Utley pitching method - using the wedge bounce

[richardm]

I have just read the Utley short game book. Have tried his method at the driving range and except the chipping method I think it is great. However, I don't understand the bit where he wants to use the bounce of the club when pitching. He wants the sole of the club to hit the ground before the ball. I just don't understand this bit - surely he doesn't want you to hit pitch shots fat. I like his pitching method but I think I am getting "ball first contact". Any help would be greatly appreciated..............

[denver_nuggs_15]

I think Utley just means that you should hit the ball and the ground at the same time. (If you do catch it a bit fat, you'll get away with it. If you catch it a bit thin, you'll get away with it.) It's completely different from his chipping technique where you want to hit the ball first.

[pjsnyc]

Try here - http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14234

[Hackerpratt]

I am familar with this method. My take on using the bounce is really moving away from a "very steep" downward strike which takes a big divot to more of an around the body swing (still hitting down) but using the bounce of the club to hit the ground and "slide" through the ball, taking a very small divot (normally it would be considered a skid mark).

[imtomtomim]

actually, I do this when the grass is thin and the ground is hard. It's just a feeling where you smack the sole of the club on the ground and it'll have enough bounce that it won't get caught in the turf and will slide into the ball. You really gotta smack that sole down for that to work though.