A solid pitching game is the fastest path to lowering your scores, period. When you can confidently handle those awkward shots from 20 to 80 yards out, you turn potential bogeys into easy pars and pars into birdie looks. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the pitch shot, from what it is and when to use it, to the dead-simple setup and swing technique that will get you dropping the ball next to the cup time and time again.
Golfers often get the pitch shot confused with a chip shot, but they are two different tools for two very different jobs. Think of it this way:
You’ll pull the pitch shot out of your bag anytime you need to carry an obstacle. That could be a bunker guarding the front of the green, a patch of thick rough, or a stream. You also use a pitch when you need to land the ball on a specific tier of the green or stop it quickly next to a tight pin. Basically, anytime you need more air-time than roll-time, you're looking at a pitch.
Picking the correct club is the first step toward a successful pitch. The wedges in your bag - typically the Pitching Wedge (PW), Gap Wedge (GW), Sand Wedge (SW), and Lob Wedge (LW) - are your best friends here. The key is understanding how loft affects the shot. More loft means a higher, softer shot that stops faster. Less loft means a lower, more controlled flight with more rollout.
Don’t overcomplicate it. Start by using your Sand Wedge for most pitches and get comfortable with how it flies and rolls. As you get more familiar, you can start experimenting with other wedges to hit different trajectories and cover more distances.
A good shot starts before you ever swing the club. Your address position for a pitch shot is a slightly modified version of your full swing setup, tailored for precision and control rather than raw power.
Bring your feet closer together than you would for a full swing. A good starting point is to have your heels about the width of your hips. This narrower stance isn't about looking fancy, it has a real purpose. It helps encourage your body to rotate through the shot. A wide, stable base is great for power, but for a feel shot like a pitch, you want a setup that promotes a graceful and connected turn.
For a standard pitch shot, the ball should be right in the middle of your stance. If you drew a line down from the center of your chest or your zipper, it should point directly at the golf ball. This central position helps you make contact with the ball at the bottom of your swing arc, giving you a clean, crisp strike. If you need to hit the ball a little higher and softer, you can move it a golf ball's width forward. For a lower, more penetrating flight, move it a ball's width back. But when in doubt, default to the middle.
Here’s something a lot of amateurs get wrong. At address, you want to favor your front foot (your left foot for a right-handed golfer). Set about 60% of your weight on that lead side. Feel that pressure under the ball of your front foot. This is so important because it presets a downward angle of attack. It helps you hit the ball first, then the turf, which is the secret ingredient for that "PGA Tour" sound and strike. Keeping your weight forward prevents you from hanging back and trying to "scoop" the ball into the air, which leads to fat and thin shots.
For added control, grip down the shaft of the club an inch or two. This effectively shortens the club, making it easier to manage the swing and deliver the face precisely. Your hands should be positioned slightly ahead of the ball, creating a gentle forward lean in the shaft. This gets you into a strong impact position before you even begin your swing and promotes that beautiful, ball-first contact.
The pitch shot is not about strength, it's about sequence and feel. We want to take that great setup and pair it with a simple, connected motion.
The biggest mistake golfers make is using only their arms and hands to hit pitches. A good pitch is a miniature version of a full swing, and that means the body is the engine. From your setup, feel your chest, arms, and club moving away from the ball together as a single unit. This is often called a "one-piece takeaway." The rotation of your torso carries the club back, not an independent arm lift.
To control your distances, think of your arms like the hands of a clock.
This system gives you a very repeatable way to manage your power and dial in your yardages.
As you rotate your body back, your wrists will begin to hinge naturally. This is a passive movement, a result of the weight and momentum of the clubhead swinging up. Don’t try to actively force a wrist hinge. That intentional scooping is what leads to inconsistent contact. Just let the rotation of your body and the swinging of your arms do the work. It should feel smooth and unforced.
With your weight pre-set forward, your only thought on the downswing should be to turn your body through to the target. Just like in the takeaway, your chest leads the way. Let the turn of your torso pull your arms and the club down and through the ball. The most common error here is deceleration - slowing down into the ball out of fear of hitting it too far. Commit to your shot and accelerate the clubhead through the ball. A shorter backswing with good acceleration is always better than a long, timid, and slow swing.
A great way to judge your swing is by your finish position. Your follow-through should be roughly a mirror image of your backswing. If you took a 9 o'clock backswing, your follow-through should finish at 3 o'clock. As you finish, your chest and belt buckle should be pointing directly at your target, and nearly all of your weight (90%+) should be on your front foot. Hold that balanced finish and watch the ball land softly by the flag.
Even with the right technique, things can go wrong. Here are the most common issues and how to straighten them out.
The pitch shot comes down to a proper setup and a connected, confident swing that is powered by your body's rotation. By narrowing your stance, placing your weight forward, and turning your chest through the shot, you'll start producing crisp, predictable pitches that get you closer to the hole and remove a ton of stress from your short game.
Getting the feel for these shots takes practice, and having an expert guide in your corner makes a world of difference. That's where we built Caddie AI to personally assist you. The next time you're facing a tricky pitch over a bunker or just can’t decide which club to use, you can snap a photo of your ball and its surroundings or simply describe the shot. In seconds, you get an instant, pro-level tip on how to play it. We love hearing how it removes the guesswork from those tough in-between yardages, helping golfers stand over the ball with a clear plan and full confidence.
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