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2 Common Problems in Pitch Shots You Might Be Making –

And How To Fix Them

A missed pitch shot causes enough frustration for you to bend your pitching wedge into a horseshoe and throw it into the pond…

… How about being in a position to knock one close to the pin, but instead you hit heavy behind the ball, watching in horror as the shot screams off the leading edge of the club across the green?…

… Or worse yet, watching in utter disbelief as the ball goes sideways – turning into the dreaded shank!

In order to effectively correct simple mishaps that lead to poor pitch shots, lets look for the reasons they happen, then lay out the correct solutions to get you back on track. There are a few things that may be obvious to you, if you first know what to look for, that can make or break your short game:

• Problem of clubface aimed to the left or the right

This is a very common mistake, which can result in a pushed or pulled shot, but in a more exaggerated form results in shanks. This is when the wheels just came off and your score card starts seeing sparks.

There is a process in all good shot making which begins in your pre-shot routine, followed by aiming the leading edge of the clubface at a pre-determined spot in front of the ball.

Do this in every setup with every club in your bag and you'll be assured, you're aiming at the desired target.

Watch your grip and grip pressure which can change the direction of the club face if you're not attentive to the routine. Then and only then do you align your body to the club face at address position.

As long as you are not in a hazard or sand bunker, you can ground the club behind the ball. Then begin by allowing the shaft to lean slightly ahead of the ball.

While holding that position, place your other hand on the grip and take your final setup from there. Be comfortable on your feet with good posture over the ball and remember to relax and have fun.

Practice this routine and it will quickly develop into a consistant pre-shot routine that will give you confidence resulting in increased accuracy. More often than not, problems evolve from a poor pre-shot routine, or lack of one.

• You May Be Overlooking Your Ball Position at Address

If you play your ball too far back in your stance, the odds are likely that you are swinging down too steep, resulting in hitting the ground first, before striking the ball. That's a fat or heavy shot resulting in a missed green or coming up short.

Playing the ball too far forward results in hitting it thin, which sends it low and usually too far from the golf course you're playing on.

A proper pitch shot begins with the ball placed one ball back of center and a slightly open stance. Make a point to align your body and shoulders parallel to your intended line.

Your clubs shaft needs to be leaning forward into the left hand at address, so as to be the leader in this shot. Keeping the club moving back and through and finishing low without your hands turning over will put back spin on the ball, staying low into the green and will stop with some planned control. Weight on your left side (right-handers) will assist in hitting the ball first.

Another tip is to take four or five practice swings without a ball in front of you and swing through completely – each time clipping the grass. This drill determines where the bottom of your swing is. You can experiment with ball placement from there which is usually a ball or two either side of where the divot begins.

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