have the hop, release and run approach. Be sure you have the room to land.

[golfndawg]

Re: The Short Pitch - Help Please

It all depends on your landing area. Assuming the lie is good...

High flop: Open the blade, align closed (to make it so the face is now square to the target), and swing full with full wrist set and release...this will hit it just like a bunker shot. It is hard to get the distance exactly right, but to a pin that requires little running room, this is the shot.

Mid run: Square blade, 1/4 - 1/2 wrist set and a direct attack on the back of the ball will get you lots of spin and mid flight that will have the ball skid for a few hops and stop.

Lo run: Square blade, ball in the back of the stance a ball width, no wrist, and this will get you to have the hop, release and run approach. Be sure you have the room to land.

Hey Greg

Did you mean to say to open your stance not close it on the high flop shot because the face is open? Just checkin.

[mrcaddycoach]

Re: The Short Pitch - Help Please

Does anyone have solid advice for the swing technique required for the 30 yard pitch. I never know what to focus on here...

Do you make a conscious effort to cock your wrists early, make no wrist cock, hit down on the ball, keep hands ahead of the ball.... such a short swing should not require so much effort / thought?

All depends on landing area.
you can also try pitch and run a quarter swing with pitching wedge - take away, set wrists with no cock, hit the ball clearly and just release.Three to nine on the clock. Minimum weight transfer. Ball position close to middle, you must find which one will good for.(you can also change position of the ball to correct balls run distance and backspin control)

Another shot for this distance is The Skipper from David Toms. I found this in 2006 Golf Digest,March Issue: "If you´re like most amateurs,you try to pitch the ball high, hoping you guess right on the distance. Try my skipper from 30-100yards.It is punch-style wedge shot. It stays under the wind, bores at the flag, takes two hops and pulls up next to hole.Birdie time."David Toms.
Hope, that I can help a bit, good luck
martin

[GregJWillis]

Re: The Short Pitch - Help Please

Hey Greg

Did you mean to say to open your stance not close it on the high flop shot because the face is open? Just checkin.

Yes, sorry...good catch.

[BrianW]

Re: The Short Pitch - Help Please

For a standard short pitch I like to break the wrists at address by turning the left wrist down and under and the right wrist back (As in the Dante 4mm method, see attached picture) , turn the shoulders then rotate them back through. The amount of carry can be controlled by the amount of shoulder rotation. This allows a beautiful feel type pith shot but will need some practice.