The pitch shot is an excellent example of the balance needed in golf as both a physical and mental sport and every pitch shot you make needs to be carefully planned. Before even addressing your ball you need to examine the area you are playing over and take careful note of the conditions so that you can decide exactly how you intend to play the shot.

In putting together your plan you need to ask yourself 5 simple questions:

1. What is my target? In many cases the answer to this will clearly be the hole, but when the cup is in a difficult position, such as tucked behind a bunker or cut very close to the edge of the green, you may well decide not to shoot directly for the hole but to land your ball close to the hole leaving you a relative simple shot to putt out.

2. How flat is the green? While many greens are flat many are also far from flat and may have a significant fall from one side to the other or from front to back. The green may also be tiered with the flag set on one of two or more 'steps' in the green. Any slope on the green will clearly affect your shot because you do not want your ball landing close to the hole and then rolling down the slope away from the cup and possibly even clear off the putting surface.

3. How far must the ball fly before it lands? 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 flag it is important to know just how far you want the ball to fly through the air because this will directly affect you choice of club.

4. Will the wind affect my shot? If you are playing in windy conditions then you will need to gauge the effect that the wind will have on your shot. You may, for example, wish to change your choice in club to account for the wind and keep the trajectory of your pitch as low as possible. Alternatively, you may decide to use the wind to your advantage and aim off so that the wind carries your ball back onto your target line.

5. How fast is the green? The condition of the green is extremely important and you will need to judge this against holes which you have already played or conditions on the practice ground. For example, is the green dry and hard in which case your ball will bounce and may run a considerable distance, or is it wet and soft in which case your ball may well stop dead when it lands.

By carefully considering each of these questions you will be able to pick your target, chose your club and take your shot with a clear picture of exactly the line to follow to get the result you are looking for.