GOLF TIPS

Golf Tips - The Pitch & Run

his is another “must have” skill for any player (also, see the companion High Pitch Shot). Like the Chip Shot, it is especially important for higher handicap players to master this shot because they tend to miss, or come up short of, more greens.

This is another type of shot where a professional can teach the basics, but only practice, practice, and more practice can give a player the feel for speed and how hard to hit a shot.

Remember!

The primary objective is to get the ball on the green.

When faced with trouble between you and the pin, don’t try to finesse the shot and get close to the pin.

Club Selection

Avoid the “one club for all shots” approach. Club selection will be governed by two main factors.

	Type of shot
	Lie

For the Pitch & Run – use a Wedge (Pitching, Gap, Sand, or maybe Lob). The choice will be determined by the amount of run required after the ball lands.

Grip

'Choke' down somewhat using your normal grip.

Stance

Ball position should be middle-back in stance.

(Note: Due to the camera position, the ball in the photograph appears to be closer to the back foot than it should be - see the the action sequence below for a more accurate picture.)

	Use a narrower, slightly open stance.
	Weight more on the front foot and hands ahead of the ball - just inside front thigh.

Swing

	This shot requires an arm swing.
	Think of it like putting – a quiet body, arms and shoulders moving as a unit with no wrist cock

	Go through the ball - accelerate - don't quit on the shot.
	As with all good golf shots, hands stay ahead of the ball at impact.

As far as the length of swing is concerned, the Back Swing should be the same as the Follow Through. Think of it as: "9 o’clock to 3 o’clock.”

Practice

Once the basics have been learned, always practice ‘bad lies’ because you play from these more often than you do good ones. Also, see Playing from Hardpan.