Short Game · Lesson
Set Up Right for Better Pitches
Part of our short game programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed. Build a program with it
A good pitch starts at address. Use a lofted wedge with some bounce, so it glides on the grass. Pitches use a longer swing, so take your full-swing posture. Bend from the hips and let your arms hang. Rest the club on its sole, so the front edge sits just off the ground. Learn what square looks like. A wedge's loft makes it look open, and many golfers close it by mistake. If your practice swings dig, the club isn't set right. Start with the ball a bit forward of center.
Step by step
- Pick a lofted wedge with bounce.
- Take your full-swing posture.
- Rest the club on its sole.
- Check that the face is truly square.
- Ball slightly forward, then adjust for the lie.
Why it works
Pitches use a longer swing, so the low point of the swing needs to sit in the right place at impact. A full-swing posture with hips bent and arms hanging lets the club swing on a steady path. Resting the club on its sole uses the bounce, so the club glides through the grass instead of digging or catching the ball thin. A square face with the ball slightly forward gives a clean strike and a start line you can predict.
Common mistakes
- You hold the club on its toe or heel, so the leading edge sits low and digs.Rest the club flat on its sole so the front edge sits just off the ground.
- You close the face at address because the loft makes a square face look open.Check the face from behind the ball and let the leading edge point at your target, even if it looks open.
- You stand too upright or reach for the ball with your arms.Bend from the hips and let your arms hang naturally under your shoulders.
How you'll know it's working
- Your practice swings brush the grass without digging deep divots.
- The ball starts on your target line and comes out at a steady, medium-high flight.
- You hear and feel a clean strike, with no thin skulls across the green.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a flat, short-grass lie and a single wedge, and hit a few pitches at half pace so you can focus only on the setup.
Harder: Hit pitches from slightly uneven or tighter lies and adjust ball position and posture while keeping the club resting on its sole.
Common questions
Why do I hit thin pitch shots?
Thin pitches often come from a setup where the club is not resting on its sole, a closed face, or poor posture that makes you stand up through impact. Rebuild your address first, then check that your practice swings brush the grass.
Where should the ball be for a pitch shot?
Start with the ball a bit forward of center. Then adjust slightly for the lie, moving it back a little if the ball sits down and the strike feels thin or heavy.
