For many of you, spring is just around the corner, so you are getting to play a lot more golf.  If your scores are not where you want them to be, then you should spruce up your short game.  Here is a workout to help you get your short game on track for this season.

Pitch it Close

Pitching Workout

When I talk about practicing within 100 yards, I am referring to any pitch shot  from about 30 to 100 yards that requires less than a full swing with a wedge or sand wedge.

The first thing is that we should we the very basics about Pitching.  Here are some Key Thoughts:

1. The length of your shot determines the length of the swing.  This is where feel is very important.
2. Narrow stance to stabilize lower body.  You don’t want a lot of weight shift on the backswing.  Think of a pitch as a one axis swing.
3. You can open your stance, but keep your shoulders square, you still want to hit the inside of the ball.
4. Wrist Action is Key…The club must work up, so you need to hinge your wrists as you start the backswing.
5. Hands ahead at impact.
6. Even though this is no weight shift on backswing you need a little on the downswing and follow-through.
7. Your backswing and downswing will not necessarily be the same length.
8. Experiment with ball position and clubface angle.  Different ball position, different trajectory.
9. Think Ernie Els rhythm when you pitch.
10. You can’t practice this enough!

Practice Workout-

30-40 minutes( alternate sand wedge, pitching wedge, fairway wedge)

1. Basic pitch shot over a bunker.  Start in the rough and hit a few pitches over a bunker to the green.  Work on rhythm and wrist hinge.  5 to 10 minutes.
2. 10 pitches 20 yards on a good spongy fairway lie.  Step off 20 yards and experiment with ball position and landing ball.
3. 10 pitches 40 yards.  Once again on a good lie, hit 10 pitches and focus where your want to land the ball.
4. 10 pitches 60 yards on a good lie.  Focus on the length of the swing that you need for this shot.
5. 10 shots alternating 20, 40, 60 yards.
6. Throw 10 balls down, don’t fix the lies and hit pitches.
7. 10 pitches 40 yards hitting to front pin then back pin.  Practice high shots, low shots.

The greatest challenges in pitching is being able to control the distance that you hit the ball.  Practice hitting shots to different distances.  Practice hitting shots taking the club back hip high, then waist high, then shoulder high.  Measure how far each shot goes and take some notes.  This will give you an idea of how far you can hit shots with your different swings.

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