| The pitch shot is that little shot golfers use to make | | | | what ruins most poor golf shots.The following was |
| birdies possible and salvage pars. This shot gets a lot | | | | stated in the chapter on relaxation, but it is important |
| of use during a round of golf. The golfer who can hit | | | | enough to restate it here as it applies to the wedge |
| these little wedge shots well will always keep his | | | | as well. One of the very important by-products of |
| score low.The pitch shot is less than a full swing, and | | | | the shoulder and arm relaxation is that the hands will |
| is taken with the pitching wedge (or in some cases | | | | -- and they must -- be ahead of the club head at |
| the sand wedge) and requires accurate judgment of | | | | impact and well into the finish. The club head never |
| distance. This is in contrast to full shots which require | | | | passes the hands in any good golf shot.The club head |
| you to select the right club and then make a full | | | | will solidly strike the ball when the hands are ahead of |
| swing. With a pitch shot, the club is a given and the | | | | the club head at impact. This is something that can |
| distance is a variable. Once you've got the | | | | only be produced by relaxation. So relax and let's |
| fundamentals, I'll tell you how to hit it the appropriate | | | | start hitting some very quality short wedge shots. |
| distance.You'll be happy to know that the principles | | | | Move your body and your arms follow. This sounds |
| you learned for the full swing also apply to the short | | | | pretty simple --- and it is!As you incorporate proper |
| wedge shot. This is quite a revelation for most | | | | weight transfer in your swing, you will notice that |
| golfers, as they are under the impression that short | | | | your club will start hitting the ground after it strikes |
| shots require a very still body, as opposed to one | | | | the ball. That is normal and good. We call that |
| that moves freely. All these myths will be debunked | | | | dislodged ground a divot. This should happen with full |
| by the great results you'll be getting with your shots. | | | | swings with irons as well as with short wedge shots, |
| The principles are the same for all clubs! You ask, | | | | but not with the driver off the tee. This is a function |
| "Even the putter?" The answer is "Yes!"There will be | | | | of the body transferring the weight to the left foot, |
| some slight modifications in the address position. Your | | | | dragging the club and arms and causing the low point |
| feet need to be closer together than with the full | | | | of the swing to be past the point where the club |
| swing and the line through your toes needs to be | | | | strikes the ball.The right leg and knee must function |
| more left of the target; about a 45-degree angle to | | | | the same way in the small swing as in the full swing. |
| the left of the target line. There should be slightly | | | | The leg should stay flexed and the knee should point |
| more weight on the left foot than on the right foot | | | | at the ball during the backswing. The right leg is |
| at address. Depending on the length of the shot, | | | | responsible for changing the body's direction back |
| your hands will go down the grip; the shorter the | | | | through the ball.Because the principles of the Concept |
| shot the shorter the club. The ball is played slightly | | | | Golf swing are truly principles, they apply equally to all |
| closer to your left foot, the same as all the other | | | | variations of the golf swing. The short shot is simply |
| shots. Otherwise the address position is the same as | | | | a variation of the full swing with exactly the same |
| with a full swing. The alignment of the feet is more | | | | fundamentals.A good drill that will establish the |
| to the left of the target but the bottom line of the | | | | pitch-shot motion in your thinking is to toss a golf ball |
| club is still perpendicular to the target line.Proper | | | | underhand to a small target 15 yards away. This is |
| weight transfer is every bit as necessary in the short | | | | basically the same motion used in the short pitch |
| shots just as with the full shots. If you utilize proper | | | | shot. Tossing a few balls, along with your |
| weight transfer and let your body do the work, you | | | | understanding of the five principles, will educate your |
| can finesse a delicate shot. However, if your arms do | | | | system and have you hitting good pitch shots |
| the work in your short swing, you will have difficulty | | | | quickly.John Toepel is a Veteran PGA Tour Player, |
| hitting the ball the appropriate distance. Make a big | | | | instructor, author, and professional speaker. He is also |
| body motion for little shots and you will be pleasantly | | | | the discoverer of Concept Golf, the quickest way to |
| surprised at your control of the distance. Both knees | | | | immediate, life-long lasting improvements to anyone's |
| will move as your weight is transferred, just like the | | | | golf game. To learn more about Concept Golf, |
| full swing. Relaxed shoulders are required for all shots | | | | including the most comprehensive golf instruction |
| in golf, and the little wedge shot is no | | | | system ever, "The Concept Golf Perfect Shot |
| exception.Relaxation will let the arms and club find the | | | | Making System", please visit and Discover the Par |
| perfect plane and the appropriate size of backswing | | | | Golfer in You! |
| for every shot. Tension in the arms and shoulders is | | | | |