Tip From the Archives

Short Pitch and Run

Problem

You are not comfortable pitching the ball onto a green with a low fringe from about 40 yards away.

Cure

Since the apron is cut short, feel free to try a pitch and run so that it rolls onto the green instead of risking an unpredictable airborne shot with too much backspin.

Therapy

It is important that you keep the club low at impact and that your lower body remains completely still throughout the entire swing. Place the ball back in your open stance. Choke down on the grip by an inch and keep your hands ahead of the ball. The swing is a lot like putting except that you bring the club back until the shaft is parallel to the ground. Your shoulders should rotate easily as you take your forward swing. Your forward arm should remain straight while your back wrist hinges just a little. Although you are a short distance from the pin, you will still need to accelerate through the ball with a sweeping motion. This will help keep the ball low with a little bounce and some roll. At the end of your follow though, you should bring the club so that it is parallel to the ground, to mirror your backswing.

  • Currently 4.50/5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

4 votes

 

Something to Add?






Notice Please keep your comments relevant to this article: inappropriate or purely promotional comments may be removed. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.