SESSION 3 PITCHING: STANCE, POSTURE, BALL POSITION PITCHING: L-SHAPED SWING

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1 PITCHING: STANCE, POSTURE, BALL POSITION PITCHING: L-SHAPED SWING

2 PITCHING: STANCE, POSTURE, BALL POSITION WHAT IS NEEDED? Golf balls: Minimum 20 real golf balls per golfer Clubs: Appropriately sized pitching club(s) per golfer Other: Marker cones for safety Alignment aids ( H cards, canes and straightedged timber pieces KEY TEACHING POINTS POSTURE: stand tall & flex from the hips STANCE: feet shoulder width apart BALL POSITION: create triangle with ball and stance SESSION PLAN Ask questions to encourage golfers to remember what they learned from Session 1. 1 Introduce and demonstrate how to take the stance, posture and ball position for pitching. Stance step, step stand at ease, feet shoulder width (hang a club down like a plumb bob from each shoulder to check stance width). Posture Stand tall holding the club out parallel with the ground and so the butt end of the club points towards the belly button. Tilt forward from the hips, Drop the arms down and Pop (flex) the knees. Ball Position Positioned opposite the middle of the stance to create a equilateral triangle shape from the toes of both feet and the ball. 2 Practice set up above 36

3 PITCHING: STANCE, POSTURE, BALL POSITION STANCE & POSTURE Posture is taken as normal. The stance width widens from that of a chip shot to just inside shoulder width. The weight is still favouring the left leg, but only a little (60-40). BODY ALIGNMENT As per chipping. It may help the pupil to withdraw the left foot slightly if they are struggling to strike the ball correctly or are unable to turn through to the target. BALL POSITION The ball will be played in the middle of the stance. This, together with the weight favouring the left leg, will help ensure a descending blow. RULE & ETIQUETTE Rule: what are the maximum numbers of clubs allowed in a set? Etiquette: when are you required to be quiet on course? 37

4 PITCHING: STANCE, POSTURE, BALL POSITION CROSS THE RIVER ACTIVITY Place two rows of cones to form a river approximately yards from hitting area. Players take it in turn to hit balls over the river. Each team attempts to land 10 balls in a row over the river if a ball goes in or falls short the team start again. SAFE ZONE 38

5 PITCHING: STANCE, POSTURE, BALL POSITION CROSS THE RIVER EQUIPMENT Marker cones Pitching wedge Balls (softer sponge balls for players who struggle to get the ball in the air) SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area KEY TEACHING POINTS Posture Stand tall & flex from the hips Stance Feet shoulder width apart Ball Position Create triangle with ball and stance EASIER Make river closer to hitting area Narrow width of river HARDER Make river further away from hitting area Increase width of river Place hazards near river (yellow cones for bunkers) 39

6 PITCHING: L-SHAPED SWING SESSION PLAN 1 Introduce and demonstrate how to make the L shape swing position. 2 Individually practice L shape swing in posture 3 In pairs mirror each other s L shape swing/follow through. KEY TEACHING POINTS: BACKSWING: hinge wrists to create L FOLLOW THROUGH: create mirror L shape 40

7 PITCHING: L-SHAPED SWING SWING As the body turns and arms swing back, the extra motion will encourage the wrists to hinge in the backswing. At halfway back the left arm will be level to the floor and the wrists will have hinged the club so that it is approximately 90 to the left arm. The weight will be more over the right foot. In the downswing, as the arms and club return through a similar position to that of the address position, the weight should flow to the left leg. The follow through will mirror the backswing in both length and shape. Distance control and direction will be achieved in the same way as in Putting & Chipping. HOMEWORK What is the difference between a Full Swing and a Pitch? What clubs are used in a Full Swing? 41

8 PITCHING: L-SHAPED SWING P-I-G ACTIVITY Split players into small groups and mark out a target area for each group. The first person in each group hits their shot and attempts to land it in the target area. If a player misses the target the next player in their group can give them a letter P by hitting their ball into the target. Once a player has been given the three letters P.I.G they can no longer win the game but they can still take part and give other players letters. SAFE ZONE 42

9 PITCHING: L-SHAPED SWING P-I-G EQUIPMENT Marker cones Pitching wedge Balls (softer sponge balls for players who struggle to get the ball in the air) SAFETY POINTS Ensure all players stay in safe area when it is not their turn Players should leave club in hitting area KEY TEACHING POINTS Backswing Hinge wrists to create L Follow Through Create mirror L shape EASIER Increase size of target area Bring targets closer to hitting area Increase the number of letters each player is awarded before they are out of the competition HARDER Decrease size of target area Move target further away from hitting area 43