Golf Pitching Tips and Pitching Drills to Correct Golf Shot
Sixty percent or more of your golf score occurs within 100 yards of the cup. That is why golf instructors emphasize the importance of the golf short game including putting, chipping, bunker shots and pitching shots.
Though becoming an effective putter is probably the most important component of an effective short game, it can be argued that developing a solid pitching shot game (for golf shots 60 yards and in) is close behind. If you can effectively pitch the golf ball as close as possible to the cup, then the potential to putt the ball into the cup in fewer strokes is dramatically improved!
Here are a few of our favorite golf pitching tips and pitching drills to develop a solid golf pitching game.
Golf Pitching Tip 1 – Pitching Shot Setup
• When hitting golf pitching shots, use a lofted club such as a sand wedge (54 to 58 degrees loft) or lob wedge (59 to 62 degrees loft).
• Slightly open stance.
• Ensure that your ball position is slightly forward from the middle.
• Place your weight so that sixty percent of your weight is on your left foot and 40 percent is on your right foot – keep this weight distribution throughout the golf pitching shot.
• Move hands down the grip and in front of the ball. Grip the club slightly firmer in the golf pitching shot than you would for a normal golf shot.
• Keep steady pace and swing torso back and through the golf pitching shot.
Golf Pitching Tip 2 – Pitching Distance Control
• To control your distance, use the 7-8-9 golf pitching shot method where you swing your straight left arm back to the particular “hours” of a clock to achieve consistent distance control.
• For example, if you swing your left arm back to the “9-o’clock” position and hit the ball 40 yards, then your 9 o’clock shot is for 40 yard golf pitching shots. Practice this approach until you know your distance for “7 o’clock,” “8 o’clock” and “9 o’clock” shots.
Golf Pitching Shot Practice Drill 1 – Pitching Extended Club Drill
This pitching shot practice drill encourages firm wrist and hand position at impact.
• Grip two clubs together holding one in normal position and the other on shaft near club head. Hit 5 to 10 practice pitch shots.
• The “extended” club takes wrists out of pitch shot. If wrists “break” at impact, shaft of second club will hit left side — this should not occur with proper pitch shot swing.
Golf Pitching Shot Practice Drill 2 – Pitching to Target Drill
This pitching shot practice drill helps aid the feel and accuracy of your pitch shots.
• Place four or more targets at various distances from 30 to 60 yards away.
• Pitch balls to each target using your normal club for pitching shots.
• Hit three or more shots in a row for each target; feel the backswing length necessary for each distance.
Designed by top PGA instructors for on-course play and off-course preparation, Golf Genie™ provides easy-to-absorb golf tips and golf practice drills to accelerate your development and rapidly lower your score.