While the pitching techniques for these two shots are similar, there are a few fundamental differences that you need to account for, and those are the main things I’m going to show you in this video.
So, if you struggle with hitting pitch shots from tight lies, or from those “light and fluffy” lies you sometimes get around the greens, this is a video you need to watch.
I’ll show you the proper setup position and stroke for each shot so you can make solid contact and eliminate those fat and thin shots from these lies.
Based on the thousands of short game lessons I’ve given, and 30+ years of experience I have as a Class A PGA Professional, I can tell you that if you practice these pitch shot techniques you will build a more consistent, reliable short game and get up and down from around the greens more often.
Here are the two different pitch shot techniques that are covered in the video above:
1. How to Hit Pitch Shots from the Rough
When you’re pitching from light rough around the green, you’re typically going to want to hit a high pitch shot that lands softly, so that’s what we’re focusing on here.
Unlike pitch shots off of tight lies (which I’ll discuss below), when trying to hit a high, soft pitch shot out of the rough, loft is your friend. You simply don’t need forward shaft lean and “perfect” contact when you have some cushion under the ball.
You can use this knowledge to your advantage by playing the ball in the middle of your stance, or even slightly forward. Grip the club lightly and make a soft, fluid swing like I show you in the video.
In fact, you can see this golf pitching technique in slow motion at the 2:16 mark in the video above.
2. How to Hit Pitch Shots from Tight Lies
Hitting pitch shots from tight lies is something that many golfers struggle with. After all, when you’re trying to pitch the ball off of a tight lie with a lofted wedge, there isn’t much room for error.
In the video above, I’m using my 58-degree wedge, and you’ll see I’ve drawn a small dot on the sweet spot to demonstrate how you need to tilt the sweet spot forward in order to avoid “bottoming out” and make solid contact.
If you try to “scoop” the ball, or let the clubhead pass your hands, things aren’t going to end well for you off of a tight lie.
In order to combat this, many players will place the ball too far back in their stance, and essentially jab at the ball. This is a problem as well, because it creates such a steep angle of attack that if you hit just a fraction behind the ball, it’s not going to go anywhere.
In the video, I show you how to use the bottom of the club effectively so that you will hit far less fat or thin pitch shots from tight lies. So if you’ve read this far and haven’t watched the video yet, I strongly encourage you to watch it!
So What’s the Next Step?
Improving your pitching and chipping is about getting the right technique and then practicing. Next time you go to the course or your short game practice area, practice these golf pitching and chipping tips mentioned in the video from both tight and fluffy lies.
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