Every time I climb 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 a classic example of the balance needed in golf as not only a physical but also a mental sport and every pitch shot you make needs to be planned carefully. Before you even start to address your ball you have to examine the ground you will be playing over and take careful note of the conditions so that you can decide just how you intend to play your shot.
When drawing up your plan you need to ask yourself 5 questions:
1. What am I aiming at? In most cases the answer will be the hole, but if the cup has been set in a difficult position, such as tucked in behind a bunker or cut close to the side of the putting green, you may well decide not to aim directly for the hole but to land your ball close to the hole leaving you with a reasonably simple shot to hole out.
2. How level is the putting green? While a lot of greens are fairly flat some are also far from flat and may have a substantial fall from one side to the other or from front to back. The putting green might also be tiered with the flag situated on one of two or more 'steps' in the green. Any slope on the green will obviously affect your shot as you do not want your ball landing close to the hole and then rolling down the slope away from the cup and maybe even clear off the putting green.
3. How far must the ball fly before landing? Whether you are aiming straight for the hole or trying to fire your ball onto the front of the green and roll it up to the flag it is important to know exactly how far you need the ball to fly through the air because this will directly affect which club you choose.
4. What effect will the wind have on my shot? If you are playing in the wind then you will have to gauge the effect that the wind will have on your shot. For instance, you may wish to to consider changing your choice in club to account for the wind and to keep the trajectory of your ball as low as you can. As an alternative, you may decide to use the wind to your own advantage and aim off, allowing the wind to carry the ball back onto the target line.
5. How quick is the putting surface? The condition of the green is exceedingly important and you will need to gauge this against the holes that you have already played or conditions on the practice ground. For example, is the green hard and dry in which case the ball is going to bounce and might run some distance, or is the putting surface soft and wet in which case your ball might stop dead where it lands.
By considering each of these 5 questions carefully you will be able to select your target, pick your club and make your shot with a clear picture of exactly the line to follow in order to get the result you wish for.
