Pitching

Modern golfers have the advantage of a wide choice of pitching clubs, or wedges, to help make the business of pitching easier. But whatever your choice of weapon, the basics of the short pitch are the same. Sharpen you short game with this simple tip.

Please note: all lessons refer to right-handed golfers

• Accurate pitching reduces your golf handicap. Turning three strokes into two by pitching close to the pin cuts strokes from your scores. Learning to pitch accurately is crucial to improving your game.

• The tendency for many amateurs is for the swing to be either too long, in which case the club head decelerates through impact, or too short, in which case the club head is flicked through impact. Either way it costs you strokes.

• Next time you are practicing your pitching, picture yourself standing in a clock face, with your left arm as the 'hour hand' swing the club as far through as you swing back, for example 8 o clock to 4 o clock, 9 o clock to 3 o clock etc.

• This method will encourage you to keep the club accelerating through impact.