Short Game · Tip
Fix the Dreaded 40-Yard Pitch
Part of our short game programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed. Build a program with it
The 40-yard pitch scares lots of golfers. Because it's not a full swing, they never get their weight onto their lead foot. So they can't hit ball first. A common sign is a stiff, centered stance with straight legs, weight right over the ball. From there, slide your hips toward the target. Keep your upper body where it is. Now your weight favors your lead foot. You can hit the ball, then a small divot.
Step by step
- Set up with a lofted wedge.
- Notice if you're stiff and centered.
- Slide your hips toward the target.
- Hit the ball, then the turf.
- Practice this distance often.
Why it works
A 40-yard pitch is a partial swing, so many golfers stay centered and never move onto the lead foot. With weight in the middle, the club bottoms out early or catches the equator of the ball, which gives a thin strike. Sliding your hips toward the target while the upper body stays put moves the low point of the swing forward, so the club meets the ball first and the turf second.
Common mistakes
- You stand stiff with straight legs and your weight right over the ball.Soften your knees at setup and feel a little more pressure on your lead foot before you start the swing.
- You slide your whole body, including your head and chest, toward the target.Keep your upper body where it is and move only your hips, so your chest stays over or slightly behind the ball.
- You try to scoop the ball into the air with your hands.Trust the loft of the wedge, keep your weight forward through impact, and let the club brush the turf after the ball.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball is struck first, and you see a small divot starting just after where the ball sat.
- The ball flies on a steady, medium-low arc and lands with similar distance each time, with no low line drives or thin skids.
- At the finish, most of your weight is on your lead foot and your chest is not leaning back.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Take a shorter backswing and hit a few pitches of 20 to 25 yards, focusing only on the hip slide and the feel of weight on your lead foot.
Harder: Pick a specific landing spot at 40 yards and try to land five balls in a row within a few paces of it, or repeat the drill from a slightly tighter lie.
Common questions
Why do I hit thin pitch shots from 40 yards?
Most often your weight stays centered or drifts back, so the club bottoms out before the ball. Moving your hips toward the target while the upper body stays still shifts the low point forward and fixes the thin strike.
Should my weight be on my front foot for a pitch shot?
Yes, your weight should favor the lead foot at address and stay there through impact. That helps you hit the ball first and then take a small divot.
