Golfing Advice - Planning For That Masterful Pitch Shot

The pitched shot is a classic example of the balance needed in golf as both a physical and mental sport and every pitch shot you take needs to be planned very carefully. Before you even begin to address your ball you need to examine the area you are playing over and take note of the conditions in order to decide precisely how you intend to play your shot.

When drawing up your plan of action you have to ask yourself five simple questions:

1. What is my target? As a rule the answer will be the hole, however when the cup has been placed in a difficult location, such as tucked in behind a bunker or cut close to the edge of the putting green, you might well decide not to aim at the hole but to have your ball land near the hole leaving you a reasonably simple shot to hole out.

2. How level is the surface of the putting green? While most greens are fairly flat a lot are also far from flat and have a sizeable fall from one side to the other or from front to back. The putting green may also be tiered with the flag placed on one of a number of 'steps' in the green. A slope on the green is understandably going to affect your shot because you do not wish your ball to land close to the hole and then rolling back down the slope away from the cup and perhaps even right off the putting green.

3. How far does the ball have to fly before landing? Whether you are aiming directly for the hole or trying to put your ball onto the front of the green and roll it up to the cup it is critical to know precisely how far you need the ball to travel through the air because this will directly affect you choice of club.

4. What effect is the wind going to have on my shot? When you are playing in the wind then you must estimate the effect that the wind will have on your shot. For example, you might want to to think about changing your choice in club to accommodate the wind and keep the trajectory of your pitch as low as possible. As an alternative, you may decide to use the wind to your advantage and aim off target, allowing the wind to carry your ball back onto your target line.

5. How quick is the putting green? The state of the green is exceedingly important and you must gauge this against the holes that you have already played or the conditions on the practice ground. Is the putting green, for instance, dry and hard in which case your ball will bounce and could run a considerable distance, or is it soft and wet in which case your ball may well stop dead where it lands.

By considering each of these five questions carefully you will be able to pick your target, select your club and make your shot with a clear picture of exactly the line you need to follow in order to achieve the result you are looking for.