Pitch Shot: How To Plan Your Strategy When Making A Pitch Shot
A successful pitch shot requires intense planning and visualization. You must take full stock of the situation at hand before you choose your target line and landing area. For a well-thought-out strategy to every pitch shot, ask yourself the following questions:
Are you making a mistake by making the hole your target?
While sinking the ball into the hole is the ultimate goal, it may be located in a difficult spot in comparison to where you are going to make your pitch shot. The hole could be tucked behind a bunker or too close to the green. Consider making your aim towards the middle of the green. The area is larger and makes for a more sensible target.
Did you check the green to see if the area is tilted in any way?
Many golf courses have greens designed to be more challenging by offering a slight tilt to the area. If you do not properly plan for the ball to roll down this tilt after your pitch shot then it may slide off the green or away from the cup.
How much distance do you need for the ball to travel before it lands on the green?
This is vital information because it helps you with proper club selection. By measuring the distance the ball must fly before hitting the green, you can accurately measure other factors such as obstacles, wind, and the ball-trajectory you wish to have.
Have you calculated the odds of the green being soft or hard? Do you know whether the ball is going to stick or take a hard bounce and roll off your target?
To plan this strategy when taking your pitch shot you need to pay attention to the past holes on the course or at least the practice areas experienced from recent weather (recent rains may produce a soft green while warm, dry heat can cause the green to become hard, thus causing the ball to bounce)
Are you playing during strong winds and if so in what direction could these winds affect the path of your ball?
If the weather is windy then be sure to pick the right club, choose the appropriate target, and focus on your trajectory needed to face such conditions.
Final Word
Making your pitch shot count for the best performance means weighing all of your options and paying attention to the available information you have before choosing your target. And once you have selected your target try to be as specific as possible. Go for the line of a bunker, the flagstick, an uneven ridge on the green, or even a divot hole. This will help keep your focus intent and your swing precise.
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