Greetings, beginning golfers! Are you interested in learning how to hit a pitch shot — where you have a short distance to the pin and need to hit the golf ball high and soft? No worries! I am here to help you with insights on some of the things that you should know, making it easy to master the fundamentals. As it is both a science and an art — you should know the right techniques, not only in perspective, but also in terms of their applications. As with any other golf skill, practice makes perfect!
- Select the Right Wedge
The first thing that you have to do is to make sure that you are using the right wedge. This may seem to be too technical for some people, especially for beginners who have no idea how one wedge is different from the other. The key takeaway here is that not all wedges are the same. For hitting a pitch shot, I highly recommend that you use a pitching or sand wedge, which are both beneficial because they can provide you with generous loft.
- Practice the 7, 8, 9 O’clock Positions
As with all shots in golf, your playing position is important. This will make sure that you have enough power for every swing. For hitting effective pitch shots and to be more effective in doing so, make sure to follow the 7, 8, and 9 o’clock positions. Just pretend that your golf club is the hour hand of the clock and it’s pointing to 6 o’clock at address. From there, use your arms and hands to control its movement back and through. Start with going back to the 7 o’clock position, which will be nearest the ball. Swing a little farther and you will hit the 8 o’clock, and a little more will now put you in the 9 o’clock position. It won’t take long before you will realize which among these positions is perfect for hitting 40 to 50 yards. Consistency is key.
Golf chipping tips: common denominators
- Mind your Stance
The positions mentioned above are more concerned with handling the club during the swing. You should also be mindful of your stance, which is vital in generating the power that you need. Make sure to start with your feet close together and place the club head behind the ball before swinging. This helps with proper alignment and will increase the likelihood that you’ll strike the ball crisply. Once the clubface is aligned, spread your feet to shoulder width. Your right toe should be pointed at the target line. Your hips and feet should be slightly open to the target throughout the shot. Bend your hips and square your shoulders once you are ready to make the shot.
- Have a Follow Through
It’s not enough that your club is able to hit the ball. Just like in other golf swing techniques, you should never underestimate the importance of a follow-through. If you instantly stop the club after hitting the ball without a follow-through, your shot will most likely come up well short of the target. I recommend that you follow through to the 3 o’clock position on our “club clock” and let your body turn so it faces the target. It’s also important that you extend both arms following the impact.
- Other Tips
For pitches and all golf shots, it’s also important to keep these tips in mind:
- Be familiar with every routine. Every shot is unique but if there is one thing that should be consistent, it’s your routine. Again, frequent practice will help you establish a routine that’s more effective and comfortable for you.
- At address, place more weight on your front foot. This is one thing that may seem very basic, yet it can be often ignored by many players, especially beginners. This is beneficial in terms of being able to keep your body stable upon swinging. To be more specific, I recommend that 60% of your weight is on your left foot (for right-handed players) and 40% will is on your right foot.
Did you enjoy reading this guide? Is there anything else that you would like to add? Let us know and feel free to leave a comment below.
Emilia Clarke offers quick and simple golf lessons and equipment guides through her website, WeTalkAboutGolf.com. She has one goal — to help golfers to become the best player that they can. Subscribe to her blog for more information.
