February 2018 – Page 2

Sixty percent or more of your golf score occurs within 100 yards of the cup. That is why golf instructors emphasize the importance of the golf short game including putting, chipping, bunker shots and pitching shots.

Though becoming an effective putter is probably the most important component of an effective short game, it can be argued that developing a solid pitching shot game (for golf shots 60 yards and in) is close behind. If you can effectively pitch the golf ball as close as possible to the cup, then the potential to putt the ball into the cup in fewer strokes is dramatically improved!

Here are a few of our favorite golf pitching tips and pitching drills to develop a solid golf pitching game.

Golf Pitching Tip 1 Pitching Shot Setup

When hitting golf pitching shots, use a lofted club such as a sand wedge (54 to 58 degrees loft) or lob wedge (59 to 62 degrees loft).
Slightly open stance.
Ensure that your ball position is slightly forward from the middle.
Place your weight so that sixty percent of your weight is on your left foot and 40 percent is on your right foot – keep this weight distribution throughout the golf pitching shot.
Move hands down the grip and in front of the ball. Grip the club slightly firmer in the golf pitching shot than you would for a normal golf shot.
Keep steady pace and swing torso back and through the golf pitching shot.

Golf Pitching Tip 2 Pitching Distance Control

To control your distance, use the 7-8-9 golf pitching shot method where you swing your straight left arm back to the particular hours of a clock to achieve consistent distance control.
For example, if you swing your left arm back to the 9-oclock position and hit the ball 40 yards, then your 9 oclock shot is for 40 yard golf pitching shots. Practice this approach until you know your distance for 7 oclock, 8 oclock and 9 oclock shots.

Golf Pitching Shot Practice Drill 1 Pitching Extended Club Drill

This pitching shot practice drill encourages firm wrist and hand position at impact.

Grip two clubs together holding one in normal position and the other on shaft near club head. Hit 5 to 10 practice pitch shots.
The extended club takes wrists out of pitch shot. If wrists break at impact, shaft of second club will hit left side this should not occur with proper pitch shot swing.

Golf Pitching Shot Practice Drill 2 Pitching to Target Drill

This pitching shot practice drill helps aid the feel and accuracy of your pitch shots.

Place four or more targets at various distances from 30 to 60 yards away.
Pitch balls to each target using your normal club for pitching shots.
Hit three or more shots in a row for each target; feel the backswing length necessary for each distance.

Many people believe that the word ‘links’ refers to the way the end of one golf hole defines the beginning of the next – rather like the links of a chain.

This is not so but it actually comes from the Old English word ‘hlinc’ meaning a stretch of flat ground along the seashore. And that is exactly what it is like. Sea on one side, land on the other (often the houses on the edge of the town form the boundary). It is a naturally occurring terrain usually on a well drained sandy soil.

The parkland course on the other hand is ‘purpose built’ and is often much more hilly and varied in terrain than the links course. Also, the presence of trees offers a different kind of hazard from those found on a links. Each course has its own type of problems and challenges but the links course probably calls for rather more ‘invention’ or ‘adaptation’ in the way the shots are played.

Parkland courses are mostly set in an area not infrequently wooded to some degree and often with heather, gorse, sand bunkers and sometimes water in the form of ponds or lakes. However, the main and striking difference between links and parkland is that the latter is much more obviously manufactured. This is not said by way of criticism since inland courses by definition have to be manufactured. The quality of the course though is more to do with the skill of the designer and how much this “manufactured-ness” shows. The optimum use of the space available and the incorporation of existing natural features – woods, trees, water, ups and downs – are where the architect can bring his creative powers to bear.

A links course on the other hand is usually a much more rugged proposition. It’s a completely natural setting – too ‘natural’ for some people – where the wind from the sea plays a much more prominent part in the game. The nature of the terrain forces you to adapt your shots to the prevailing conditions and the lie of the land. One great advantage though is that being on sandy soil it does tend to drain well and very quickly so the surface remains firm and playable all year round.

Nevertheless it is no place for the complaint ‘It’s not fair’. Life isn’t fair on a links and you have to brace yourself for that. You could hit a perfect drive straight up the fairway only to have it finish up on a hanging lie with three huge bunkers between you and the green two hundred yards away.

The distances on your scorecard will be accurate but useless. I have played at Turnberry where one of the par threes is an eight iron in the morning but a three wood in the afternoon – and it was nothing to do with the port at lunch.
Playing out of the rough is a different game; the whins and other grasses can twist your clubhead and make the ball behave in quite a different way when trying to chip on to the green from the rough.

Obviously conditions can get pretty wild at times as you are right out in the open with very little place to shelter if it does turn nasty. It helps to be resilient in your outlook as you are about to go head to head with nature – especially as nature is constantly changing which adds that extra demand on your skill and ingenuity. Some shots regularly used on parkland courses are used only sparingly on a links – for example, the lofted wedge to the green. It can be a lot safer to keep the ball under the wind. On links courses conditions have to be weighed up carefully before every shot – yes, including the putts.

Parkland courses on the other hand being that little further away from the sea are not usually quite so bracing. But they offer a different sort of challenge. An experienced designer will preferably also be an experienced golfer who will therefore understand how to pose problems and rewards for golfers looking for that challenge. The skill of the parkland course designer is also to give the course the appearance of being naturally formed; thus adding to the aesthetic appeal of the parkland course.

All in all it probably comes down to a question of personal preference – or where you have been brought up. Both types of course have their various challenges and pleasures so try them both and feel the difference for yourself.

Good golfing!

Month: February 2018

Golf Pitching Tips And Pitching Drills To Correct Golf Shot

Which Is Best – Links Or Parkland Golf