Pitch and Putt

Pitching in golf is learning the in between shots, in contrast to the full shots. It usually refers to golf shots around and inside the 100 yards range. However, I believe once this is mastered, one will also acquire the skill to use all clubs without executing the full shots - shots you need most of the time for windy situations.

The technique to be followed here is the one expoused by David Toms - a low trajectory body only shot that skips twice and stops on its tracks.

The procedure here is:

• Usual routine full shot should be employed. In addition, make sure about the target spot, how far it is. Visualize how the ball will land, brake and trickle into the hole.
  
• Practice the shot first - decide on the shot (one fourth, half, or three fourth). Tighten the left arm; make sure the alive grip is ready; make a full cock and
  
• Turn around (to the finish position) let the club hit the ball by the forward motion of the body.
• Imagine the "result" not the technique.
• Do not forget the ice cream scooping motion (see chipping section also) which will prevent skulling or chilli dipping mistakes.
  

A lot of practice is still needed to get to know the distances between the clubs and the trajectories. So practice and measure, practice and measure, practice and measure.

One very important thing to remember (same as in chipping and putting) is that the left arm brings back the club but the body brings it forward. Proceed to learn chipping.

Common Denominator: Pitch, Chip, and Putt

There is a common basic swing technique between the pitch, the chip and the putt. (This is true for full swings too) This common technique is the essence of chipping - without knowing this, you will never be able to fly your chipping softly or make them run at will. What I am saying here is even though they are the same for all the three, chipping is really where you know you cannot get around without it. Once learned, you will know how crucial this technique is. The test to know for sure that you have learned the technique is when you are capable of the chip-lob shot. This chip is the one where the club head passes under the ball before it (the ball) can come down.

Essentially, this technique follows one rule (this was mentioned somewhere else): the backswing is the left hand, the forward swing is the body turning around. In short, the hit is always done with the body - always, no exception. The motion of the backswing is like a reverse scooping of ice cream by the right hand (remember the left hand is the prime mover). The forward swing is like scooping the ice cream forward and throwing (with the body and arms) the ice cream (ball) to the target spot. This ice cream scooping motion makes it easy to come back to the ball without skulling it (or chilli dipping).

To learn this easier, start with the pitching section first of this blog. Try to learn how the technique is done in pitching. One learned, then go to the chipping section. Last is the putting section.

Note: this topic is huge and I am not done yet explaining the whole thing. This will include update of the other sections - pitches, chips and putting.

After a long lay-off, Disaster!

Well living in the northeast USA one has to contend with laying off the club for a few months. It a good thing that I can afford to travel down to Orlando with the family and enjoy (not true) golf in between trips accompanying the grandkids to the, what else, Disney World.

What a disaster! I thought I know the secret of golf already - the knees - but after a long lay-off, the muscle memory is no memory no more! Military golf takes over - left right, left right...

It is wonderful that I started this blog. Now I have to use it myself and read again what I have written so my body will replenish the muscle memory banks again. Golf is indeed a journey, an annual journey in my case.

Upon reading the whole blog again and comparing my recollections of my latest adventure in golf, the number one culprit that destroyed my game is probably the left hand and left arm losing the golf muscles built in by last year's constant golf. The winter months have weakened my left arm and left wrist to point that my right hand was taking over in the grip, the hit, almost everything. Lucky you lefties (playing rightie golf), winter months must be your recuperation months while us righties degrades. I hope God remembers and balances this out somehow.