Golfing Advice - Preparing For The Faultless Pitch Shot - By: Don Saunders

The pitched shot is a classic example of the balance necessary in golf as both a physical and mental sport and every pitch shot you take must be carefully planned. Before you even address your ball you have to examine the terrain you are going to play over and take note of the conditions so that you can decide just how you intend to make your shot.

When drawing up your plan you will need to ask yourself five simple questions:

1. What is the target? Generally the answer will clearly be the hole, however if the cup has been placed in a difficult position, like tucked in behind a bunker or cut close to the side of the putting green, you may decide not to shoot for the hole but to land your ball near the hole leaving you with a reasonably easy shot to putt out.

2. How level is the green? While many greens are flat some are also a long way from being flat and have a significant fall from one side to the other or from front to back. The putting surface might also be tiered with the flag placed on one of several 'steps' in the green. Any slope on the green is clearly going to affect your shot because you do not wish your ball to land close to the hole and then rolling down the slope away from the cup and perhaps even clear off the putting surface.

3. How far must the ball fly before landing? Whether you are aiming directly for the cup or trying to fire your ball onto the front of the putting green and roll it up to the cup it is essential to know exactly how far you need the ball to fly through the air because this is going to directly affect which club you choose.

4. What effect is the wind going to have on my shot? If you are going to be playing in the wind then you will have to estimate the effect that the wind will have on your shot. For example, you might wish to change your choice of club to account for the wind and keep the flight of your pitch as low as possible. Alternatively, you could decide to use the wind to your advantage and aim off target so that the wind carries the ball back onto the target line.

5. How quick is the putting surface? The condition of the green is extremely important and you must evaluate this against holes which you have already played or conditions on the practice ground. For example, is the putting green dry and hard in which case the ball will bounce and could run a considerable distance, or is the green soft and wet in which case the ball may simply stop dead where it lands.

By carefully considering each of these five questions you will be able to select your target, chose your club and take your shot with a definite picture of just the line you must follow in order to get the result you are looking for.

About the Author

Donald Saunders has been writing articles on a range of subjects for some years now. Visit his latest web site which supplies information on EZ GO golf carts and EZ GO lift kits together with a great deal more.

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