Short Game · Lesson
Pick a Pitching Style That Suits You
Part of our short game programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed. Build a program with it
There's more than one way to pitch. Find the one that fits you. The simplest starts with everything centered: ball, handle and weight. The face is square, and the sole glides on the grass. If you struggle, keep your arms firm and a bit wider from your body. From a tight lie, move the ball back but open the face to get loft back. For crisper contact, lean toward your lead foot with the face slightly open. On longer pitches, a gap wedge and a smaller swing can beat a big, risky one.
Step by step
- Start with a centered, square setup.
- Try firm, wide arms if you struggle.
- On tight lies, ball back and face open.
- Lean forward for crisper strikes.
- Use a gap wedge on longer pitches.
Why it works
A centered setup puts the low point of the swing near the ball and lets the sole's bounce slide along the turf instead of digging or skipping. Firm, wider arms reduce wrist flip and keep the club's path and loft steady through impact. Moving the ball back or leaning forward moves the low point earlier, and opening the face adds back the loft that those positions remove.
Common mistakes
- You move the ball back but leave the face square, so the shot comes out low and runs too far.Open the face before you take your grip so the loft returns and the ball still launches and lands softly.
- You lean back to help the ball up, which moves the low point behind the ball and causes thin or fat strikes.Keep your weight centered or slightly toward your lead foot and let the loft of the club lift the ball.
- You swing a short, soft pitch with a big effort from a lofted wedge and decelerate into the ball.Take a gap wedge with a smaller, even swing so you can keep the speed steady through impact.
How you'll know it's working
- The club brushes the grass just after the ball, leaving a shallow scuff or a very small divot.
- The ball starts on your target line and flies at a steady, medium height with no thin, low skids.
- The sole glides without digging, and the strike feels the same on repeated shots.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a centered setup with firm, wide arms and a short swing from a good lie on flat grass.
Harder: Repeat the shots from tight lies or slight slopes and change the style, so you must adjust ball position and face angle to hit a set landing spot.
Common questions
Why do I keep hitting my pitch shots thin?
Thin pitches usually come from the low point of your swing being behind the ball, often because you lean back or flip your wrists. Center your weight, keep your arms firm and let the sole glide on the grass.
Should I open the clubface for a pitch shot?
Open the face slightly when you move the ball back or lean forward, because both positions reduce loft. From a normal lie with a centered setup, a square face works well.
