The closer you get to the pin the harder it is to hit short pitch shots into the green. One alternative from this distance is the bump and run. But sometimes you have no alternative but to hit a short pitch shot, like when you have a bunker between you and the pin. That’s when knowing how sticking a 15-yard pitch shot can help turn three strokes into two. Hit it well and you’ll have an easy putt.
Below are five keys to hitting this shot:
- Set up as if you were hitting a 30-yard pitch
- Position the ball in the middle
- Cock your wrists quickly
- Keep your hands soft at impact
- Finish with the club pointing toward the target
You hit the 15-yard pitch shot as if you were going to hit a 30-yard pitch shot. You want to use a 60-degree wedge for this shot.
Set up as you normally would to hit a longer pitch shot. Some experts tell you to open your stance or your clubface. But more often than not your ball will roll truer after landing if you square up your stance and clubface. Try both set-ups to see what works for you. Also, place the ball in the middle of your stance.
You don’t really need much backswing on this shot. So cock your wrist quickly as you go back and make sure the clubhead blade is pointing straight to the sky when your wrists a full cocked. This move ensures crisp contact.
Your impact position should be an almost identical copy of you at address. But make sure you keep your hands soft through impact, your arms are well extend and pointing at the target when finished.
You can also open the clubface and try to “trap” the ball against the ground by almost coming over the top. This move will give you a super low ball flight and some “hop and drop” spin action from a clean lie if you hit the ball crisply.
The 15-yard pitch is a great weapon to add to your arsenal. But you must execute it well to benefit from it. Practice the shot until it is ingrained…and then practice some more.
