How to Hit A Pitching Wedge
[Ultimate Guide]
If you have ever struggled with learning how to hit a pitching wedge, trust us you’re not alone! Learning how to hit a pitching wedge requires countless hours of practice and determination. However, if you can master the art of hitting a pitching wedge, it will be amazing how drastically your score will decrease.
The versatility of a pitching wedge is limited only by how far you can hit it. Most golfers will top out around 120-140 yards with theirs. When it comes to learning how to hit a pitching wedge, the answer isn’t always simple. And the reason is that there is far more than just one way to play a shot with this versatile club. Let’s look at a few.
Full Swing
The most obvious answer to the question of how to hit a pitching wedge is simple. You can hit this club just as you would any other. From the fairway, rough, or even tee on a short par-3, take your normal swing.
In most sets, the pitching wedge looks the same as every other iron. For this reason, there’s not much of a reason to change your swing. Other golfers prefer to buy their pitching wedge separate from their iron set, opting for one that looks like a sand or lob wedge, and has the loft, rather than “PW”, on the bottom. Even if this is the case, you can take a full swing just like any other iron.
Half Swing
A half swing with a pitching wedge is a great option for when you’re close to the green, but need to fly the ball part of the way there. This could be for any one of many reasons, such as avoiding a severe slope, sand trap or patch of rough. Pitching wedges allow for some roll, but not as much as with low or mid irons.
On the flip side, it is a much smaller swing than that of a sand or lob wedge. With clubs like those, it could take closer to a full swing, leaving a much wider window for error. Another consideration when deciding how to hit a pitching wedge is that the alternative is more difficult in nature. With other wedges, it takes precision to control half shots due to the lead flange of wedges being designed for steeper swings than just a soft, half swing.
Around the Green
This is closer to a section of shots inside 100 yards, that combine each of the swing styles we go through above. We consider shots around the green a vague type of shot. It could be when you’re a few yards away, or when you’ve missed the GIR, but don’t have a full shot left. Knowing your pitching wedge is essential to recovering from an error and scrambling to a par.
If you have a wide opening, a pitching wedge is a perfect play. Take a normal swing and watch your ball roll close to the hole. With a tighter landing zone, it’s not as easy, but still doable to land and stop a ball close to the hole.
In terms of how to hit a pitching wedge and generate more spin when working with a tighter landing area, a steeper downswing will do the trick. You should also move the ball a bit further back in your stance. Unfortunately, this is a bit harder to do as you are deviating from your normal swing. When you miss doing this, it can lead to skulls and chunks. Get used to this type of swing and it pays off with shorter birdie putts and more up and downs. As is always the case, practice will make perfect.
Things to Consider
BALL POSITION
**Standard position is middle; however, you may need to adjust according to course conditions and lie**
BACKSWING
Follow Through
Final Thoughts
Throughout this article, we’ve covered the basics on how to hit a pitching wedge. It is important to note that learning how to hit a pitching wedge like a pro like not happen overnight. It will takes years of practice and dedication to perfect this skill; however, it will take your game to the next level. Hopefully, you enjoyed this article and benefited from our tips. For more beginner-friendly golf tips, check out our article on how to fix a slice.
