blading the ball / thin on pitch shots

Question
QUESTION: One area of my game that needs improvement upon is my pitching, mainly short ones that don't need a full backswing (20-40 yards). When I am trying to hit these shots, I try to use my shoulders only, but I am not sure if this is a good thing or not, since it makes the ball get bladed and hit thin sometimes. I'm trying to use a bit more wrist now and to hit "down" on the ball... what do you suggest to do?

ANSWER: Hi Jeff:

Be very careful using your "wrists".  Let me explain something to you and then I'll give you a tip.  First off, you cannot physically move your wrist....so stop trying to use them.  Your wrist allows your hands to move.  Your wrist is nothing more than a hinge, you cannot actually move your wrist.  I know what you mean, I have seen it for 24 years of teaching.  Using your "wrists" is actually using your hands and it's always incorrect hand action.  Your blading golf balls comes from trying to use your "wrists".  So by trying to cock the club more and hit down on it, you are basically trying to create an angle of attack.  Not a bad way to think about it, but be careful.  When you use your hands incorrectly, you actually flip the clubhead at the ball in an effort to "get under it", and in doing so, the leading edge of the clubface (the bottom edge) is actually coming off the ground and cuts into the middle of the ball and sends it over the green.  So if you increase your "wrist" action and then try to hit down on it, you will more than likely make it worse.  And whatever you do, stop thinking about your shoulders.  They have nothing to do with this motion (at least in your thought patterns).  So here is the tip I want you to practice.  

In the backswing, because it's a small swing (10-30 yards), you should have a slight hinge of the wrists at the top of the backswing.  So let's picture your left arm in the backswing.  If we picture a big clock behind you and we are looking directly at you, swing your left arm back until it hits 8 o'clock.  At that point, the hinging of the wrist should allow the clubshaft to cock a little and form a little angle.  So from the left arm to the shaft, it would form about a 60 degree angle (remember I said slight hinge of the wrist).  

As you now swing the club towards the ball (and here is the key), do not try to use your hands (wrists) to control the clubhead and hit the ball.  Instead, use your arms (focus on the forearms) more so that when you strike the ball, the shaft angle is slightly forward of the clubhead, the face of the club hits the back of the ball and the leading edge is BRUSHING THE GRASS.  Now picture that for a second Jeff, and then do some of those swings in super slow motion.  

Take the club back to about 8 o'clock (left arm swing) and feel that slight hinge of the hands to set the hands and the shaft angle.  Then, in slow motion, swing both arms (and the club) back into and through the impact area, so that the handle of the club and the shaft lead the clubhead through.  Make sure the leading edge of the clubface brushes the grass and hold your finish about waist high.  When you are finished, the shaft of your club should be about waist high and pointing directly at your target.  If you flip your hands or wrists at the ball in an effort to get it up or get under it, the shaft of the club will either be straight up in the air or way to the left of your hands when you are finished.  

So, take it slow, stay in control of your golf club more, use your arms more to control the shaft through the impact area, and sense how the leading edge of the clubface is hitting the turf (this is the downward motion you described).  Practice a bit, and you'll start understanding how the loft of the wedge itself does the lifting, not you trying to use your wrists.

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member












---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: wow, very detailed, thanks!

Do I need to focus on other small things during this? Such as : weight staying on left, position of ball and shaft, etc?

ANSWER: Hi Jeff:

Not really, position of ball is slightly back of center.  Weight should be even on both feet.  Pay attention to what the golf club is doing, not all the other stuff.  Let some instincts help you instead of being so mechanical.  Practice what I asked you to do, do it in slow motion, and then go hit some balls.  You'll be fine and a better pitcher of the ball.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, it seemed to be getting better. Now there's a new problem...

First of all, is the angle of the club face going to be square or open? Because sometimes when it's too open then i sometimes get too under it and it ends up in some sort of chunk with the divit..? (these are for chips 20 yards apprx). Also I sometimes hit the ground first and it chunks... I'm following what you said but there is something wrong.. probably something small but it's making my chipping and pitching horrible.

Answer
Hi Jeff:

Clubface should be square, just delofted.  You have to remember you have it ingrained in your mind to "get under it" when hitting those shots.  I don't expect you to fix it overnight, however, the reason you hit behind it and chunk it is you are using too much right hand in an effort to do something with the clubhead.  You are "trying to hit the ball" with the clubhead.  I know that sounds weird, but good players don't try to just hit the ball or try to help it up.  Good players hit through the ball like it's not even there.  They swing the entire club to a finish and the ball just gets in the way.  Here is what I do with my students who have your trouble.  You can do the same drill.  I use baby powder (big jug of it from the 99 cents store).  I draw out a line between their feet and ask them to straddle the line.  The line is about 3-4 feet long.  I ask them to set up so the line is in the middle of their feet.  I ask them to place the clubhead on the line.  There is no ball at this point.  Next, I ask them to make some pitch shot swings and make sure they contact the ground IN FRONT OF THE LINE TOWARDS THE TARGET SIDE.  Until they can do that consistently, I do not let them hit balls.  Once they can do it consistently, I put a ball there.  The ball would be placed just in front of the line.  So I ask the same question.  I ask them to make a pitch shot swing and do not hit behind the line.  Now if you are scooping it and trying to get under it, where do you think you'll hit the ground?  If you guessed behind it...you're right!  Get the picture.  Go practice that drill until you get it, and you'll be fine.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member