Golf Tip - Setting Yourself Up For That Perfect Pitched Shot

Each time I step into my new EZ GO golf cart (which really stands out form the crowd with its EZ GO lift kit conversion) and head out onto the course I feel like someone special as heads turn from those people in their sabby looking old club golf carts. However, this feeling soon evaporates when I start playing and people see the very poor quality of my pitch shot.

The pitched shot is an excellent example of the balance demanded in golf as not only a physical but also a mental sport and every pitch shot you take needs to be planned very carefully. Before you even begin to address your ball you need to examine the area you are playing over and take note of the conditions in order to decide precisely how you are going to to make the shot.

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

1. What am I aiming at? As a rule the answer to this will clearly be the hole, however when the cup has been set in a difficult location, such as tucked behind a bunker or cut very close to the edge of the putting green, you might well decide not to shoot directly for the hole but to have your ball land close to the hole leaving you a reasonably easy shot to putt out.

2. How level is the green? While most greens are quite flat a lot are also a long way from being flat and have a large fall from front to back or from on side to the other. The putting green may also be tiered with the flag placed on one of two or more 'steps' in the green. Any slope on the green is obviously going to affect your shot because you do not want your ball landing close to the hole and then rolling back down the slope away from the cup and perhaps even clear off the putting green.

3. How far will the ball fly before landing? Whether you are aiming directly for the hole or trying to put your ball onto the front edge of the putting green and roll it up to the hole it is important to know precisely how far you wish the ball to fly through the air as this will directly affect which club you choose.

4. What effect will the wind have on my shot? When you are going to play in windy conditions then you will need to estimate the effect that the wind will have on your shot. For instance, you might wish to to think about changing your choice in club to account for the wind and keep the flight of your pitch as low as you can. As an alternative, you might decide to use the wind to your advantage and aim off target, allowing the wind to carry the ball back onto the target line.

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

By considering each of these 5 questions carefully you will be able to pick your target, pick your club and take your shot with a clear picture of exactly the line you must follow in order to get the result you want.