10 things you need to know to express accurately, according to the top teacher

If you want to become a great pitcher, all you need are a few keys. Below I’ve included everything you need to know to execute these shots like a pro and get them close enough for a tap shot.

Follow along to find out what they are.

1. Use a higher club

Choosing the right club for your golf swing may seem complicated, but it’s easier than you think. Remember that you need to get the ball in the air, so you’ll want to use one of your higher clubs like your lob wedge, sand wedge, or gap wedge. These clubs are also designed with a rounded bottom, or a jump, which helps them slide across the ground and reduces your chances of catching the leading edge.

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2. Get your stance in full swing

Most field shots require a longer swing, which means you need to get up with the ball like any other full-swing shot. This means getting into a balanced, athletic position. Bend from the hips and let your arms hang naturally, with your hands under your shoulders. Having the right attitude and posture will help you make solid and lasting contact and give you full control over your distances.

3. Position your club properly

Not knowing how to position the club in the setup is a common mistake I see from amateurs. Most golfers I see think the leading edge should be flush with the ground, but if you’re doing it right, your club will actually rest on the bounce, raising the leading edge slightly off the ground.

Another issue I see players face is knowing when their clubface is square. Increasing the loft of a wedge actually gives it the appearance of being open, but many players don’t know this, so they usually close the face thinking they are squaring. Unfortunately, this actually increases their chances of seizing the advantage. Instead, try to find a mark or indicator on your shaft or handle that is centered to know when your face is square, open or closed.

A great way to check if your clubface is positioned correctly is to take a few practice swings. If the club hits the ground and digs in, there’s a good chance it’s not positioned correctly in the setup. When resetting, check that it is backed up to jump and square in the configuration.

4. Ball position slightly forward

Ball position is crucial to every golf shotespecially pitching. As a general rule, your ball position on a fairway shot should be slightly off center to catch shots cleanly.

However, depending on the lie, sometimes your ball position can change. For example, a nice lie may require a slightly forward ball position to increase loft and bounce. If you’re ever unsure, a good way to check where your ball position should be is to take a few practice swings and see where your club naturally hits the ground.

One thing to keep in mind when deciding on a range shot is that you never want your ball position to go off center. Playing the ball too far back creates too much forward spin, which reduces loft and bounce. It also causes the leading edge to catch and dig in, resulting in a dreaded piece.

5. Use backstroke to control the distance

The most effective way to control your distance on fairways is to adjust the length of your backswing. This is because it helps you naturally adjust the speed at which the club swings. And a great trick for distance control is the clock methodwhere you think of your swing as a clock and time your yards at different ‘times’.

6. Match your setup to your swing

It can be helpful to adjust your setup size to your desired swing size. For some players, it is difficult to make a small swing from a full-swing setup. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, try choking on your hand or narrowing your stance. Both of these adjustments can help you control how much power you put into the shot.

7. Think ‘cleaning the grass’

If you’re having trouble making solid contact on the fairway, try taking a few practice swings first and consider hitting the grass with the bottom of your club. If you’re doing it right, you’ll hear a satisfying ‘thud’ when you hit the ground. Not only will this help you use your bounce and get the ball in the air, but it will also help you avoid those pesky chunks and fades without overthinking the shot.

8. Use the scratch drill

One of my favorite pitching drills is the pitching drill because it helps players lift and correct contact issues. To test it, get into your setup and without taking a backswing, drag your club across the fairway. You should feel your club hitting, or scraping, the ground on the way to your finish.

As you do this a few times, you’ll notice how low you need to be to the ground in order for your club to sweep the ground and make solid center contact with the ball. Remember, the club can only do the work for you and get the ball in the air if you hit it in the sweet spot.

9. Don’t forget to rotate

Even though steps are shorter, feel-based shots, they still require a slight twist or spin when you hit them. A great way to check if you’re getting it right is to see if your trail heel lifts up when you’re on your follow through. If you’re doing it right, your heel will lift in response to the rotation of your body.

10. Calibrate your distances

If you want to hit your wedges with great accuracy, you need to calibrate your distances. A great way to do this is to figure out what club length and swing you need to carry the ball at different distances. I tell my students to work in increments of 10 and write down their combination of backswing length and club choice to get the ball to carry and land 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards, 40 yards and so on.

Write it down somewhere you can refer to it when you’re playing. And the next time you’re on the course, you won’t be guessing, you’ll know exactly what club to use and how long to hit.

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