Beginners Guide To Pitching

If you're new to the game, one of the hardest things to do is develop a feel for the finesse shots - things like pitching and chipping. In the video and article below, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Dan Grieve shares his expert advice to help beginners strike the ball better and save shots approaching the green.

Pitching can prove awkward, especially for those just starting out. Hitting your number consistently from 30-70 yards is not easy, but there are a few keys to better pitching that will help everyone.

The set-up

As with most things in golf, the set-up is vital. A lot of people talk about taking the club back to certain points on the clockface but I've yet to meet anyone who can do that consistently. Instead, it's better to use your set-up to alter the distance you want to hit the ball. This is what I call my address system.

Address 1 - 30 yards

Using my 56-degree wedge, you want your stance to be about the width of a clubhead for this 30-yard shot, with the ball position just slightly back of centre. Once you've done that, grip down the club so your hands are about an inch from the bottom of the grip and put around 60% of the weight on your front side. Keep that pressure there throughout the swing.

You'll notice this will limit how far back the club can go when you start your swing, as shown above. This means you can make what feels like a full swing and hit it 30 yards, which will increase your consistency and ensure you're always accelerating through the shot.

Address 2 - 50 yards

To hit roughly a 50-yard pitch with the same club, set up so your stance is the width of two clubheads. Put your hands in the middle of the grip this time and move a little bit further away from the ball to account for these changes.

Still keep your pressure left throughout the shot and swing back and you should notice the club travels further this time, which will increase the distance you hit this pitch shot.

Address 3 - 70 yards

The stance with this shot should be the width of three clubheads and you should be near the top of the grip. Again, move a little further away from the ball but keep your weight left throughout the shot.

When you take a backswing, you should now be a little further back. Swinging through should help you hone a reliable 70-yard shot.

Rather than leaving it all to chance, this address system will help you get started on the right foot when it comes to pitching, which will increase your enjoyment of the game.