Big field goal combine proper technique, consistent contact and confidence. Many golfers struggle with pitching because they are either afraid to hit the ground or try to help the ball in the air. In reality, strong shots on the fairway come from allowing the bounce and loft of the club to do the work naturally. By improving your setup, controlling distance accurately, and practicing with purpose, you can develop a more reliable short game and create soft, controlled shots that help lower scores.
1. Have a perfect organization
Proper setup helps ensure the club bounce slides into the ground correctly. The great news is that when the club moves properly through impact, there is no reason to fear hitting the ground. When the club is constantly digging in, golfers are often reluctant to hit the green, which makes it difficult to hit high and soft fairways that stop quickly.
Set up with the club centered on your body so the clubhead lands between your heels. Keep the end of the grip toward the center of your body to avoid over-tilting the shaft and lifting the club face.
2. Let the club do the work
Allowing the bottom of the club to interact with the ground naturally allows the loft of the club to do the work. This helps the ball make clean contact with the raised part of the face. Avoid the urge to try to lift or grab the ball in the air.
One of my favorite drills for this is the “scratch drill.” From your setup position, don’t backslide and just scrape the club along the ground all the way down. This reinforces the feeling that the club should contact the ground and continue to drive through it, helping you avoid slipping or mis-lifting.
3. Knows how to control the distance
Avoid trying to force speed or distance when you need a longer shot. Instead, simply adjust the length of the backswing and allow the club speed to vary naturally.
A shorter back stroke creates less speed and therefore less transport distance. As the backswing becomes longer, speed and potential distance automatically increase. The more consistent your organization and preparation become, the more reliable your results will be over time.
4. Calibrate your landing spot
I’m a big believer in calibrating your short game, especially field shots, because landing distance is often critical. In many cases, field shots are required to carry hazards or obstacles, making accurate distance control extremely important.
You can improve this skill by calibrating and plotting your carry distances in 10 meter increments. Record the club and swing length for each distance. If you want to learn how to calibrate your entire short game, I’ve created a course designed to help you build consistency and lower your scores.
5. Build trust with perfect lies
To build confidence, it may be helpful to start practicing putting shots from slightly longer grass. Longer grass makes it easier to get the ball in the air and provides a little more room for error.
