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HOW DO YOU IMPROVE YOUR 50-YARD PITCH SHOT?
The "broken tee drill" will help master the 50-yard pitch shot. Stephen Deane, Head Academy Professional at the Emirates Golf Club, gives a great lesson and shows us this simple drill that will help you master the 40–50-yard pitch shot. The keys to success are a low and shallow angle of approach and to use your body as the engine of the shot. You do not want to use your arms excessively, either leading with your hands too far or by scooping at the ball. You will have a pretty good idea you are using your body correctly when your chest ends by facing the target.
The Broken Tee 50-Yard Pitch Shot Drill
The forty-to-fifty-yard pitch shot can be quite a tricky shot for all levels of golfer from beginner through the tour player. The secret to play this shot successfully is to have a very shallow approach to the ball. The broken tee drill is a very easy drill to setup, and it will help you improve your technique for this shot.
All you'll need is a single golf tee, which you will break in half. You will place the top portion of the tee into the ground about an inch in front of the golf ball. It will be angled toward your target. You will place the bottom half of the tee into the ground about an inch behind the golf ball. It will also be slightly angled forward toward your target.
For the shot, you will have a narrow stance and a very shallow swing, which is designed to sweep the golf ball off the ground, by just grazing the ground through the impact zone. If you swing the club properly with a shallow angle of approach, you will clip both tees off the grass as you hit the ball. If you use a shallow approach angle, the ball the balls pop nicely off the top of the surface and it's gone around that 40-to-50-yard length.
The key to this drill is to make sure that you keep your body rotating. If your body stops turning this gives you the opportunity to use the hands and arms, which we don't want to do. When we play these shots if you are always turning, you will finish with your chest toward the target every time, with less chance of scooping the ball.
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Stephen Deane, Head Professional
Stephen's professional career started in 2004 at the prestigious Royal County Down Golf Club under the supervision of the 2006 Irish PGA Captain Kevan Whitson. An honours graduate in Golf Management from Central Lancashire, Stephen is an accomplished teacher and player. Having travelled to Hong Kong, Spain and now Dubai to teach the game, Stephen brings with him a wealth of knowledge to pass on to his pupils.A passionate instructor Stephen advocates the World's best Peter Cowens method of instruction. Having been mentored by Peter, Stephen brings with him modern information which he passes onto his students in a simple and effective manner. A qualified Titleist Performance Institute Fitness, Junior and Power coach instructor he has the ability to offer a holistic approach when working with all ages and ability of student. Stephen also utilizes trackman data and video analysis on a daily basis to get the most out of his students' games.
Stephen is an accomplished player having won several UAE PGA events. Some highlights include representing the UAE in the International team championships and successfully qualifying and competing in the 2010 European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
As a key staff member during preparations for the Seniors British Open Championships, Ladies' British Amateur Championship and Walker Cup which were held at Royal County Down, Stephen is used to working at a venue that hosts major events.