How to PITCH

with AUSTIN PICINICH

Eagle participant, artist and Coach with The First Tee of Greater Seattle, Austin Picinich tells us how he gets the ball close from short range.

Video

 

Question and Answer

Tell us who you are!

I’m Austin Picinich, Eagle-level First Tee student and freshman in high school, and I have been a volunteer coach with The First Tee for two years.

What’s your career low round and at what course? Elaborate a little...

My low round is an 81 in tournament at Nile Shrine. I was confident in my wedges and short-irons that day, I felt I could knock almost everything under 135 yards to one-putt range.

If you could pick any dream foursome from the past or present, who would the other 3 be?

Ryan Moore, Joel Dahmen, and Kevin Chappell – all local Washington state golfers who are currently thriving on the PGA tour.

Do you have one or two keys to pitching?

It’s important to sweep the grass, and never hit down on the ball during a flop shot. Contact is also key, if you hit the ball thin it will go much further than you want.

What do you consider to be pitch shots?

Anything requiring an open stance/clubface to propel the ball higher and stop it quickly.

As you evaluate the pitch shot you have to hit, what are you looking for to select the right club or type of shot?

I look at how much room I have to stop the ball. If the pin is on the front edge of the green with a sand trap to clear, I know I’ll need my 60 degree to stop the ball after one bounce. If I’ve got more room, I’ll bump down to a sand wedge or lower.

What are your thoughts on ball position and weight distribution in your setup?

Ball out by your front foot and weight slightly forward (60-40% or less). Tilt the shaft back just a bit, but do not lean your body weight back (even though it may seem natural to get more loft!) Be especially aware of this when on an upslope, as it’s tougher to keep your body position upright on a hill.

Do you prefer to hit high or low pitches? Why?

I prefer to hit the higher pitches (they’re more fun!), but better results typically come with the lower shots.

If you need to stop the ball quickly, what do you do?

My go-to is the flop shot to stop quickly. Open stance keeping clubface aligned to the target, and swing along the line of your feet. The less room I have to roll the ball out, the more I’ll open up my stance and the harder I’ll swing.

Do you manipulate the clubface open or closed when pitching? Why?

I open the clubface to pitch. Clubface square or closed is generally a chip, and with a pitch my goal is to hit a little higher.

Any final thoughts on pitching?

Many people only attempt the flop shot on an upslope, but don’t be scared to attempt on flat ground – and it’s not as hard as you think especially with a good lie. Also keep in mind the difference on short fairway vs. longer rough (acting fluffier and “teeing” the ball up).