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Pitching
By Jonathan Yarwood
If you want to make some scores, then get your pitching sharper! Getting accurate from 80 yards and in, is a great way to lower your scores quickly and easily.
The set up for pitching is a blend of the chip set up and the full swing really. Stand wider than a chip, but not as wide as a full swing. Stand the same ratio from the ball too, not as close as a chip but not as far away as your full swing. Your feet should be slightly open to the target with the ball towards the middle of your stance and your weight leaning left a hint. This encourages a downward hit when you squeeze the front edge of the club against the turf during the hit.
A pitch is powered by a rotation of the body, with the arms hanging on for the ride and staying in sync. Many people who are poor at pitching get very ‘hands and armsy’. Try hitting some with a towel under your arms to get the feeling. The wrists gently blend in and allow the club to hinge on the way back and on the way through providing some power but also the all important angle of attack to get the ball airborne.
Once you have the technique, I like the idea of a clock system with the left arm. Turing the body gently and having an awareness of where the left arm is in relation to the ground hits the ball a certain distance. So the left arm at 8 o’clock hits it “X” distance, 9 o’clock hits it “Y” distance, etc.
Get that pitching sharper and watch those scores tumble!
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Jonathan Yarwood was originally from the United Kingdom, but relocated to the United States in 1996. After a few years as one of David Leadbetter’s senior teachers, Jonathan branched out on his own and has enjoyed an extensive career with a track record that speaks for itself: He has coached, 2 US Amateur Champions including this years champion Ben An, 2 US Girls Champions and 1 US Open Champion in Michael Campbell in 2005. That is 5 USGA champs in 10 years, which is a record in itself. Add to that the four number one juniors, 3 AJGA players of the year, a collegiate number one, a male and female nationally ranked number one as well as a winner on every major professional tour, you have a record to rival the best. Jonathan was voted a Top 20 teacher under 40 years old by Golf Digest in 2006, after 5 straight years of being in the best teacher in state rankings for Florida.
But Jonathan remains humble and states he is ‘just a small part of their success’. He enjoys teaching people of every standard equally. Having a state of the art academy at The Concession with an indoor video suite and putting studio he specializes in all areas of the game, making it a ‘one stop shop’. For more information visit www.golfjy.com [6] or call 941.322.1465.
Copyright © 2010 REAL Magazine
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