To become a proficient pitcher in golf, consider the following 12 proven tips:
- Body Lines: Set up with your body lines open to the target line for pitch shots. This slight opening allows for a swing on a very slight out-to-in path and helps you keep rotating through and posting up into your lead leg.
- Posture, Width, and Weight: Use a narrower stance than for full swings, with more weight (around 60%) on your lead side. This setup helps ensure a good strike at the bottom of the swing.
- Ball Position: Set the ball just ahead of your shirt buttons or sternum, with very little shaft lean at address to allow the bounce of the club to do its thing.
- Keep Shoulders Level: In contrast to full swings where trail shoulders are lower in setup, aim for more level shoulders in pitching setups to help the club bottom out in front of the ball.
- Get a Grip: Adjust your grip slightly for pitch shots by having less grip pressure in your fingers and a more diagonal grip in your lead hand. This change allows for less hinge as you go back and through, preventing excessive wrist action that can negatively impact pitches.
- The First Few Feet Back: Make sure your takeaway is more outside than it would be for standard shots, with a steeper backswing path (steep to shallow). Keep the clubface open during this motion to maintain loft and avoid digging into the turf with an open face upon impact.
- Little Rotation Back, Big Rotation Down: With pitch shots, focus on minimal rotation back but significant rotation as you swing down and through to your finish. Your arms should feel connected to your body as you make this shorter swing while relying on body rotation rather than hand or wrist action for power and control.
—Glen Bowen, June 2024