Play Better Golf with Noah’s Ark Golf Centre Professional Niall McGill Learn to Spin your Pitches Have you ever wondered how the top pro’s get their pitch shots to stop so quickly on the greens? If so, then the technique I will show you today can help increase the spin you impart onto the golf ball by up to 50%, making your ball grip quickly upon landing on the green. As with most other pitch shots, one of the keys to hitting ‘spinny’ pitch shots is to use your shoulders and chest to control the movement and keep your hands quiet. Firstly, address the ball with your feet reasonably close together, the ball positioned central in your stance and your hands opposite the inside of your left thigh. Your weight should favour the left side about 60:40 and your grip pressure should be light. Swing your shoulders and chest back making sure that your weight remains on your left side and your grip pressure does not increase. Now comes the hard bit and the bit that is going to takes some practice…. As you swing down, I want you to work on striking the ball as cleanly as possible, without taking a divot. The perfect strike should feel like it is thin. I want you to approach the ball on a very level attack angle, you may even feel that the handle of the club is working slightly upward as the ball is struck. The result of this movement will be an increase in friction between the clubface and ball, along with an increase in vertical gear effect, both of which significantly increase spin rate. Get out onto the range and start working on this shot. Expect a few skulls at first, but with a bit of practice, you’ll be checking up your pitch shots like the pro’s!
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