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Courses : Pitch & Putt - The Game

Pitch & Putt - The Game | Green Keeping

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There is no comfort zone in pitch and putt. Nor is it a game of perfection. If it were we would all shoot 18 and look for a more challenging sport. Here are some fundamental points to the aspects of the game of pitch and putt to help new comers to the game and stalwarts of the game. Your game is a work in progress and always will be, starting with the sound basics - Tiger Woods.

PUTTING

Players use many different types of putting grips in pitch and putt at all levels and this gives the impression that there is no 'right' way to hold the putter, maybe there isn't. The main thing when putting, whether it's your grip, posture, stance or ball position, is to be comfortable.

The most conventional grip is to place the handle of the putter running under the butt of your left hand or running straight up the palm so the club shaft is parallel to the left forearm.

 

- The back of the right hand is parallel to the left hand. By placing both hands square to the target, it's much easier to keep the face of the putter square during the stroke, at impact especially.
- The right thumb extends down the shaft to a point just below the right forefinger. Any further and the right hand and wrist may tighten and might not hinge freely, any shorter and control may be sacrificed.
- the back of the left hand faces the target. This 'weak' position discourages the hand from rotating excessively during the stroke.
- The reverse-overlap grip, with the left forefinger laid across the fingers of the right hand, provides a sense of unity. This prevents either hand from becoming too dominant during the stroke, it doesn't lock the hands together in any way.
- Position both thumbs directly down the top of the handle, they are as sensitive as the fingers and provide the greatest amount of feedback as the putter swings back and through the ball.


6 Key Points to Putting
1. Same Length Back and Through An important key to pace and rhythm is to make your backstroke and forward stroke the same length.

2. Shoulders and Arms Do Most of the Work Main source of movement is in the shoulders and arms, they act together. You do not want your arms running away from your shoulders at any time, in the back swing especially; you need to keep your hands quiet during the entire stroke.

3. Let your Wrists Hinge - a Little A putting stroke should not be all hands as this causes too much play in the putter head and this does not hold up well under pressure. You should try to keep your hands and wrists subdued during the stroke. But you do not want to freeze your hands and wrists entirely either. If your grip pressure is light (as it should be), there is bound to be a small amount of hinging in the wrists. This is the case in long putts, where you need a longer stroke and more clubhead speed to get the ball to the hole. But do remember you only use your hands as much as is absolutely true.

4. Arms and Putter Act as One The club shaft and your left forearm should form a straight, continuous line. To do this, you just arch your wrists downward a little at address. By eliminating an angle between your forearm and the club shaft, the putter will do exactly what your arms do during the stroke. The aim is to eliminate unwanted angles and levers so the putting stroke is more of a one-piece action.

5. Keep a Steady Head All good putters keep their heads absolutely still from start to finish. Those considered bad putters usually move their heads to some degree. It is that simple. If you move your head a fraction it is difficult to keep your putting path stable and true and to hit the ball solidly. In a lot of instances you will open your shoulders on the forward stroke causing you to pull the putter across the ball from out to in.

6. No Peeking Like every player you can't wait to see if the ball is tracking toward the hole straight after the ball leaves the putter face. But the urge to do this to soon can have some unwanted consequences. The tendency to look too soon can cause your head to move and lead to sloppy contact. Also if you are distracted by where the ball is going, you may not focus on your main job, which is to keep the putter moving directly down the target line. Tiger Woods found an effective way to fight this problem; if it works for him then you should give it a go! He practices putting with his left eye closed so he can't see the target line at all with his peripheral vision. This makes it easier to keep his eyes looking straight down.

CHIPPING

Once you establish a good chipping technique, the battle is almost over. To be a good chipper you just need sound fundamentals, whether you are chipping uphill or downhill, whether the shot is long or short or whether is a good or bad lie. Some shots around the green are more difficult than others but they all revolve around the same simple approach.

The Fundamentals
1. Set your hands slightly ahead of the ball.
2. Grip the club as you do the putter, you don't need a lot of hand action.
3. Lean a little towards the target, this promotes a downward blow.
4. Choke down on the club for extra control.
5. Flex your knees a little; you don't want to feel static.
6. Narrow your stance; you don't need a wide base of support.
7. Position the ball slightly back of centre, this promotes a downward blow into the back of the ball.

2 Key Points to Chipping

1. See the Shot before You Hit the Ball
You need to look for more than how the ball will behave after it lands on the green. To control the distance accurately choose a spot where you want to land the ball and then form a mental picture of the ball actually traveling there.

2. The One-Two Action
The chipping stroke is a simple one-two action controlled by the shoulders more than the arms and hands, you don't need much force. The aim is to hit the ball solidly, making sure the clubhead is traveling downward at the moment it strikes the ball. Start the backswing with your shoulders, allowing your arms and hands to follow. Tempo is important you do not need to rush the backswing or forward swing. It is important to hit down on the back of the ball and don't try to help the ball into the air, the loft of the club will do this. The stroke may be short, but it is not a stab, so try to accelerate smoothly. A good thought is to return the arms to the position they were in at address. This means your hands are ahead of the ball, no scooping. Keep your eyes focused on the back of the ball and stay focused on that point after impact.

THE BUNKER SHOT

The set up for the standard bunker shot is a four-part process.
1. Open Your Stance
Align your feet, hips and shoulders to be left of the target. This preprograms an out-to-in swing, the clubhead cutting across the sand and the ball through impact.

2. Open the Club Face
Aim the club face to the right of the target. This does two things; it increases the loft of the club face so you can hit the ball high and soft and it also increases the amount of 'bounce' on the sole of the clubhead.

3. Weaken Your Grip
You do not want the club face to rotate to be a closed position through impact. To avoid this rotation, weaken your left hand grip at address so the back of your left hand faces the target.

4. Position the Ball Forward
An ideal position is just opposite your left heel. Playing the ball forward promotes a higher trajectory and also encourages you to slide the clubhead easily through the sand.

Remember that the standard bunker shot is about technique not about strength. Downsize Your Swing. You don't need a long swing as there is no need for extra distance. Keep your grip pressure light, maintain an easy rhythm and swing your hands back to about shoulder height. Cock Your Wrists Fully. The clubhead speed generated comes mainly from your hands and arms. Break your wrists early on the backswing and cock them all the way. This is a very 'handsy' shot with very little movement in your hips and legs. Your Right Hand. The bunker shot is dominated by the right hand. Through impact, the action is very similar to throwing a ball. Go Ahead and Release. Even though you really slung the club through the sand with your right hand, the toe of the clubhead hasn't turned over fully after impact. This is due to your weak left hand grip and you know the ball will then come out high and soft. Slide Don't Chop. Simply try to swing through impact into the follow-through, the ball coming out on a small cushion of sand.

How Much Sand Do You Take?
When you want the ball to run after it hits the green, you aim for a spot about three inches behind the ball. The ball then comes out on a thick cushion of sand with hardly any backspin. When you want to hit the ball high and make it stop quickly, you aim to hit the ball maybe an inch behind the ball or sometimes less. You will rarely try to pick the ball cleanly without taking any sand at all, as the ball can easily get away from you and fly too far.

PITCHING

The grip is the cornerstone of the swing. It is related to almost every element of the swing itself, including path, club face position, ball position and posture. Thus really you need a good grip to have a chance of building a good swing.

Function of Each Hand in the Grip

Left hand = Control Hand
The handle of the club runs diagonally across the base of your fingers, from the base of the forefinger to a point atop the callus pad below your little finger. This provides the best combination of sensitivity and control.
When the left-hand grip is complete you lower the club into the address position, your thumb should be positioned to the right centre on the handle and the 'V' formed by your right thumb and forefinger should point just outside your right ear.
  
Right Hand = Speed Hand
The right hand grip is similar to that of the left but the main difference is the club is placed more along the fingers. The handle should run from the middle portion of your right index finger to the base of your pinkie. This activates your right hand so it can supply speed on the downswing.



Many players like to use the interlocking grip. This is when the little finger of your right hand is laced between the forefinger and the middle finger of your left hand. This gives you the feeling that your hands can't separate during the swing. Other players prefer the overlapping grip, with the little finger of the right hand placed riding in the notch formed by the left forefinger and middle finger. Either way works fine it is whatever you feel most comfortable with in the end.



The Simple Swing

The pitch requires coordinated hand, arm and body action more so than the chip shot, because you need more clubhead speed to get the ball in the air. Your lower body also plays a vital role, as the hips turn slightly back and through to accommodate the motion in your shoulders, arms and hands.

The secret to hitting the ball high and soft is not to force it. The club is laid open at address, the hands are behind the ball and the ball is swept upwards off the tee. Whichever way you play some basics remain unchanged. You set the clubhead in position, and then take up your stance. The backswing starts low and straight, before the wrists are cocked. The downswing should be smoothly accelerating, it should not be rushed. The essence of good pitching is the full use of the arms rather than flicking of the wrists. You also have to remember to keep your head down and your eye on the ball at contact.