By Bobby Eldridge Head Professional,
PurePoint Golf Reprinted with permission
Golf Pitching Setup - Ball Position
As you address the golf ball the ball position plays a major role in the trajectory the golf ball will have after impact. The further back in your stance the lower the trajectory and the less backspin and more roll. The further forward in your stance the higher the trajectory and the more backspin and less roll.
The upside to playing the ball back in your stance is the ability to make ball turf contact. If the golf ball is back in your stance it is easier to make contact because the clubhead is swinging down towards the golf ball. The further forward you move the golf ball in your stance the greater the risk of hitting the ball on the upswing. If you make contact on the upswing you will strike the middle or top of the golf ball and the result will be a low shot with flat trajectory.
By addressing the golf ball forward in your stance the leading edge of the golf club will swing down into the ground directly under the golf ball. As the leading edge of the golf club makes contact with the ground and the bottom of the golf ball, the ball will climb up the clubface which in turn lifts the ball in the air. The lifting motion impacts trajectory and backspin, two key elements to pitching the golf ball softly around the green.
If you are struggling with pitching the golf ball, placement in your stance can play a major role in you getting back on track. If you start with the ball in the center of your stance you will be able to make contact and see instant results. Keep in mind moving the ball forward in your stance will allow the golf ball to go up with trajectory however it makes the shot a bit more risky.
Often times it is difficult to see if the golf ball is in the correct position when you are addressing the golf ball. One of the best ways to see if the ball position is correct is to practice with three straight edges. The top line (straight edge) should point towards your intended line you want the ball to travel on. The bottom line (straight edge) should aim parallel to the top line. The bottom line is for your feet, knees, hips and shoulders.
Golf Pitching Setup - Weight
After you have addressed the golf ball in the center to slightly forward in your stance, you have to move 70% of your weight over to your left leg. When you move 70% of your weight to your left leg you are creating an angle for the backswing.
As the clubhead begins to swing back in the backswing it has to swing back and up it can not swing back and low to the ground. If it swings back and low to the ground you will not be able to swing the clubhead back down into the ground in the downswing. If the clubhead swings too low to the ground in the backswing it will swing too low to the ground in the downswing causing the clubhead to strike the ball on the top or the middle of the golf ball, but it will never find the bottom of the ball.
When you move 70% of your weight over to the left side the clubhead has to swing up in the backswing as long as you do one more step. DO NOT SLIDE THE WEIGHT TOWARDS THE RIGHT FOOT IN THE BACKSWING. Do you get it? The 70% has to stay on the left side during the entire backswing. Once the clubhead has started back the only place it can go is up. If you allow the weight to move towards the back foot the clubhead will level off and it will not go up.
You want to have the feeling that you are standing on your left foot. If you continue to struggle with this method, I have a great drill for you. Find a downhill slope of about 10-20 degrees. When you address the golf ball from this position you will automatically place 70% of your weight on your left side.
If you have never placed this much weight on your left side it might feel awkward for the first couple of hundred practice shots. After that it will become second nature. You will be able to correct yourself immediately if you start struggling with topping or hitting the ground behind the ball. Placing this much weight on your left side is an instant fix.
Golf Pitching Setup – Handle Position
We have reached the final set-up position before you start the backswing. Because you placed so much weight on your left side the handle of the golf club has to come with you. You can not leave the handle of the golf club even with the club head; you have to move the handle towards your belt buckle.
When you move the handle over to the belt buckle you are taking loft off of the clubhead. Do not panic. You are only taking three or four degrees off. If you think the club will not have enough loft for the shot after you take the loft off, simply change clubs. You can use a GAP wedge instead of a pitching wedge, you can use a sand wedge instead of a GAP wedge and you can use a LOB wedge instead of a sand wedge.
With the golf ball positioned anywhere from the center of your stance to the left heel and 70% of your weight on your left heel and the handle of the golf club across from your belt buckle it is time to swing the golf club back.
Because you are in this position the golf club will swing up in the backswing. You have done everything possible to create this angle. The very reason you want the golf club to go up is so it will come down. You know the old adage, what doesn't go up won't come down.
As the golf club swings away from the ball in the backswing and begins to climb up the clubhead will arrive at the top of the backswing (whether it is a small pitch shot or longer pitch shot) in a position that will allow the leading edge of the golf club swing down into the ground and bottom of the golf ball. If you can create this angle, the golf ball will climb up the clubface; begin to spin backwards and with the amount of clubhead speed the golf ball will go up at the moment of impact.
After you have addressed the golf ball if you de-lofted the grip too much, the golf club will not have enough loft to lift the golf ball in the air.You could also experience digging the leading edge into the ground too much. If you move 70% of your weight onto your left leg then you only have to move the handle a few inches to match up with your belt buckle.
