How do you hit your pitch shots?

[andre112]

Let's say 30 yard and 50 yard pitch shots.

Which club do you use?
How do you setup for it?
Grip down or not?
Open club face (stance) or not?
How big of a back swing and follow through?
Weight shift? Weight in the frong leg?
Ball position?

I'm having trouble with these shots.
I couldn't find a way to be consistant enough.
Half of the time I couldn't make a good contact so I either hit it thin or fat.
I do accelerate through impact!

[larlev]

here is my way....

60 deg.
open stance
ball towards right foot
short backswing followed by short follow through
clubface square

it works for me....one thing you might want to do is...get yourself a little notebook and write down setups and swing thoughts for diff. yardages/clubs

I am to old to try and remember everything...the notes have really been helpful when I am out on the course..it allows me to enjoy it more, knowing that at least I was in the proper setup/swing for the shot, even if I do hit it bad.

[Big_M]

It depends on if I want the ball to bounce, bounce, bite... or roll out a bit. What I want depends on how much green I have to work with.

Which club do you use? 9i, PW, 53*, 58*
How do you setup for it? little open front foot, but pretty normal
Grip down or not? yes just a bit, more for shorter
Open club face (stance) or not? usually no, unless trying to get it up quick and stop when it lands
How big of a back swing and follow through? depends... main thing is they are close to the same (back and through) and accelerate.
Weight shift? Weight in the frong leg? it will shift, but not as drastic, end on front.
Ball position? middle

above is what I do... others might be different. If I want that hard biting shot, I play one of wedges and hit down on the ball being sure to hit ball first.

[Eore]

if i have a clear path to the green and the pin is not obstructed by any rough i will hit a pitching wedge bump and run because my fairways are RIDICULOUSLY FAST. i take a half swing with little wrist cock and hit down on the ball with a slightly closed blade

from 50, i always hit lob wedge. 75% swing, land it close

[Doctorfro]

Too many variables. Basically if there's not much to think about it's simply a fairly light grip, good balance and the key for me is commit to swing length and hit it with a patient tempo. I like using my sand wedge (52). BUT, earlier today I had about a forty yard shot and I hit a 9 iron low, caught it crisp, it hit the front of the green and ran to the hole. Windy conditions made me want to keep it low.

[quiggz]

A 52 Deg. wedge, with a short back swing, then pinch that ball right against the clubface, then hope for a couple hops and a check.

[9989randy]

30 and 50 yard pitch shots can be played with the same club. I would suggest a sand wedge over a lob wedge. I would play the ball close to the left foot (assuming you're right handed). Try bending your knees. Practice will give you a feel for distance. Obviously the length of the backswing will determine the distance. The sand wedge is easier to hit than the lob wedge.

[andre112]

thanks for your replies, guys.
I guess I should have been even more speicif.
I'm talking about places where you can't do bump and run.
There's rough or some hills in between.
I'm expecting the ball to roll forward for less than 10 ft after it land on green from these pitch shots.

also do you cock your wrist like you are doing a full swing or is it more like chipping without conscious wrist cock?

[Ringer]

I stand pretty square but depending on how short the pin is on the green I may open up a bit.

THE #1 thing I do to help spin the ball is hold off my finsh. I do not release the club. You'll find this really helps to put spin on the ball and hit it higher.

[TourSpoon]

I set up for that shot with either a SW or LW.

Slightly open stance
Hands ahead
Weight favoring left leg
Eyes focused on the back of the ball
Keep regular tempo

[rusrus]

For 30 yards: 60 degree lob wedge, ball in the center, 60% swing, accelerate-through, square at contact, break wrists as normal...

See how that gets you and adjust the speed as necessary

[andre112]

I stand pretty square but depending on how short the pin is on the green I may open up a bit.

so you would aim left? do you have a youtube video on this topic?

[iWALK18]

60* lob wedge for both shots
set up square, with left foot turned forward. Ball in the back of my stance.
Backswing Length determines distance, and this is different for every golfer so You need to find what length back swing with each wedge gives you what distance.

[Craig Mac]

thanks for your replies, guys.

Everyone is giving good advice as to technique, as you can see people hit that shot several different ways, to me it's just a shot that you have to practice often to be able to hit. This shot requires a rock solid rhythm(no decelaration), and you must finish the swing(no chopping). Resist the urge to look up, keep your head down and remember a few feet long is usually better than a few feet short on this type of shot.

[andre112]

thanks everyone.
rep points for all of you.

[shortgrass lover]

I tend to be a little too timid on these shots, and don't follow through, which results in a shot landing short of the green, or on the front of the green but short of the hole. But what works best for me is to put my hands just a little ahead of the ball, place the ball towards my right foot, take a half swing with my 52* wedge, and accelertae hard down and through the ball, which helps get it airborne and stick once on the green. But the fast acceleration often results in a fatty shot...

[Three Putt]

I always use my gap wedge from 40 to 115. For me it is eaisier to develop feel for the yardage.

I dont like my SW out of the fairway, and dont like the LW unless it's below 40.