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Controlling
Launch in Pitch Shots with a Sandwedge.
To control
the height or launch of the ball is very simple and helps
create a successful short game. First imagine the height and
visualize the roll the ball from a desired launch angle to
a flagstick on the green. Second, we need the proper set-up
for the shot and relate the loft of the wedge to the right
hand (right handed players) to create this desired launch.
For a low pitch shot the ball must be back in the stance,
hands centered in the middle of the body. With the hands and
the shaft leaned forward of the ball it delofts the club-face.
From this position swing the club back with your hands and
arms, keeping the right palm down. With the right palm down,
the club-face will remain down looking at the ball. The length
of the backswing should be waist high or even shorter with
the club in front of the body. If the club gets to far behind
the body you will bottom out the swing before the ball and
hit the shot fat or blade the ball on the upswing. The downswing
is a relationship of arm swing and body rotation through the
shot. During impact the right palm should be facing to the
ground. The result is a pitch that has a low launch and a
lot of roll.
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For a
medium pitch shot move the ball to the middle of the stance,
hands still centered in the middle of the body. From this
position swing the club back with the hands and arms, the
right palm should point parallel to your target line, like
your shaking hands with someone. When the shaft of the club
is parallel to the ground it should be parallel to the target
line, with the toe of the club pointing up. This club is also
in front of the body as referenced in the low pitch shot.
The importance of the club in front of the body is to have
a repeatable bottom of the swing and the club can strike the
ground after it strikes the ball. Once again the downswing
is a combination of arm swing and body rotation through the
shot. At impact the right palm will face the target and create
a higher launch of the ball with more air time and less roll.
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For the
high pitch shot move the ball forward of center, hands centered
in the middle of the body. Open the club-face and then grip
the club, if you grip the club and then open the face it is
not really open. This swing needs to be longer than the other
pitch shots due to the loft. In the backswing use your hands
and arms with the right palm up pointing to the sky. Again
the downswing is a combination of arm swing and body rotation
through the shot. At impact the right palm is facing up, this
creates an extremely high launch with maximum air time and
no roll. Gravity is your friend in this shot.
Pitch
shots are truly a product of the right hand, and with a little
short game work you too can hit it low and run the ball along
the ground to the hole on the back of the green, or hit the
high pitch over a bunker to a tucked flagstick with little
or no green to land the ball.
Neil
Wilkins, Director of Instruction at Sienna Plantation Golf
Club.
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