Latest Lesson - Pitching

HomerJSimpson

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Had my first of several short game lessons today. We looked at pitching from <100 yards. My coach got me to talk me through my wedge choices and what I'm looking to do when I play the shot. He seemed quite keen on having a 60 degree in my bag but that is an ongoing topic of conversation between us.

He watched me hit a few pitches with my 56 to a target about 35 yards away and asked me to describe what I was trying to achieve technique wise. After seeing my efforts which were erratic in terms of height and length he started to work on my swing. It turns out my right shoulder was really low at address which has had the effect of shallowing out my swing and making it hard to come down onto the ball without any intervention from my hands. This explained why I get the fats, thins and can't get too balls to go the same.

He set me up with my shoulders level. It felt really strange like I was going to topple over onto my left especially when he narrowed my stance as well. He got me to take the club back on a much straighter path which had the feeling of the club being shut (it wasn't). From there he really got me working on nipping the ball and keeping the blade from rotating over and pointing at the target after impact.

We did the old towel under the arm routine to get the feeling of keeping the arms close to the body thoroughout the swing and to exaggerate the feeling of the body rotating through the shot and not the hands. The towel helped maintain a better tempo.

The last thing we worked on was varying the length of the swing and not the speed. He wants me to work on the well known 7.30, 9 and 10.30 positions and wants me to chart how far I hit each club. I am going to Ascot to mark out 30, 40 50, 70 and 80 yard distances and use a variety of clubs (PW, 52 and 56). He has said that with pitching it isn't the club that dicates the choice but the length of swing and so has impressed on me the need to know and be able to control my yardages.

I have plenty to work on but now the technique has been ironed out I'm up for the challenge.
 

theeaglehunter

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Sounds like a very worthwhile lesson (I have never had anyone look at my short game so should probably arrange one myself!), how long was it 1 hour? you certainly seemed to achieve a lot which is excellent.

I take it you had the lesson on a short game area / grass practice ground? I have never understood people having lessons on the short game at ranges where you chip off a platform with a matt on to a high cut level of grass where a flag is stuck in the ground! Apart from anything else taking a divot is so important for many shots within 100 yards for me.
 

HomerJSimpson

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Sadly the lesson was off a mat at Maidenhead Golf Centre. The good news is the practice area at Ascot is grass so I can get to feel the club and ball off the turf and judge distances much better on that.
 

HTL

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I love my 60* mate, especially around the green and in the crap. Good to hear your getting your short game up, if you get it to match your driving, HAPPY DAYS!
 

Imurg

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I'd love to have a decent grassed short game practice ground. All my wedge practice has to be either on the mats or out on the course. If I'm playing solo I'll sometimes throw a dozen balls down and practice the pitches then.

Trouble is it can take some time to repair all the pitch marks!
 

jeffc

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Good lesson homer, I use the same 7:30 9:00 and 10:30 system for judging distance as I have to work out the mechanics rather than relying on "feel" as talented golfers would.I would say that concentrating on getting a good contact with the ball is one of the most important points and stops the duffs and bladed missiles.
I also use a similar sytem for putting using the distance between my feet to control the length of putt,eg inside right foot to inside left foot for up to three feet and so on - again mechanics not talent.
 

SS2

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The last thing we worked on was varying the length of the swing and not the speed. He wants me to work on the well known 7.30, 9 and 10.30 positions and wants me to chart how far I hit each club.

I had a short game lesson last year and was told exactly the same thing. For a few weeks after the lesson (when I actually had time to play/practice a couple of times a week), it all worked smoothly. The other drill which I found very useful was hitting the same 50 yard pitch with 9i,PW,52deg,SW and 60deg and comparing the flight of the ball and the bite on landing.
 

jeffc

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Hi Ricardo

thats interesting because I still get loads of height from my di7's.
Have ordered a 53 degree gap wedge from discount golf store to fill the gap. They are on sale at £29.99 so it's a no brainer really, I payed more than that for my other second hand 58 degree mizzy wedge
 

ricardodaintino

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I think its because these are my first decent clubs (coming off the back of a starter dunlop set from sports soccer).

I still get good hight from them but my seven iron (Di7) is more like the distance and flight I'd get from the 6 from my old set. I'm scarcely brave enough to hit the 4 iron, much more accurate with my 5 wood.
 

markwarne

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Can someone explain the 7.30 etc technique. I am sure it is obvious, but I am struggling to picture it.

I am now really starting to work on my short game, the 51 and 56 degree wedges being the least used in my bag. But the way to the improve the handicap (I am assured by my teacher and weekly swindle) is more effort in my short game.

I watched with amazement on the pitching area on Saturday as a junior rocked up with his shag bag, popped his ipod and proceeded to surround the pin to a circumferance of 2ft with every shot. If he missed one, he went and gathered all his previously hit good shots and started again. I didn't dare ask him how he did it, but a few sneaky peeks and I started to copy his technique (as best I could).
 

jeffc

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Mark it's basically imagining your club on the backswing in the position of the hour hand on a clock, so 7:30 is not a lot just lifting the club away from the ball, 9:00 is when the club is parallel to the ground at the top of the back swing, 10:30 is a little higher where you have started to break the wrists.
In application I judge the distances with my PW to be about;
7:30 5-10 yards
9:00 15-20 yards
10:30 30-50 yards

Thats how I play it anyway,
 

andiritchie

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I use the 7.30,9 and 10.30 but on fuller shots using the position of my arms

7.30 the shaft just above parallel from the ground

9 where my arms are at 9 o clock

10.30 arms at 10.30

It gives me shots varying 10-100 yards depending on clubs,thats how i got taught it
 
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