Golf Tips from the Pros

Pitching Over Traps
- One day I was giving a playing lesson. My student was an average 95 shooter who wanted to know some helpful hints on how to lower his score by using good strategy on the course. After several holes I noticed that every time he tried to pitch his ball over a trap he would either put the ball in the trap or skull it over the green. However, on his pitches with no traps in front of him he would hit fine shots.

This is a very common problem with the average golfer. Put a little sand in front of them and they tense up. In my student's case the solution was simple. I noticed that on the shots with no sand in front of him he would look up on the green: pick a point to land his ball, address his ball, and while addressing the ball his eyes would look up occasionally to the spot he picked on the green. When he hit his shot the ball would land around that spot. But, when he had sand in front of him he would not look at the spot on the green. Instead, his eyes kept looking at the edge of the trap.

I solved his problem by having him treat the pitch over the trap in the same manner as the pitch with no sand. Just pick the point that you want the ball to land and try to hit the ball there. Guess what? It worked for him and it might work for you too.

Vince Cali
PGA Master Professional