Second to the chipping shot (short shots around the green that are kept on a low trajectory), the pitch shot is the most important shot to practice - particularly for beginners. The pitch shot is the shot which is too far away from the green to chip, but not far enough for a full swing. It is a 'feel' shot because the golfer must judge how far to bring the club back in order to achieve the correct distance.
The ball flight for a pitch shot is on a higher trajectory than a chip shot because the intent is to have the ball land close to the target and stop shortly thereafter (whereas the intent for a chip shot is to get the ball on the green on a low trajectory and have it roll a longer way to the hole). Realize that the chip shot should be used whenever possible as it is a higher percentage shot than the pitch shot. Anytime the wrists start to hinge and unhinge and the hips begin to coil and uncoil, as in the pitching motion, the difficulty level increases. Remember, the chip shot mimics the putting motion in that the only thing moving is the shoulders - rocking them back and then forward. One pendulum is always easier to control than several. However, if the chip shot is not an option then we need to get more loft on the ball and pitch it to the green.
For the sake of this article, let's assume we're hitting about a 40 yard pitch shot. This is about the distance that an average golfer will hit the ball if they are bringing the club back to parallel (shaft parallel to the ground), and following through to parallel. This is the pitch shot that I like to teach because the 'parallel back' and 'parallel forward' positions are two critical checkpoints in the full swing. So, when the golfer practices this shot, not only are they practicing the correct pitching motion, but they are also reinforcing the two most important checkpoints of the full swing.
Here's how I believe this shot should be executed.
1) Bring the club back with a 1 piece take-away (only the shoulders and chest used to begin the backswing).
2) When the clubhead moves just past the right foot, the hands rotate slightly in order to fan the clubface open and the wrists begin to hinge slightly.
3) Feel the body weight begin to load up on the inside of the right leg and coil the hips slightly.
4) Continue to fan the club open and hinge the wrists a bit more to bring the club back so that the shaft is parallel to the ground, feeling a bit more body weight loading up on the right side.
5) When the club is in the 'shaft parallel to ground' position, the toe of the club should be pointing straight up in the air, and the butt end of the club should point directly at the intended target (this is a major checkpoint in the full swing, and it is true no matter which club the golfer is using). The arms should be close to the body.
6) The first move to bring the club down should be a transfer of weight to the left side coupled with the uncoiling of the hips.
7) The arms, shoulders, chest, and golf club fall down and through the impact zone as a result of the weight transfer and uncoiling motion.
8) The right hand naturally rolls over the left as the clubhead contacts the ball and passes through the impact zone.
9) The right heel of the right foot comes up naturally as a result of the full transfer of body weight to the left side.
10) The clubhead continues to fan 'closed' as the shaft comes up towards the 'parallel to the ground' position.
11) When the club is again in the 'shaft parallel to ground' position on the follow through, the toe of the club should again be pointing straight up in the air, and the shaft of the club should point directly at the intended target (again: this is a major checkpoint in the full swing, and it is true no matter which club the golfer is using). The arms should still be close to the body.
12) The chest, belt buckle, eyes, and club all point towards the intended target, with about 80% body weight having transferred to the left side of the body.
13) Hold the finish until the ball hits the ground or even until it stops rolling (for good balance).
Practice this shot with all clubs, from the sand wedge to the driver. Although a pitch shot is typically used with only more lofted clubs, you will be practicing the two major checkpoints when you practice with all clubs. Assure that you are getting to the 'toe up - toe up' position on each side of the ball and assure that the club points directly at the target on both sides (straight back, straight through). Generally speaking, whatever is going wrong in your full swing can be fixed just by fixing whatever is going wrong between these two checkpoints. For instance, if you generally pull the ball left, chances are likely that your club is pointing too far left in the 'parallel up' position on the follow through (very common).
Aside from this being a wonderful drill to practice with all clubs, you will find that shots like this are necessary many times during actual game play. Any time the golfer misses a fairway, chances are there are some tree limbs or something preventing a full swing on the approach. The ball must be kept low in these cases, and a 'toe-up to toe-up' shot with a less lofted club is the required shot.
Most golfers do not practice this shot, or if they do, they practice only with their sand wedge or pitching wedge. Practice it with all clubs and get the leg up on your competition.
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