COMMUNITY

Now that you mention it, it makes total sense. I never thought of it that way.

A good teaching pro knows. So instead of having students hitting full shots, after a lesson, he has them ingraining the fundamentals of the golf swing on smaller shots, in slow motion. When the correct fundamentals and sequence are memorized, it is simple to just use a longer club and a bigger swing.

It is the same thing a music teacher has his students do. First learn the notes, play them slowly, then slowly speed up.

Learning a new dance step requires the same methodology. First they "walk through" the complex moves and then they start the music.

Larry

As a new player, I will be using that tip very soon.

Hate to disagree, but I have a very strong pitching game and it does not resemble my full swing. My stance is more open for one. Second my technique is different because I prefer the dead wrist pitch which limits wrist hinge in the back swing and in the release.

This is why when I teach a beginner, I start with this kind of pitch shot. I did so with someone brand new to the game today. It's a great building block approach as you ingrain a few good fundamentals, then add a few additional elements to get the player to a full swing.

Connor is correct though that there are several popular pitching techniques that are dissimilar in significant ways to a full swing. Also the topic name is a bit of a misnomer, as a drive and a full swing are not the same thing either.

But I agree with the basic premise that teaching beginners starting with a pitch that is a miniturized version of of a full swing is a great approach and with more accomplished players a great way to rehearse certain fundamentals.

As a beginner I start at most 14 holes with a drive but finish almost all 18 with a pitch or chip shot. The numbers don't lie.

Wow you must be good. I end every hole with a putt:)

I agree with most everything stated on here. While my technique for pitching is different it is probably wise to work through the fundamentals.

If you want to improve you can no matter how little time you have each week. If you can't practice you still can improve but it may take more time.

I have said this a million times but it needs to be repeated a million more. If you want to score better you need to work on the easy things first...the little things.

1) Work on lag putting.
2) Chipping- I swear to you that chipping is one of the easiest parts of the game. If you can just learn to take your wrists out of the stroke you will find that you won't hit the ball fat or thin and distance control becomes second nature. As a matter of fact for about 3 years I would have preferred to chip from 60 feet over a 30 foot putt
3) Pitching is pretty easy when you realize that its more about feel than technique. Plus in the beginning your goal is the green and as you groe confidence it becomes the flag.

Amen! So many shots can be saved or wasted around the green based on those three shot types.

Ha ha ha

Conner, I agree and especially with #2. I can frequently do better chipping vs. longer lag putts. My putting isn't usually "bad" but I just seem to have better distance control chipping.

Good plan! Just make absolutely sure you are practicing the correct moves in the correct sequence. Have a teaching pro check.

Larry

Of course there are legitimate variations in technique. There are differences in the technique artists use to play musical instruments and in other sports, but the accepted standards are the accepted standards because that method is the most easily learned and most consistently repeated. So every teacher will have every beginner imitate the best.

Seve Ballesteros was a good example of unusual technique combined with rare ability. But it would be folly to imitate him instead of the accepted standard method. It takes FAR LONGER to become good with a quirky method. A golf swing that requires adjustment or compensations will often fail under pressure.

I chose the pitch shot for an example because it is easy with good technique while even the tiniest fault in balance, grip pressure, arm tension, spine straightness, and much else will ruin the shot, cause that frustrating little chunk or skull we see even touring pros do. So this shot teaches us to take a little extra time to get everything right. Experienced golfers know it looks easy, but isn't.

Nick Faldo says in his book that he avoided the necessity to pitch with less than a full swing by staying out 100 yards. He would choose his clubs to place him where the green approach would require a full swing with his favorite PW. He KNEW he could drop it on the flagstick with that, but was always worried about a 40 yard pitch for example.

Larry

I'd have to see that quote. Studies have shown that the closer you are to the hole the better shot you are likely to hit and the closer your proximity to the hole. I am a very strong wedge player and I will take any pitch shot over a full wedge.

And I disagree with the premise entirely. The driver swing is not like an iron swing and its not like a wedge swing because of the length of the club. How often do you see players playing a half swing driver?

In my opinion swings are broken down into categories...
1) woods
2) long irons
3) mid-short irons
4) pitch shots
5) chipping
6) bunkers (actually there are at at least two different types here as well)

Now if you were to say that a pitch shot is a shortened full swing wedge I would be closer to agreement. But a driver...not so much.

All of that being said I understand the comment and can see its practicality to people who want to get better at golf. The next thing you would tell me is that a chip is a miniature pitch.

I would take my method of the miniature driver swing method anyday. My pitch shot (in my opinion) is more precise and easier to master. See Zach Johnson or Steve Stricker's pitch shots. While the club still obeys the rules of swinging on-plane it limits wrist action which allows the golfer to hit the ball where he/she is aiming more often.

If Faldo ever said that, it wasn't because he wasn't good at pitching. I watched him play in his heyday...believe me, he's good. It's because a half-wedge shot is never going to have the same amount of spin and stopping power as a full swing, especially back in Faldo's day with the old grooves.

I gotta say, while I agree with the premise some, pitching and full drives are not the same. Yes, you have to hit the ball squarely, and yes, you have to avoid helping it in the air, but that's about where it ends. Pitches don't really have much weight transfer to speak of, or hip/shoulder rotation, or hand action. The stance is different, the ball position is different. Plus, you consciously hit DOWN on a pitch...if you ever hit down on a driver, you'll find your ball buried 6 inches into the ground in front of you.