| ad_section_start --> | | | | Now, let's talk about the backswing when you're |
| I have a little tip for you here today and I'm | | | | pitching. This could be one of the most |
| convinced that it's going to help you a lot. It's about | | | | misunderstood parts of the weekend golfer's short |
| pitching and chipping on uneven lies. | | | | game or pitching problems. |
| Not every lie around the green is flat where the ball | | | | I own three pitching wedges. I own three wedges. I |
| is sitting even with your feet and you could bend | | | | own a pitching wedge, a sand wedge and one that's |
| over and give it a nice little whack. | | | | sort of in the middle. They go three very different |
| Sometimes you have downhill pitch shots, uphill chip | | | | distances. |
| shots, ball below your feet chip shots, and ball above | | | | But let me explain something to you about the |
| your feet pitch shots. | | | | backswing that will help you a lot. Most amateurs |
| All right, now let me go over this with you real quick | | | | that miss/hit their pitch shots make a big windup |
| so you understand it. | | | | every time, and then they slow down to match up |
| When you're making a full golf swing, it's very | | | | how far they want it to go. |
| important that you pay close attention to all of your | | | | So, if they have a pitch shot, they wind it up and |
| uneven lies. | | | | slow down and hope they match up how far they |
| Remember, if you're going uphill on a full swing, make | | | | needed to go. Two holes later, if they have to pitch |
| sure your shoulders are level to the slope you're on. | | | | it a little bit further, they make a bigger windup and |
| If you're going downhill on a full swing, make sure | | | | they try to slow down. |
| your shoulders are level to the slope you're on. | | | | The only way to hit a pitch shot is to make sure |
| So, here it is. If you're going uphill, you want to stand | | | | that the backswing is broken down into three parts. |
| to the slope. If you're going downhill, you want to | | | | And this is what I mean. This is a small pitch shot. I |
| stand to the slope. | | | | take the golf club back where the shaft is parallel to |
| If the ball's below your feet on a full swing, you want | | | | the ground, but I have a nice followthrough that |
| to make sure that you bend way over and bend | | | | continues on after I make impact. |
| your knees. And if the ball is above your feet, make | | | | If I want the ball to go a little bit further, then my |
| sure that you stand up tall and sit back on your | | | | next length swing is where the shaft is pointing into |
| bottom. | | | | the ground, and this goes a little bit further, but it's |
| But it's different when you're chipping and pitching. | | | | the same followthrough. |
| Make sure that when you have uneven lies that you | | | | And lastly, if I have a pitch shot and I want it to go |
| don't change your chipping and pitching stance and | | | | all the way to the back of the green, I make a full |
| setup. Remember, for pitching and chipping, stance | | | | swing with the arms, not with the body, with the |
| and setup, ball in the middle, weight left, handle left, | | | | same followthrough. |
| and you're standing in this fashion, where 60% of | | | | Now, let me start with the next part. The direction |
| your weight, 70% of your weight's on your left side, | | | | that you swing the golf club is very important. |
| and you swing your arms up and down. | | | | So, after you get your setup, the arms swing the |
| When you have an uneven lie, don't change that. The | | | | golf club just slightly up and down on an arc. The arc |
| reason why? The swing isn't that long and you don't | | | | has a little curve inside, not inside to your right foot |
| shift your weight back over to your right side. | | | | and not away from your body in the backswing. The |
| So, when you're on your uneven lies around the | | | | weight stays left and the arms swing up and down. |
| greens, don't change your setup away from the | | | | Thanks, and have a great day. |
| traditional pitching and chipping setup. | | | | |