The pitch shot is one shot type you should spend time to master, it can help you in a wide range of situations whether it is a few feet off the green, a longer fairway shot or that final shot to get on the green of a par 5. Many golfers suggest that the key to mastering the pitch shot is down to two separate elements, getting the fundamentals right and developing a feel for different distances.
The fundamentals are what you should focus your time and energy on, you need to be on top of the ball when you address is, not as much as when you take a putt but that is the form you want to be aiming for. Your club should have the grip slightly towards the target, not too much as this can take some of the loft out of your shot.
The pitch shot is one that you shouldn't allow the wrists to move too much, in fact if you think that you want to keep your wrists locked and that the swing is going to come from a rocking motion with your arms locked in position. Making this rocking motion with your hips you're going to keep your arm and wrists in position throughout the shot.
Practice this shot around the green or near your putting surface, try to get the ball to land near to the flag but with one or two bounces before it comes to a stop, this is exactly what you will want from a pitch shot unless you are really lucky and manage to land the ball in the hole off your pitch shot itself.
Once you are comfortable with this motion and are confident that you are making the right contact with the ball this should become second nature to you. Once you have this motion locked down then you can start practicing at different distances, take a few paces backwards first and take your shot a usual. You'll probably find your shots are now falling short; this is because more power will be needed to get the same results you are used to.
The way to get more power isn't by swinging wildly; you should be able to get the initial boost by increasing your back swing slightly. This can add a considerable amount alone as the momentum of the club adds more power. As you get further away you will need to not only lengthen your back swing but also speed up your downswing and follow through. It is important that you maintain the form and stance that you are familiar with as you begin to alter your shots.
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