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pitching wedge
gap wedge
sand wedge
lob wedge
The pitching clubs, with their differing lofts, combined with the three different pitch shot backswings
will give you a variety of pitch shots that will help you in every green-side situation.
Many golfers feel some anxiety about their pitching abilities. A pitch shot, even under perfect conditions, calls for finesse some golfers feel they dont have. If the golf ball is sitting up, it makes the
execution of the shot much easier. But more likely, the golf ball is either sitting down in deep rough
or on hardpan. It becomes very difficult to hit the ball with correct trajectory and distance on either of
these lies. However, if you practice the technique we discuss here, you can learn to become a proficient pitcher of the golf ball, no matter your lie or handicap.
pitching wedge48
gap wedge52
sand wedge56
lob wedge60
The four-degree increments correspond to the distance you can hit the ball with a full swing. The
clubs should be about ten yards apart with a full swing, with the lesser-lofted clubs traveling farther
than the clubs with more loft. On less than full swings, the clubs are closer in distance.
When you purchase new wedges, you need to consider the material the wedges are made from and
how the wedges are made. The manufacturing process and materials can affect the impact between the
clubhead and the golf ball, as well as the shot itself. There are two different ways wedges are made:
forged
cast
A wedge that is forged is made of softer metal. If you are going to purchase a wedge, try and find a
forged club, not cast. It is more difficult to stop a ball using a cast wedge.
Just as important as your club selection, the golf ball you use may make a huge difference when you
are trying to hit a soft pitch shot around the green. But choosing the correct golf ball is a double-edged
sword. A two-piece golf ball increases your distance off the tee and in your full shots, but it is very
difficult to stop it on the green compared to a solid golf ball. You have to decide if distance is more
important than accuracy in your short game.
The farther forward the ball is in your stance, the higher the balls trajectory, giving it more backspin
and less roll.
If you are struggling with pitching the golf ball, repositioning the ball in your stance can play a major role in getting you back on track. Centering the ball in your stance will allow you to make proper
contact and see instant results. Keep in mind that moving the ball forward in your stance will allow
the golf ball to go up with more trajectory, however, it makes the shot a bit more risky.
It can be difficult to see if the golf ball is in the correct position when you are addressing it. One of the
best ways to determine if the ball position is correct is to practice with three straight edges.
After you have addressed the golf ball so it is centered or slightly forward in your stance, you have to
shift 70% of your weight over to your left leg.
This angle in the backswing is ideal because it puts the clubhead in the perfect position for the downswing. The clubhead will be able to swing down into the ground, properly striking the golf ball.
Sliding your weight to the right side during the backswing will cause the clubhead to swing back low
to the ground.
Your body is now in the perfect setup position for the club, hands, and arms to move away from the
golf ball. It is time to start the backswing.
As the golf club begins to move away from the golf ball, the clubhead must swing back on a slight
arc.
Clubhead Swings Up
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You want the golf club to go up so it will come back down. You know the old adagewhat doesnt go
up, wont come down. The clubhead swinging up on the correct arc allows for two crucial steps of the
downswing to take place.
The clubhead will swing back down on an angle that allows the leading edge of the
clubhead to make contact with the bottom of the golf ball and the ground at the same
time.
Contact with the right amount of clubhead speed creates the impact that allows the golf
ball to climb up the clubface, going up in the air with the correct amount of loft and
backspin.
If the clubhead swings too far inside on the backswing, the right shoulder will turn too much in the
backswing.
When the backswing begins you have 70% of your weight on your left leg. During the backswing it is
profoundly important that 70% of your weight remains on your left leg and that it never moves back
towards the right side.
If the weight slides to the right side in the backswing, the clubhead will never swing up, which means
you will not be able to create the steep downswing needed to make proper contact with the golf ball.
The impact resulting from this low backswing will resemble more of a putting swing, with the leading
edge striking the middle of the golf ball and the ball not getting airborne.
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When you chip a golf ball you use the same swing for every shot. To control distance, you choose one
of three different clubs.
For a pitch shot, you can choose from three different backswings and four different pitching clubs to
control how far you want the shot to travel. With three different backswings and four wedges, you
now have twelve very different pitch shots.
I know what some of you are sayingI just want one or two short shots I can trust. In order to
improve your short game, you have to have more than one or two pitch shots in your bag. The golf
courses today are more demanding around the green, and you need pitch shots that run as well as pitch
shots that have more loft and less roll. Once you get the method down you can easily apply it to all of
your wedges and have a powerful short game arsenal that consists of more than a few shots.
Lets introduce the three different backswings:
8 oclock position
9 oclock position
11 oclock position
For short pitch shots, you only have to take the club back to the 8 oclock position. The 8 oclock
position is reached when the shaft is not yet parallel to the ground.
8 OClock Position
The 8 oclock backswing is good for those tiny pitches where the hole is tucked close to the fringe.
Or sometimes you will find yourself behind a steep green and you have to make a delicate pitch shot
down the hill to the hole. This is another situation that is perfect for an 8 oclock backswing.
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The top of the 9 oclock backswing is reached when the shaft has swung back parallel to the ground.
9 OClock Position
When you are faced with pitch shots around the green where you need more distance or height, you
will have to swing the golf club back a bit farther to the 9 oclock position. This backswing will give
you more distance, loft, and backspin compared to the 8 oclock backswing. Use the 9 oclock backswing if you have to fly the ball over a bunker, a steep slope, or deep rough.
Lastly, you can swing back to the 11 oclock position.
11 OClock Position
The 11 oclock backswing is useful if you have to pitch the ball farther with maximum height and
backspin.
Once you understand and can perform these backswings, there is no more grey area around the green.
If you want to improve your short game and give yourself a chance of getting the golf ball on the
green safely and next to the hole every time, become comfortable with all three backswings.
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If the golf club arrives at the top of the backswing in the correct position, it will be much easier to
swing the clubhead back down into the back of the golf ball. The only possible way for this impact to
take place is for you to have the correct setup, proper backswing, and proper angle in the downswing.
The angle of the downswing has to be relatively steep. The steeper the angle of the downswing, the
easier it is for the leading edge of the clubhead to make contact with the turf. As the clubhead reaches
the bottom of the swing arc, the leading edge slides under the golf ball, cutting into the turf, and the
clubface makes contact with the golf ball simultaneously.
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During setup, the ball position, weight distribution, and handle position play a huge role in swinging
the golf club back on the correct path, which in turn will ensure the clubhead swinging back down on
the correct path with the correct angle.
If your weight moves back with the golf club as the clubhead swings away from the golf ball, the
clubhead will not swing up enough, and you will not have a steep angle in the downswing. This is a
common mistake for higher-handicap golfers. Train yourself to keep 70% of your weight on your left
side during the backswing and youve won half the battle.
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After the leading edge of the golf club impacts the golf ball and turf there are three possible outcomes.
The clubhead comes out of the turf on a low plane
The clubhead continues traveling into the turf
The clubhead comes up and out of the turf quickly
The ideal outcome is for the leading edge of the clubhead to travel on a line towards the target on a
low plane.
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With the turf between the clubface and ball, the shot will not be solid. The impact will be weak, and
the ball will come up short every time.
If the clubhead comes out of the ground too fast and swinging up too much, you will wind up scooping the ball. The bottom of the arc has to be long and shallow after impact. It cannot be a short arc.
Swinging the clubhead up quickly after impact will cause a thin or topped pitch shot.
A proper follow-through requires that the clubhead come out of the turf and stay low all the way to the
finish. But remember that everything is relative. The follow-through will be low and short for shorter
pitches and low and longer for longer pitches. In both instances, the clubhead must stay low to the
ground.
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The left hip does not have to spin out of the way. It simply turns counterclockwise as the arms swing
the golf club down into the turf. As the left hip is turning, the right heel slowly begins to come up off
the ground.
If you would like to learn more about how Purepoint Golf can help take your game to the next level
click here to browse our full catalog of products.
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