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What Tiger taught us about hitting pitch shots

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Watching Tiger struggle around the greens at the Hero World Challenge was both astonishing and enlightening. It was astonishing because it was Tiger Woods, and enlightening because it was more proof that feel and technique are equally important in golf.

Touring professionals make the game look ridiculously simple at times. They make it look so easy that we often take their technique for granted. We assume that their form is so grooved that all they concern themselves with is feel. But when we see a player of Tiger’s caliber completely flub no less than seven greenside pitches in four rounds — a few of them flying 5 feet or less — it reminds us that technique is a big part of short shots, and that even the world’s best struggle when they lose form. Granted, Tiger was not the only player to struggle with the grainy lies on the greenside slopes around Isleworth Country Club during the event, but he did seem to have a serious case of the chipping yips, a rare occurrence for a player of his caliber.

Greenside pitches and chips are played from a variety of lies and slopes from a wide assortment of different grasses. That’s why the very first thing a player needs to do before they hit a pitch or chip is assess the lie of the golf ball. Golf club selection, setup and stroke are all based on the lie. My students often ask “what shot should I play from 35 yards,” or some other distance. The answer is based completely on what the course will allow — the lie, needed carry, room for the ball to roll out, etc.

Pitching over a hazard or to an elevated green from a tight lie is a completely different shot than one from deep grass. To complicate matters, a shot from the rough into the grain is a drastically different than a shot that is downgrain.

Let’s take a look at some things that might help make us more comfortable around the greens in sticky situations.

A pitch, which is a short, lofted shot played near the green, is all about attack angle and loft. When you’re in the rough and the golf ball is sitting DOWN, the attack angle needs to be sufficiently steep. To play the shot, you want to flex at the knees a bit more than usual, play the ball slightly forward-of-center in your stance and emphasize the weight on the lead foot with a slightly open face. I would be careful of placing the hands too much in front of the ball from deep rough, as it tends to take too much loft off the shot. Hands in front is a steepening technique, but in the rough the ball may not pop out sufficiently, so be careful.

The swing for a pitch should be wristy, elevating the club abruptly and being fairly aggressive through the hitting area. Deceleration is a killer on this shot, because it is played very similar to the blast shot from a greenside bunker. Once you’ve decided to go with this shot, HIT IT! Expect the ball to roll out a bit when it lands.

Conversely, if the ball is sitting UP in the rough consider not grounding the club at address. This will help guard from going under the ball and hitting it high on the face — it will also help avoid incurring a penalty stroke for moving the ball. Depending upon how high the ball is sitting and how far you have to carry the shot, a firm-wristed chipping motion is not a bad method here, but the ball needs to be hit with a very LEVEL attack angle for a clean, center-struck shot. Shots off the top of the face have reverse vertical gear effect, which makes them fly shorter. You can generate a little spin on this shot if it’s hit perfectly.

Pitching from tight lies is a bit different than shots from the rough, but again, attack angle is critical. Depending on the bounce of your wedge, which is the angle of the sole from the leading edge to the trail edge, you might need to employ a different entry into impact. If you have a wedge with a good amount of bounce, say 12 degrees or more, you will need a steep attack angle. A shallow, wide-bottom swing can cause the leading edge of the club to hit the belly of the ball instead of the bottom and the dreaded skull shot is predictable.

To ensure a steep angle of attack, narrow the stance, keep your weight on your lead leg with the ball slightly back in the stance and set your hands ahead of the ball. The setup here is similar to chipping, but you’re using a club with a lot of loft. Where the shot differs from a standard chip is the swing — it’s more UP, so set the wrists a little in the backswing. I also recommend a little turn though the ball with the body into impact. I see too many pitch shots hit fat from tight lies because players try to remain stationary with the body.

With a low-bounce wedge, say 10 degrees or less, it’s best to keep the attack angle more shallow. The leading edge can dig into the turf behind the ball if the attack angle gets too steep. I’d recommend a little wider stance (never too wide with a pitch), your weight fairly evenly distributed and the hands above, not in front, of the golf ball. The swing secret with a low bounce wedge is to use little-to-NO wrists. Push the arms away on the backswing to ensure a wider swing bottom and a more shallow attack angle. Use little-to-no wrists on your takeaway to avoid having the leading edge stubbing the ground behind the golf ball.

This may sound overwhelming, but all I’m really suggesting here is a setup and swing technique to complement the shot at hand. Avoiding skulls or chili-dips can be simply a matter mental preparation. And remember to never fight the slope! The same spine angle you’d set for uphill and downhill shots from the fairway apply around the greens (shoulders parallel to slope, spine perpendicular).

Finally, if you play in Bermuda grass, be careful of the grain. An into-the-grain pitch is a really tough shot. Any slight miscue is magnified greatly. Again, do NOT set the hands too far ahead for fear that the leading edge will dig into the grain, which will cause you to hit the shot fat.  The ball can be back, but leaning too forward or de-lofting too much also runs the risk of hitting it fat. Set up over the ball with the hands above it, not in front, and weight fairly evenly distributed. I’d recommend more of an arm swing than a wristy one.

Remember my tips the next time you set up to a pitch shot that makes you uncomfortable, and remember to always read the slope and lie before you choose on your shot.

If you’d like me to analyze your swing, go to my Facebook page and send me a message, or contact me ([email protected]) about my online swing analysis program.

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Dennis Clark is a PGA Master Professional. Clark has taught the game of golf for more than 30 years to golfers all across the country, and is recognized as one of the leading teachers in the country by all the major golf publications. He is also is a seven-time PGA award winner who has earned the following distinctions: -- Teacher of the Year, Philadelphia Section PGA -- Teacher of the Year, Golfers Journal -- Top Teacher in Pennsylvania, Golf Magazine -- Top Teacher in Mid Atlantic Region, Golf Digest -- Earned PGA Advanced Specialty certification in Teaching/Coaching Golf -- Achieved Master Professional Status (held by less than 2 percent of PGA members) -- PGA Merchandiser of the Year, Tri State Section PGA -- Golf Professional of the Year, Tri State Section PGA -- Presidents Plaque Award for Promotion and Growth of the Game of Golf -- Junior Golf Leader, Tri State section PGA -- Served on Tri State PGA Board of Directors. Clark is also former Director of Golf and Instruction at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Dennis now teaches at Bobby Clampett's Impact Zone Golf Indoor Performance Center in Naples, FL. .

47 Comments

47 Comments

  1. Josh

    Dec 21, 2014 at 6:17 pm

  2. sixty7

    Dec 12, 2014 at 10:52 am

    I laughed when I saw this title. You’re reading way too much into fatting a couple chips. What did Tiger teach us about hitting pitch shots? He taught us the hitting pitch shots off grainy thin lies are hard when you’re rusty.

  3. Alan

    Dec 11, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    I practice short shots with the Floppy ball in my living room. Its really, really great for getting over the yips and learning to strike down on the ball.

    Try them if you can find them. They are really good.

    • Pure

      Dec 12, 2014 at 2:19 pm

      My sons learned how to hit that shot using plastic balls in the basement and hitting them off carpet onto the pool table. You either have to clip it really well or open the face a bit and let the bounce take care of the shot.

  4. Billabong

    Dec 11, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Jeff, please!! We will not worry about you threatening to win a spelling bee. Looser? Really? Loser.

  5. Harvey Lonn

    Dec 11, 2014 at 6:33 am

    I wish that I could have read this article when I first started playing out of Bermuda rough! It would have saved me many years of frustration and lost opportunities.
    Better late than never.
    Thank you Mr. Clark!

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 11, 2014 at 5:56 pm

      you’re welcome harvey, hope it helps

  6. Happyday_J

    Dec 11, 2014 at 12:23 am

    Love your articls Dennis, very well written as well as insightful. I just finished college golf and will be hitting the mini tour circuit next season. CANT WAIT!!!

    I found, for myself the most difficult shot was into the grain and trying to hit it on a lower trajectory. Mid to high wasn’t a problem b.c I was able to open the face to expose more of the bounce to have more room for error, along with the ball more forward to further aid in solid contact.

    I finally had a UREKA moment. Maybe this might help others. What I started to do to bring the trajectory down was use less loft. Pitching wedge, 9 iron, but still open the club a fraction with the ball center to forward in my stance. The less loft helps bring down the flight and with the ball position and slightly open keeps the leading edge exposed.

    Hopes that helps….

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 11, 2014 at 5:14 am

      Very true. Less loft when possible from Bermuda rough is never a bad idea. Risky over hazards at times.

      • Happyday_J

        Dec 12, 2014 at 12:45 am

        Yes absolutely, risky over hazards. Thats why I resort to that when I am attempting to hit a lower trajectory shot. Over a hazard, you almost always need some sort of elevation.

        I just found using less loft, while still opening the face to expose the bounce is easier to hit it more solid when hitting a lower trajectory shot, rather than taking a wedge and delofting it, which exposes more of the leading edge.

  7. Pure

    Dec 10, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Tiger does not have enough bounce on his wedges.

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 11, 2014 at 5:19 am

      I believe it’s the same bounce that won 100+ events around the world, no?

  8. RG

    Dec 10, 2014 at 6:58 pm

    If it happens once, it’s a fluke. Twice and its an issue, seven times and there’s a bona fide problem. Tiger is dealing with mental issues and its not pretty. Four coaches? back to my old swing? So you admit it was a mistake to change in the first place, and you’ve wasted the last 12 yrs. doing the wrong thing. So you can make mistakes, you are fallable. I nwas at Isleworh this weekend and I believe Tiger has lost his nerve. Old Tiger was infalable and fearless. This Tiger knows what can go wrong and plays with that fear. SEVEN (7)! greensiode chunks!he’s scared.

    • Kyle

      Dec 10, 2014 at 7:28 pm

      He is not scared. He could fix it in a week’s work, maybe less. It’s not yips. It’s bad form.

      • RG

        Dec 11, 2014 at 7:27 pm

        You mean he doesn’t know how to hit a chip and needs to take a lesson?
        You’re saying that the 37 years he’s been playing is not enough, he just needs 1 more week to learn how to properly hit a chip of of Bermuda?
        Isleworth used to be Tiger’s home course, he’s literally, and I mean literally, played thousands of rounds there. He shot 59 on that course in a practice round. He hit 7 chunks in competition because he accelerated and was totally calm. Or not.

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 11, 2014 at 5:17 am

      Interesting. He was fearless once; not so now. But he’s still Tiger…don’t count him out quite yet. It was strange though! Thx

      • RG

        Dec 11, 2014 at 6:59 pm

        When Tiger hit bad shots he knew they were a fluke. He knew his talent and that he could pull off anything. Think about it, it wasn’t the shots he would hit, it was that he was brave enough to even try it. Now he has spent 12 years of what he now admits was a futile effort to change his swing. Now he knows failure, now he’s tasted fear, now if he hits a bad shot it’s not a fluke, it’s and issue.
        I was there and he decelerated on all those chips. He was scared, he hesitated and he chunked them. I’ve played Isleworth and those shots and that turf isn’t as difficult as it has been made out to be. Seven times he did this in competition Dennis, Seven times. He’s eyes and his body language told me everything, he’s bound up inside. His make-up is centered around being the best, and he’s not. He’s experiencing emotions he’s never felt before and he has no frame of reference to cope.
        The game is better when he’s in it.No one moves the meter like he does, but if he keeps fighting himself all the swing coaching in the world isn’t going to help.

        • Dennis Clark

          Dec 11, 2014 at 9:56 pm

          Again, this was not meant to be a Tiger debate, simply using him as an example. But since that’s what it us…I agree. His inner self belief was the very pillar of his monumental athletic accomplishments. He never allowed doubt to enter his consciousness before, during, or after a round. But it seems to more present at this point in his career. And doubt in golf is every players worst nightmare. I also believe it’s why great champions in our game have such a shirt time at the top. They sit on a powder keg day in and day out, and the smallest explosion can shake them to the point of no return. I DO NOT think TW is there but he’s certainly closer to there than ever he has been. Thx RG

  9. Dennis Clark

    Dec 10, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    Let’s remember I only used Tiger as an example of someone who had a tough weekend. This is not by any means an anti-Tiger piece. He’s the best. Period. And I do think he’ll have a great 2015 including a major.

  10. Putt

    Dec 10, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    There’s a reason why all great players say that you should putt whenever you can around the greens.

    Of course, coming out of the thicker stuff you would chip – but it’s also slightly easier to chip from the rough. When it’s tight, it’s easy to blade it or chunk it, so why not just putt it and get it rolling, eh Eldrick??? Would have save half of the shots then.

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 10, 2014 at 5:00 pm

      Putt whenever you can, chip if you can’t putt and pitch only when you must. Thx

  11. Al385

    Dec 10, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    Very useful article. I appreciate it came at the right time after chipping like Tiger Woods on the last weekend.

  12. DG Jei

    Dec 10, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    Thank Mr. Clark for this timely, thoughtful article.

  13. Ian

    Dec 10, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    TW shows no sign of the yips. Unless you have a different definition of yips than I’ve ever heard. I do appreciate the article I think it’s excellent. I think it’ll be a short term correction for TW to shore up the short game. As you know he’s considered the best “small ball” player ever. From the looks of the now Haney like swing…I expect him to win many more times.

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 10, 2014 at 4:58 pm

      He’s the best. Period. That was a temporary bump in the road. That’s it.

  14. tom stickney

    Dec 10, 2014 at 1:43 pm

    Wonder if the “chunks” will get in his mind as it would if he shanked nine shots over two days? Be interesting to watch…

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 10, 2014 at 1:50 pm

      It will. He has the strongest mind of any player I’ve ever seen but that many HAS to bother him a bit.

      • M.

        Dec 11, 2014 at 1:29 am

        …all it takes is one good one under pressure to get that confidence flowing again;)

  15. BamBam

    Dec 10, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    The game is much more simple if you just KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL until after you hit it, which Tiger was not doing. Most bad shots are simply that.

    • Steve

      Dec 10, 2014 at 4:18 pm

      Rubbish… You can hit it with your eyes closed if your set up and technique are good… Eyes on the ball stops the body motion at impact for most Amateurs…

  16. Greg

    Dec 10, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Most golfers coming back after an injury tend to “ease ”
    their way back with chipping and putting while paying attention to what their body is telling them. I would have thought Tiger would have put in many “reps” this very same way and would have been sharp. Time will certainly dictate the future. As for Spieth, the freight train has left the station. Wonder if the kid was in HIS head.

  17. lef

    Dec 10, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    commit to the shot! tiger looks like he bailed on the flubs. i won’t get down on myself for an overly aggressive chip. at least it means I went for it, fully committed, and I accelerated thru the ball

  18. tom

    Dec 10, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    Good article as usual, Dennis. Thanks!

  19. Pat

    Dec 10, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    Tiger is obviously rusty and his putting still sucks. He’s not winning another major until his putting improves dramatically. Don’t care what you slurpers think.

  20. Daniel Bailey

    Dec 10, 2014 at 11:46 am

    *I think you meant loser?…. What a looser doesn’t make much sense

  21. Bill

    Dec 10, 2014 at 11:37 am

    What an insightful and well thought out point Jeff! If Tiger is a “loser”, what would that make someone with a small fraction of his skill and accomplishments such as yourself?

  22. Double Mocha Man

    Dec 10, 2014 at 11:30 am

    I will email this to Tiger, directly. That was painful to watch.

  23. JEFF

    Dec 10, 2014 at 11:21 am

    Who cares about the scum bag! What a looser!!!!

    • Jason

      Dec 10, 2014 at 11:28 am

      Why did you read it then?

    • louis

      Dec 10, 2014 at 12:24 pm

      yeah…why did you read it? I mean you obviously care enough to read it, AND THEN COMMENT!!! Must have had too many double mochas. And Tiger is not a “looser” he’s a winner, 2nd most of all time. Your turn buddy.

      • Double Mocha Man

        Dec 10, 2014 at 12:32 pm

        Louis… I was commiserating with him. We have all done this before…

        • Forsbrand

          Dec 10, 2014 at 2:41 pm

          Absolutely let’s not get branded TIGER haters for goodness sakes…….but there is no way he’s winning another major until he sorts his short game out.meanwhile planet mcilroy is still turning. Rory May just win all four next year!

    • OzoneRaiders

      Dec 10, 2014 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks Jeff for your self evaluation. Tiger should have been a littler looser when he played but he had not played competitively in a couple months.

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Instruction

Clement: Stop ripping off your swing with this drill!

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Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?

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How a towel can fix your golf swing

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This is a classic drill that has been used for decades. However, the world of marketed training aids has grown so much during that time that this simple practice has been virtually forgotten. Because why teach people how to play golf using everyday items when you can create and sell a product that reinforces the same thing? Nevertheless, I am here to give you helpful advice without running to the nearest Edwin Watts or adding something to your Amazon cart.

For the “scoring clubs,” having a solid connection between the arms and body during the swing, especially through impact, is paramount to creating long-lasting consistency. And keeping that connection throughout the swing helps rotate the shoulders more to generate more power to help you hit it farther. So, how does this drill work, and what will your game benefit from it? Well, let’s get into it.

Setup

You can use this for basic chip shots up to complete swings. I use this with every club in my bag, up to a 9 or 8-iron. It’s natural to create incrementally more separation between the arms and body as you progress up the set. So doing this with a high iron or a wood is not recommended.

While you set up to hit a ball, simply tuck the towel underneath both armpits. The length of the towel will determine how tight it will be across your chest but don’t make it so loose that it gets in the way of your vision. After both sides are tucked, make some focused swings, keeping both arms firmly connected to the body during the backswing and follow through. (Note: It’s normal to lose connection on your lead arm during your finishing pose.) When you’re ready, put a ball in the way of those swings and get to work.

Get a Better Shoulder Turn

Many of us struggle to have proper shoulder rotation in our golf swing, especially during long layoffs. Making a swing that is all arms and no shoulders is a surefire way to have less control with wedges and less distance with full swings. Notice how I can get in a similar-looking position in both 60° wedge photos. However, one is weak and uncontrollable, while the other is strong and connected. One allows me to use my larger muscles to create my swing, and one doesn’t. The follow-through is another critical point where having a good connection, as well as solid shoulder rotation, is a must. This drill is great for those who tend to have a “chicken wing” form in their lead arm, which happens when it becomes separated from the body through impact.

In full swings, getting your shoulders to rotate in your golf swing is a great way to reinforce proper weight distribution. If your swing is all arms, it’s much harder to get your weight to naturally shift to the inside part of your trail foot in the backswing. Sure, you could make the mistake of “sliding” to get weight on your back foot, but that doesn’t fix the issue. You must turn into your trial leg to generate power. Additionally, look at the difference in separation between my hands and my head in the 8-iron examples. The green picture has more separation and has my hands lower. This will help me lessen my angle of attack and make it easier to hit the inside part of the golf ball, rather than the over-the-top move that the other picture produces.

Stay Better Connected in the Backswing

When you don’t keep everything in your upper body working as one, getting to a good spot at the top of your swing is very hard to do. It would take impeccable timing along with great hand-eye coordination to hit quality shots with any sort of regularity if the arms are working separately from the body.

Notice in the red pictures of both my 60-degree wedge and 8-iron how high my hands are and the fact you can clearly see my shoulder through the gap in my arms. That has happened because the right arm, just above my elbow, has become totally disconnected from my body. That separation causes me to lift my hands as well as lose some of the extension in my left arm. This has been corrected in the green pictures by using this drill to reinforce that connection. It will also make you focus on keeping the lead arm close to your body as well. Because the moment either one loses that relationship, the towel falls.

Conclusion

I have been diligent this year in finding a few drills that target some of the issues that plague my golf game; either by simply forgetting fundamental things or by coming to terms with the faults that have bitten me my whole career. I have found that having a few drills to fall back on to reinforce certain feelings helps me find my game a little easier, and the “towel drill” is most definitely one of them.

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Clement: Why your practice swing never sucks

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You hear that one all the time; I wish I could put my practice swing on the ball! We explain the huge importance of what to focus on to allow the ball to be perfectly in the way of your practice swing. Enjoy!

 

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