How to Pitch a Golf Ball onto the Green

Landing a pitch shot softly on the green from 30, 40, or 50 yards away is one of the most satisfying feelings in golf a score-saver. Instead of being a shot that causes anxiety, pitching should be a genuine opportunity to get up and down. This guide gives you a simple, repeatable framework to transform your pitching from a weakness into a strength, giving you the confidence to attack pins from short range.

What Exactly is a Pitch Shot (and How is it Different From a Chip)?

Before we get into the technique, let's clear up a common point of confusion. What's the difference between a pitch and a chip? While they're both short shots, their purpose is different, and that dictates how you play them.

• Chip Shot: Think "minimum air, maximum roll." A chip is a low-trajectory shot, typically played from just off the green. The goal is to get the ball onto the putting surface as soon as possible and let it roll out toward the hole like a putt. It's a lower-risk shot characterized by a very compact motion.
• Pitch Shot: Think "maximum air, minimum roll." A pitch shot is played from further away (usually 20 to 60 yards) when you need to carry the ball over an obstacle like a bunker, rough, or water. It flies higher in the air and lands more softly, with less rollout than a chip. The swing is longer and involves more body rotation.

Mastering the pitch shot is fundamental for saving pars, as it's the primary tool for navigating those "in-between" yardages where a full swing is too much and a chip isn't enough.

Choosing Your Weapon: The Right Club for the Pitch

For pitching, you’ll be using one of your most lofted clubs. The three main options are the gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge. The choice depends entirely on how far you need the ball to fly and how quickly you need it to stop.

• Gap Wedge (GW/AW): Typically around 50-52 degrees of loft. This is your go-to for longer pitch shots where you have a bit of green to work with. It will fly lower and roll out more than a sand or lob wedge.
• Sand Wedge (SW): Typically around 54-56 degrees of loft. This is the all-around workhorse for most pitch shots. It offers a great combination of height and stopping power, making it versatile for a wide range of distances and lies. When in doubt, the sand wedge is often the right choice.
• Lob Wedge (LW): Typically around 58-60+ degrees of loft. This is your specialty tool for when you need maximum height and minimal roll. Use it when you're short-sided, need to get the ball up quickly to clear a bunker, and stop it dead on a firm green.

The general rule is simple: use less loft (a gap wedge) when you have more green to work with, and more loft (a lob wedge) when you need to stop the ball quickly.

The Set-Up: Building a Foundation for Crisp Contact

A solid, repeatable pitch shot starts before you ever take the club back. Your setup wires you for success and is the most important factor in achieving clean contact. Get this right, and you're 90% of the way there.

1. Stance and Foot Position

Unlike a full swing where you want a wide, stable base, a pitch shot requires a much narrower stance. Position your feet so they are just inside your hips - about a clubhead's width apart is a good guide. A narrower stance makes it easier to rotate your body freely and control the swing.

Slightly open your stance by pulling your lead foot (left foot for a righty) back a few inches. This clears your lead hip, allowing your body to rotate through the shot without restriction.

2. Ball Position

Place the golf ball in the center of your narrow stance. This is the low point of your swing arc with a short iron, promoting a slight downward strike - ball first, then turf. Placing it too far forward can lead to thin shots, while placing it too far back can cause you to hit it fat (chunk it).

3. Weight Distribution

This is extremely important. At address, set about 60-70% of your weight on your lead foot. And keep it there throughout the swing. This encourages you to hit down on the ball, preventing the dreaded "scoop" motion that leads to thin or fat shots. Think of your lead leg as a solid post that you rotate around.

4. Hand Position and Shaft Lean

With your weight forward, your hands will naturally be slightly ahead of the golf ball, creating a slight forward press. The shaft of the club should be neutral or leaning just slightly toward the target. Avoid excessive forward lean, which de-lofts the club and can make the leading edge dig into the ground.

The Pitching Motion: A Mini-Version of Your Full Swing

The best way to think of the pitching motion is as a relaxed, body-driven "mini" swing. The power and control don’t come from your hands and arms, they come from the gentle rotation of your chest and torso. Trying to "flick" at the ball with your wrists is a recipe for inconsistency.

The Backswing: Turn, Don't Lift

The backswing is controlled by the rotation of your torso, not by lifting your arms. From your solid setup, simply rotate your chest away from the target. Your arms, hands, and the club will naturally move along with your body. You'll feel connected, with your arms staying in front of your chest. The lower body should remain quiet and stable, with your weight still on that lead foot. There should be a natural, but not forced, hinge in your wrists as you swing back.

The Downswing and Impact: Keep Rotating

The downswing is a mirror image of the backswing. Initiate the move by simply unwinding your body back toward the target. Let the club fall back down in front of you as your torso rotates through. The key feeling is to keep turning through the shot. Don’t stop your body rotation at impact. The momentum of your turning body will pull the club through, delivering the clubhead to the ball for that crisp, ball-then-turf contact.

Impact should feel like an extension of your setup: weight forward, hands slightly ahead, and chest rotating towards the target. You're not trying to *lift* the ball into the air, you're hitting down on it, and the loft of the club will do the work for you.

Mastering Distance Control: The Clock System

The number one key to great pitching is dialing in your distances. The most effective way to do this is with the "clock system." Think of your arms as the hands of a clock.

• A small pitch (e.g., 20 yards): Take your lead arm back to 7:00 on the backswing and accelerate through to 5:00.
• A medium pitch (e.g., 35-40 yards): Take your lead arm back to about 9:00 (left arm parallel to the ground) and accelerate through to 3:00. This is the most common pitch shot length.
• A larger pitch (e.g., 50-60 yards): Take your lead arm back to 10:00 and follow through fully.

The secret is that the length of your backswing dictates the distance, but your tempo and acceleration should remain constant for every shot. Don't take a long, slow swing or a short, quick one. Practice hitting shots with each "clock" position with each wedge, and take note of how far the ball flies. You'll quickly develop three predictable yardages for each of your wedges.

Common Pitching Mistakes (and Their Fixes)

1. The Chunky Shot (Hitting the Ground First)

The Cause: Usually, the player's weight falls onto their back foot during the downswing, or they try to scoop the ball into the air. This moves the low point of the swing behind the ball.

The Fix: Double-check your setup. Make sure 60-70% of your weight is pre-set on your lead foot and keep it there. During the swing, focus on rotating your chest through impact and keeping it moving toward the target.

2. The Thin Shot (Hitting the Ball with the Leading Edge)

The Cause: This is the other side of the scooping coin. Oftentimes, players try to "lift" the ball or their arms contract through impact because they are afraid of hitting it fat.

The Fix: Trust the loft. Commit to hitting down on the back of the ball. A great practice drill is to put a towel about six inches behind your ball. If you are sweeping or scooping, you'll hit the towel. To miss it, you have to hit down on the ball with that proper angle of attack.

3. Using a "Wristy" or "Flippy" Motion

The Cause: The body stops rotating, and the hands and wrists take over to try and power the shot.

The Fix: Focus on maintaining the "triangle" formed by your arms and shoulders. The entire unit should rotate together back and through. The hands are passive passengers. A good feel is to try and finish the swing with your belt buckle and chest pointing at the target.

Final Thoughts

To recap, a successful pitch shot is built on a solid setup with a narrow stance, center ball position, and weight forward. The motion is a body-driven rotation where you turn back and turn through, letting the loft of the club do the work to get the ball airborne.

Having a process is great, but sometimes a tricky lie in the rough or an awkward stance can make you second-guess your plan. That’s where technology can lend a hand. On the course, Caddie AI acts as an expert caddie in your pocket. You can get instant recommendations on club selection or strategy for any shot. You can even take a picture of a difficult lie, and we’ll analyze it to give you the smartest, safest way to play the shot, helping you remove the indecision and commit to your swing with confidence.