Short Game · Tip
A Simple 50-Yard Pitch
Part of our short game programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed, distance control. Build a program with it
On a 50-yard pitch, many golfers hang back and try to lift the ball. That leads to fat shots or blades that race over the green. Stay level instead. Narrow your stance. Play the ball in the middle. Use a sand wedge. Make an easy, controlled backswing. Then accelerate through. Brush the grass. A tiny divot is fine. The loft gets the ball up. Your job is a smooth swing.
Step by step
- Narrow stance, ball centered.
- Use a sand wedge.
- Short, controlled backswing.
- Accelerate and brush the turf.
- Let the loft lift it.
Why it works
A narrow stance with the ball in the middle lets the club reach the ground at the bottom of its arc. Staying level keeps your weight from drifting back, so the low point stays steady. The sand wedge already has enough loft to launch the ball, so you do not need to scoop. Accelerating through keeps the club moving and gives a clean strike with a brush of turf.
Common mistakes
- You lean back and try to lift the ball into the air.Keep your weight level through the shot and trust the loft to get the ball up.
- You make a long backswing and then slow down into the ball.Shorten the backswing so you can keep speeding up all the way through impact.
- You dig the club into the ground and take a deep divot.Brush the grass and aim for only a tiny divot, with the ball centered in your stance.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts on your target line and flies up at a steady height, then lands and rolls out softly.
- You hear and feel a clean brush of the turf, with a tiny divot just past where the ball was.
- Your strikes land at about the same distance several times in a row, with no thin shots running past the green.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Take a shorter backswing with the same easy rhythm and aim at a large target, such as a wide patch of green or a towel.
Harder: Pick a small landing spot and try to land the ball on it, or hit to different spots without changing your setup.
Common questions
What club should I use for a 50-yard pitch?
A sand wedge is a good choice because its loft gets the ball up without any help from you. Use the same club each time so you learn how far it goes.
Why do I hit thin shots on pitches?
Thin shots usually happen when you hang back and try to lift the ball, so the club catches it too high. Stay level, keep the ball centered and accelerate through to brush the turf.
