SG Instruction (Page 1)

INSTRUCTION
BY BRUCE McCARROL,
CPGA Master Professional;
Director of Instruction,
Golf Institute at Bond Head
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHICO / CSCHELPHOTO.COM
Fitting
Pitches
DON’T BE A ONE-TRICK PONY
AROUND THE GREENS; LEARN DIFFERENT
PITCHES FOR DIFFERENT LIES.
JUNE 2008
SCOREGolf • com
51
INSTRUCTION
THE SQUARE PINCH
Both at address and on the
takeaway make sure your FEET,
KNEES, HIPS and SHOULDERS
are SQUARE to the target line.
Take the club straight back on
the takeaway and only hinge
your wrists if you need to create
more club head speed for
longer shots.
This technique produces
a low ball flight and a
high amount of backspin.
To be played from a tight
lie on closely mown grass
as shown here.
SET UP
SWING PATH
Set up with the ball back in
your stance with your WEIGHT
and HANDS FORWARD. Note
that my left arm is basically
an extension of the golf club.
Also, be sure to keep your
clubface square to the target
line at address.
The Square Pinch will produce a
divot at impact.
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INSTRUCTION
Your FEET, KNEES, HIPS and
SHOULDERS should be OPEN to
the target line. The backswing
and follow-through is on an out-toin swing path and the toe of the
club should be pointed skyward
at the top of the backswing. Keep
the hands and weight forward
through impact to create the
pinching action.
THE CUT PINCH
This technique will produce
a slightly higher trajectory
than the Square Pinch while
retaining a high amount of
backspin. To be played from a
tight lie or one with no air
underneath the ball as
shown here.
SET UP
SWING PATH
As with the Square Pinch,
your HANDS and WEIGHT
are FORWARD, but the ball
should be played off your
front foot and your clubface
should be open in relation
to the golf ball and your
body lines.
Again, this action will produce a divot.
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INSTRUCTION
THE SQUARE SWEEP
As with the Square Pinch, your
FEET, KNEES, HIPS and SHOULDERS
should be SQUARE to the target
line. The club is swung along the
shoulder line with the clubface
remaining square.
This technique is used to
produce a high, soft shot
that doesn’t move much
upon landing. To be played
when the ball is sitting up
and where there is air
underneath the ball as
shown here.
SET UP
SWING PATH
Position the ball forward in
your stance. Your WEIGHT
DISTRIBUTION should be
EVENLY DISPERSED to both
legs and your hands should
be centred in line with your
head and torso. Your clubface
should be square to the ball.
This will encourage you to
strike the ball at the bottom
of the arc, reducing the
amount of backspin imparted
on the ball.
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This shot does not produce a divot; rather
the clubface sweeps through the grass.
INSTRUCTION
THE CUT SWEEP
As with the Cut Pinch, your FEET,
KNEES, HIPS and SHOULDERS are
OPEN to the target line. Your
backswing and follow-through
should follow a distinct out-to-in
swing path.
This method produces the highest
trajectory of any pitch shot by
combining a lofted club, an
open clubface and an open body
alignment with a fluffy lie. To
be played from a similar lie as
the Square Sweep, where the ball
is sitting up as shown here.
SET UP
SWING PATH
Move the ball forward in
your stance and position
your HANDS SLIGHTLY
FORWARD OF CENTRE.
The clubface should be
open in relation to the
golf ball.
As with the Square Sweep, this shot
does not induce a divot.
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