Quickie Pitching Video - Golf Pitch Shot Technique

[mvmac]

From Callaway Instagram page, Sang-Moon Bae

[Jakester23]

I heard Johnny Miller saying something this weekend about the new style of hitting bunker shots ( square to target) compared to the old way ( open to target open club face ect..). What I was wondering is the new way more of a pitch?

[boogielicious]

I heard Johnny Miller saying something this weekend about the new style of hitting bunker shots ( square to target) compared to the old way ( open to target open club face ect..). What I was wondering is the new way more of a pitch?

Stan Utley always has prescribed being more square to target than that others.  He also does not have his student open the club face much for sand shots.  So it is not new.

[Ernest Jones]

Stan Utley always has prescribed being more square to target than that others.  He also does not have his student open the club face much for sand shots.  So it is not new.

Yeah, I use the Utley sand method and it's definitely square to the target. Your setup does most of the work exposing the bounce with a very vertical stroke that keeps it exposed. Great method, very awkward at first till you get used to the setup but highly effective.

[Jakester23]

I just bought Utley's short game book. Thats cool that his method is effective since I'm very inconsistent out of the sand. I'm going to make sure I read that section before I go to the range this week.

[iacas]

Yeah, I use the Utley sand method and it's definitely square to the target. Your setup does most of the work exposing the bounce with a very vertical stroke that keeps it exposed. Great method, very awkward at first till you get used to the setup but highly effective.

You may have misspoken (or I misunderstood) as it's definitely not a very vertical stroke - it's far more "around you" than "vertical" would imply.

[boogielicious]

I just bought Utley's short game book. Thats cool that his method is effective since I'm very inconsistent out of the sand. I'm going to make sure I read that section before I go to the range this week.

@Jakester23 ,

Check out these videos too by our very own @mvmac .

[Ernest Jones]

You may have misspoken (or I misunderstood) as it's definitely not a very vertical stroke - it's far more "around you" than "vertical" would imply.

Yeah, maybe I wasn't very clear. The downstroke is pretty vertical feeling, kinda feels straight down, spank the sand and let the momentum pull you around. That's what I feel anyway, and it works.

[saevel25]

Yeah, maybe I wasn't very clear. The downstroke is pretty vertical feeling, kinda feels straight down, spank the sand and let the momentum pull you around. That's what I feel anyway, and it works.

For me its just lazy feeling. Lots of wrist hinge, and then just feel like the weight of the club is doing all the work, sliding under the ball.

[Jakester23]

@Jakester23 , Check out these videos too by our very own @mvmac .  [CONTENTEMBED=/t/54554/how-to-hit-sand-bunker-shots layout=inline]​[/CONTENTEMBED]

Thanks ill check them out when I get home from work.

[Ernest Jones]

Thanks ill check them out when I get home from work.

Nah, screw work, check'em out now!

[Jakester23]

Nah, screw work, check'em out now! :-P

Its not about work ha. I just don't like watching them on my phone

[MattM]

Ok guys I've got a question on these pitches. I used the bounce last weekend at two different courses. The first course it worked perfectly, but the greens are more linksish and were level with the entire fairway etc.. (mostly). This technique allowed me to put the ball up in the air and to stop it fairly quickly. Although on a few 50 yard shots I got a bunch of roll out that really killed those holes. I'm definately having an issue with distance control. I also hit one fat and sure enough it still basically did what I wanted it to do. My problem with this method is that on the next course I played the greens were elevated. When I put the ball up in the air it would hit and roll miles! I'm kind of wondering why this is? Is there a common error that causes this? Everything was doing what I wanted it to except for he additional roll out. I'm using a new vokey 58 degree with 9 degrees of bounce and titelist pro v1s. As I said I was able to get the ball way up in the air like I wanted but when it hit it wasn't stopping. Can anyone give me any general advice on this?

[Jakester23]

My pitches really never stop they always roll. If you want to get the least amount of roll out hold the grip end of the club lower to the ground and tipped towards your trail leg. That opens up the face and basically hits a flop shot. Conversely if you hold the grip end leaning towards your lead leg and more straight up and down you will hit a lower shot with a lot of roll. You can get any amount of height you want but your always going to get roll out. It all depends on your setup.

[dchoye]

Inside 30 yards I don't hit hard and fast enough to spin back so I usually play for roll or release. The only exception inside 30 is in sand or uphill lie where I can hit fat and hit really hard under the ball and ball will go up super high like a flop Consequently I always have a difficult time if I'm short side inside 30 yards I end up trying some type of thin or far chip shot to try to get up and down

[iacas]

Yeah, if you're pitching it, you have to stop it with trajectory, not spin.

I think you'd be amazed at how high you can hit pitch shots with subtle variations in the setup.

[mvmac]

My problem with this method is that on the next course I played the greens were elevated. When I put the ball up in the air it would hit and roll miles! I'm kind of wondering why this is? Is there a common error that causes this? Everything was doing what I wanted it to except for he additional roll out. I'm using a new vokey 58 degree with 9 degrees of bounce and titelist pro v1s.

As I said I was able to get the ball way up in the air like I wanted but when it hit it wasn't stopping. Can anyone give me any general advice on this?

How was the contact?

Were you taking a divot?

[MattM]

How was the contact?

Were you taking a divot?

That's the problem the contact was perfect!  I took no divot just ruffled the turf with the bounce.  The ball is going WAY up in the air like it should, and then landing about 5 feet before the hole.  After that it just keeps rolling forward I'd say like 15-20 feet.

Am I doing something wrong?  Also I have the ball in the front of my stance and the handle back so the front edge is sort of off the turf a tad.  When I come down to the ball I feel the bounce hit then the ball goes way up.  I thought that was what I was supposed to do?  I would think with the brand new club and pro v1's it shouldn't roll much.

What is meant by having the handle lower too?  I would have to address the ball from pretty far away to have that.