Pitching...Hit the Simplest Shot for the Situation

Controlling your ball around the green is the best way to save shots.  It's all about choosing the correct technique and club which will give you the best success consistently.  You have two choices when hitting shots from around the green.  You can either go high, or you can go low.  Going "high" means you are going to hit a standard pitch shot.  Going "low" means you are going to hit the pitch and run shot.  I will always take the low route when possible as this is a safer shot due to the minimum amount of swing needed.

I am going to explain the difference in a standard pitch shot and a pitch and run shot.  I think you will see from the pictures when to pitch and when to pitch and run. 

A pitch shot is used when you need to carry the ball all the way onto the green and then have very little roll.  This shot is most handy when you either have to carry a bunker, or the hole location may be near the edge of the green and there is no other way to get to the hole but go high.  This shot requires you to use your most lofted wedge and I recommend you carry a wedge with at least 56 degrees loft.  Any wedge with a loft of 56-60 degrees will be best.

As you can see in this photo, the pin is located near the edge of the green so you have to hit the pitch shot. 

The main focus for the pitch shot is to let the wrists hinge upward on the backswing, and then re-hinge on the forward swing.  At the bottom of the swing, you will clip the ball and turf at the same time.  I highly recommend taking a practice swing and try to clip the turf.  I have found it works if you "hear" the shot.  In other words, when you take your practice swing, listen for the club sweeping the turf.  Then, when you hit the shot, try to emulate the sound you just heard.  You will know immediately if it sounds correct or not.  When you think of sound instead of technique, there will be less thinking and your shots will be improved.

The pitch and run shot is best used when you have some green to work with.  In this photo, the hole location is in the middle of the green and there is no reason to fly the ball deep into the green.  The pitch and run shot is much more safer as there is less swing and follow through.  The goal is to land the ball about two steps onto the green and then let it roll to the hole.

For this shot you club of choice is a wedge with 50-55 degrees loft depending on how much roll out you need.  The less the amount of loft on your wedge, the more roll you will have.  Here are a couple of pictures of the proper technique for a pitch and run.  The backswing and follow through are much more compact.  There is very little wrist hinge on the backswing and none on the follow through.  The goal is to strike the ball first then the turf just as you would for a chip shot.

There is one more significant difference in the two shots...the ball position in your stance.  The ball position for the pitch shot is slightly in front of center and the position for the pitch and run is off the big toe of your back foot.

A question which might arise is what is the difference in a pitch and run and a chip shot?  For the most part, a chip shot is for shots located one to three steps from the green.  The club of choice may be a five iron through a pitching wedge depending on how much roll out you need.  A pitch and run is used when the ball is located four or more steps from the green.  The maximum distance for a pitch and run could be seven to eight steps from the green.  Any longer and a pitch shot is probably the best choice.

To become a well rounded golfer you must have an arsenal of shots which fit the situation!  Try to spend at least half of your practice sessions hitting these type of shots.

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What Happens at Impact and After?

In the previous post I identified the "slot" and the benefits of getting the club in this powerful position.  Prior to impact the club was lagging behind my hands and in position to deliver the blow. Now, at impact, the left arm is in line with the golf club and the left wrist is flat.  The right arm is tucked to my side and the right wrist is bent.  In essence, the club head has caught up with my hands at impact.

To help you get a better feel for impact, imagine you are painting a wall.  With the brush in your right hand, move the brush from right to left to bend the bristles against the wall.  As you move the brush on the wall the right wrist is leading the bristles.  This is the position of your right wrist just prior to and at impact.  You certainly would not push the brush across the wall.  If you did, you wouldn't get much paint on the wall.

Note how the right wrist is leading the brush



Now put the brush in your left hand and make the same motion.  Your left wrist will be firm and flat as you move the brush across the wall.  This is the same feel you should have with a golf club in hand just prior to and at impact.

                                      



Practice hitting chip shots and imagine your are painting a stripe on the turf as you strike the ball.  This is a good drill and will help you get the feel of the left wrist leading the club into impact.



The biggest mistake most golfers make is the left wrist breaks down and this prevents the proper folding of the left arm after impact.  Note the gap between the left arm and the side in the picture below.  This position of the left arm is commonly referred to as a "chicken" wing.

In the picture below, you can really see how the left arm is not folding properly.  The left elbow should be facing more down and not to the left as it is in this photo.









After a little work on the practice tee, look at the new and improved position in the picture below.

Look how the left arm is closer to the side and the right arm is extending through the shot.



When looking at video or stop action pictures, I look for the above position after impact.  Note how my left hand is visible and my right hand is above my left hand.  This position indicates a good release has happened and a good shot is the result.

Prior to impact the left wrist should be leading the club head into the ball.  Just after impact, the left arm will begin to fold and the force of the club swinging will allow the wrists to release.  Imagine you were going to make a backswing and then sling your club out in the range. Now that would be a true release!  But I think you would see if you were going to sling your club out in the driving range, your arms would extend toward that end result.

The bottom line is to try and feel like you are swinging through the ball to the target and not just swinging at the ball.  Most golfer's practice swings are better than their real swings.  Without a ball, it seems the effort level is greatly reduced.  The next time you go practice, another great drill to perform is to hit balls with a 7 iron off a tee and try to feel you are making a full swing, but try to feel like you are exerting 50% of your normal energy.  I think you will be suprised how much better your ball striking will get.





Swing the Club in the Slot for Consistent Shots

To hit consistently good golf shots, you have to be in the "slot" from backswing through impact.  In the following pictures I have drawn two lines to help identify the location of the slot.  One line is on the shaft plane and the other is what I call the "Hogan" plane.  The shaft plane is simply the angle of the shaft in the set up position.  The Hogan plane is taken from the book "Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf" in which Ben Hogan demonstrates the plane using a line drawn from the top of his shoulders to the golf ball. 

                                       The "slot" is the area between these two lines or planes.

On the backswing, keep your hands, arms and club in this slot.  If you get above or below these two lines on the backswing, it is very difficult to hit good shots without a great deal of manipulation or re-routing of the club.  It requires a blend of body turn and arm swing to get in the slot on the backswing.
In other words, if you swing your arms too much up and down with no body turn, you will be above the top plane.  This causes you to be too steep coming down and the result will be deep divots and inconsistent shots.  On the other hand, you could have too much body turn and not enough up and down with the arms and the result will be shots hit thin and usually to the right of target.

There are a small number PGA TOUR players that play quite well that do not stay in this slot on the backswing.  But, they recover and hit fantastic shots because they are naturally gifted and can make the necessary correction to be in the slot on the downswing.  Plus, they hit thousands of practice balls to groove their own swing.  If you look at the swing of any top player, you will find it true they are in the slot on the downswing.

To get in the slot on the downswing, you have to feel like you start your downswing with a slight shift of your weight to the front leg and then turn your front hip out of the way.  In the above picture, my hips are turning to the left, but notice how my chest is still facing the golf ball.  If I let my chest "open" or swing to the left too soon, I would be "over the top" and either pull the ball or slice it to the right. 

At impact, the club should still be in the slot.  Notice how the club has returned to almost the same angle as it started in the set up.  Look how my left hip is turned to the left yet my chest is still facing the ball. 

As I move into the finish, you can see how my club is back in the slot.  My chest has now caught up with the hip turn and my shoulders will out turn my hips at the very end of the swing.

The best practice drill to help you ingrain the feeling of being in the slot on the downswing is what I call the "pump" drill.  Without a ball, swing to the top of your backswing and pause.  Then, feel your left hip start the downswing by sliding a couple of inches toward the target and let your hands just drop straight down about a foot simultaneously.  You will feel your right elbow move into your right side.  Repeat this move several times.  Now that you have the correct feel, try hitting balls.  Your swing thought will be to feel your right elbow dropping close to your right side on the downswing.

Putting Practice

The PGA TOUR season is almost over and it is interesting to look at all the stats which are maintained.  Of particular interest to me is the average distance from the hole from 150-175 yards from the best players in the world.  I like to use this distance as I feel this would be an average 7 iron yardage for these professionals.  When I ask my students what they think is the average distance, I usually get a very low number such as 5-10 feet.  The actual average from the best players in the world from this distance is 27'8"!

We are used to watching these players on Sunday afternoon making one great shot after another.  What you have to remember is we are watching the best players that are "on" their game that particular week.  They are making it look easy.  We don't get to see the 70+ players that missed the cut. 

The point is, if the best players in the world are averaging 27'8" with a 7 iron in their hand, what are you averaging?  I am guessing the number is a bit more.  So what does this have to do with putting practice?

You should focus your putting practice on putts in the 30-50 foot range.  My recommendation is to place three targets at 30', 40' and 50' and practice putting to these targets.  I use three pieces of string about 6' long and place the string at the above measurements.  I tie the string to a tee at each end to secure on the putting surface.  I have my students putt 5-10 balls to each measurement.  Then, I have them mix it up.  They will putt one ball to the 30' string, then one to the 50' string and then one to the 40' string.  It doesn't matter which order you use, this drill is designed to increase your feel for distance control.

I have found that it helps to practice putting with just your dominate hand on the putter.  If you are right handed, then put your left hand behind your back and putt to these targets with just your right hand on the putter.  Your dominate hand is your accelerator, and your other hand is for support.  Think of tossing an object under handed to someone.  Obviously as the person moves further away from you, there is a bigger arm swing.  It is the same in putting, and by practicing to different targets, you are increasing your feel.  After hitting a fews putts with just one hand on the putter, place both hands on the putter and try to feel your dominate hand doing the work. 

You should also practice putts in the 3-4' range.  I recommend using three balls and find a level putt on the putting green.  Try to make all three balls from the north, south, east and west side of the hole.  Try to go at least three times around hole and see if you can make all 36 putts from this range.  It is harder than it sounds, but it will make these putts easier on the course!

So this is the long and short of it to becoming a better putter!

Improve Your Alignment on the Green

My next few posts will be focused on improving your putting.  I am going to begin by providing a few thoughts on proper alignment.  A properly fit putter is paramont when it comes to alignment.  If your putter is not the correct length or lie for you, proper alignment will be difficult to consistently achieve.  When you take your set up, make sure you place the ball in the middle of the line or dot on your putter. 

The number one cause of missed putts is poor alignment!  Short putts are where you are most vulnerable so I will emphasize this area.  For example, on a short putt, let's say inside five feet, you feel you should make this putt most of the time.  But, if you are lined up an inch off line, you are not going to make the putt.  If you have a thirty foot putt, you would like to make the putt, but the chances are you are not.  So the idea is to get the ball as close as possible.  If you are lined up an inch off line, you can still be fairly close to the hole as long as your speed is good.  It's not to say you shouldn't focus on your alignment on long putts, just begin with the short putts first to begin the process.

The best way to practice your alignment inside five feet is to use two alignment rods as pictured.

Find a level putt and place a rod on each side of the hole.  Simply put your ball in the middle of the rods about three feet from the hole and start putting.  The rods will also help you line your feet and shoulders parallel to your target.  You will find your path will improve as well.  If your putter is moving outside the rods on this short putt, you will be able to correct immediately.

              It will be easy to see if your putter is aligned to the target using the rods as a guide.



Another great tool to use is a yardstick.  Again, find a level putt and place the yardstick on the edge of the hole.  Place your ball on the yardstick and make putt after putt. 

Making short putts is a habit you can develop.  It does not matter which devices you use for alignment, but use something that will provide a line or path to the hole.  After using the devices for a few minutes, your confidence will be soaring and your alignment will improve immensely.  Now take the aids away and practice making short putts on your own.  I think you will now have a good "picture" of proper alignment.

When I am checking a student's alignment during a lesson, I use a laser light and a target.  The laser provides instant feedback as to the position of your putter face.

Once your are lined up, you are free to make a smooth stroke with no compensations.  You will make more short putts and better align the long putts too.  See my previous post regarding reading break and how to line up those longer putts.







The Good, the Bad...the Ugly!

How many times have you had a great front nine score and then turn around and play terrible on the back?  Or, you hit a great shot and then hit the next one like you have never played golf?  We have all done this from time to time and it can be frustrating.  What happened?

In golf, you just cannot predict what score you will shoot, nor do you want to.  The worst thing you can do is step up on a short hole and think you are going to make a birdie.  This means you are thinking too much about the result or the future and not enough about the process of hitting your shot to the desired target.
This lack of attention to the shot at hand causes the cycle of inconsistency to begin in my opinion. 

Remember, there are NO GUARANTEES in golf.  If you play most of your golf at your home course, it is easy to get complacent in your focus.  Before you know it, you are just going through the motions and the bad and ugly starts happening.

The best way to gain control of your game is to improve your thought process (target selection, pre-shot routine), course management (club selection, aim) and emotions.  When stepping up to any shot, your focus should be on the process of hitting the shot and not the outcome.  It is OK to acknowledge any hazards lurking in the distance, then block them out and focus on your TARGET!

My target is the sand dune between me and the fairway.

Your course management or strategy for the shot will be determined largely by your current ability.  In other words, if you cannot carry the bunker that is 210 yards off the tee, then your target and club selection will need to be adjusted to get you safely in the fairway.  If there is a water hazard or deep bunker on the right side of the green, then your target should be on the left side.

Once you have your target identified, you must block out all other obstacles and play from point A to point B with no mental interference.  You must not have a score in mind when you play a shot.  Stay in the present and make the best swing you can make. 

Eliminate the interference and play from point A to point B.

Do not let your emotions ruin your game.  If you happen to miss your target and end up in a hazard, you must remain positive and go through your routine for the next shot.  The worst thing to do is follow a bad shot with another bad shot caused by rushing and not thinking the shot through clearly.  Remember, each shot deserves to be hit with the same focus and attention regardless of the prior result. 

You can develop this focus on the practice tee by always choosing a specific target for each shot you hit. I find it helpful to imagine hazards on the practice range you have to avoid.  Strive to improve your quality of practice and not necessarily the quantity of balls you hit when practicing. 

Build good practice habits, follow your routine on the course for each shot and you will be on your way to the Good, and not the Bad or Ugly!

Playing Successfully in the Wind

March came in like a lion and is still roaring!  It seems the winds have been blowing 15-20 mph this entire spring. 

Here are a few general rules for taming the wind.

When playing in the wind, and any inclement weather for that matter, you will tend to do things much quicker than normal.  So, the first rule when playing in the wind is to slow down!  Avoid the tendency to rush through your pre-shot routine by slowing down all of your movements prior to hitting your shot.  This will help set the tone for a slower and smoother swing.  You also want to avoid swinging too hard in the wind.  The old adage "swing easy when it's breezy" is still in vogue.  I recommend thinking about the pace of your arms when you swing.  Try to feel the arms swinging back and through at the same pace.  Using a speed scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being slow and 5 being fast, try to swing back and through at a 3.  This will help your balance and ball striking and this pace is maintained whether you are headed into or down wind.

The second rule is to grip down the shaft when it is windy.  This adjustment tends to make the shaft play stiffer and helps keep the ball flight lower.  In conjuction with gripping down the shaft, I suggest playing the ball a little further back in your stance.  For an iron or hybrid, I would move the ball position about two inches behind the center of your stance and for a wood, move it back about two to three inches inside your front heel. 

The third rule is to adjust your aim to allow for the wind.  I will say a well struck shot will hold it's line in the wind for the most part.  But, if you already tend to move the ball one way or the other, then plan for it to move more than normal.  When the wind is swirling and you are having difficulty figuring out which way it is blowing, try looking up at the clouds.  Their movement will tell you which way the wind is truly blowing.  If it is a clear day, look at the tree tops and see which way they are moving.

On a windy day you can throw out the yardage book and GPS unit.  Strive for a smooth swing and solid contact.  If it means hitting a 6 iron instead of an 8 iron, then so be it.  Again, it's not how hard you hit the ball, but how solid you hit it.  Typically if you swing too hard the ball will "balloon" or go way too high.

The bottom line for playing successful wind shots is to grip down, slow down, and swing smoothly.

Good luck, calmer days are ahead.