Golfing Tips - Preparing For The Faultless Pitch Shot

The pitched shot is a very good example of the balance involved in golf as both a

physical and mental sport and each pitch shot you make must be carefully planned. Before you even address your ball you have to examine the area you will be playing over and take careful note of the conditions so that you can decide just how you are going to to play your shot.

When deciding upon your plan of action you will have to ask yourself 5 simple questions:

1. What am I aiming at? Normally the answer will clearly be the hole, but if the cup is in a difficult location, like tucked in behind a bunker or cut very close to the side of the putting green, you may well decide not to aim at the hole but to land your ball close to the hole leaving you with a reasonably simple shot to putt out.

2. How level is the surface of the green? While most greens are fairly flat many are also far from flat and have a significant fall from front to back or from on side to the other. The green may also be tiered with the flag set on one of several 'steps' in the green. Any slope on the green will understandably affect your shot as you do not want your ball landing close to the hole and then rolling back down the slope away from the cup and possibly even clear off the putting green.

3. How far will the ball fly before landing? Whether you are aiming straight for the hole or attempting to fire your ball onto the front edge of the putting green and roll it up to the cup it is critical to know just how far you need the ball to travel through the air because this is going to directly affect which club you choose.

4. Is the wind going to affect my shot? If you are playing in the wind then you will need to estimate the effect that the wind is going to have on your shot. For example, you may want to to consider changing your choice in club to account for the wind and keep the trajectory of your pitch as low as you can. As an alternative, you may decide to use the wind to your own advantage and aim off so that the wind carries your ball back onto your target line.

5. How quick is the putting surface? The state of the green is extremely important and you will have to evaluate this against the holes that you have already played or conditions on the practice ground. For instance, is the putting green hard and dry in which case your ball is going to bounce and may run quite a considerable distance, or is the green wet and soft in which case the ball may well stop dead when it lands.

By thinking about each of these five questions carefully you will be able to choose your target, select your club and make your shot with a clear picture of precisely the line to follow to achieve the result you are looking for.

by: Don Saunders

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