Today we are talking about hitting crisp pitch shots by stabilizing center of gravity points.
There are three center of gravity points we will be concerned with. Start with the center line of the body, the first point on that center line I want to pay attention to is right between our eyes. The next point is over the sternum. The final point is between the hips right below the belly button. For a solid pitch shot maintain stability by keeping the three points in line with each other. We don’t want one of those points getting out in front of the others. A lot of pitch shots that are not hit crisp are the result of hitting them either thin or fat. When the center of gravity line is destabilized, for example I get the center point of the hips out in front of the center line it will pull the head and sternum points back behind the line. Then as I come into the ball the club head moves ahead of the hands catching only the top part of the ball. I hit a thin shot. If I really get the hips out in front and the other two points drop back from the center line even farther, I can very easily hit it “fat” behind the ball. So, watch the hips. Do not slide the hips back and forth or turn and then slide the hips. Stabilize the hips. Turn the hips back and around the spine while the hips center point remains stable and in line with the head and sternum points and you’ll hit nice crisp shots every time.
PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill is here to help you play better and enjoy the game more. Correct alignment and balance utilizing gravity and center points will optimize crisp pitch shots. To learn more about pitch shots please come see us in Palm Springs for golf lessons or visit us for a Palm Springs a Golf School.