Top 50 Coach Keith Wood Breaks Down the Half Pitch Shot

Most golfers struggle to control distance with their wedges around the green, but Top 50 coach Keith Wood says a single half pitch swing can fix that by turning each wedge in the bag into its own distance option.

What is the half pitch shot?

The idea is to swing every wedge back and through to the same length and at the same tempo. Because each wedge carries a different loft, the same swing produces a different flight, spin rate and amount of roll once the ball lands. Wood says golfers who spend practice time cataloguing those differences build a complete menu of scoring distances without changing their technique from club to club.

How should you set up for it?

Wood recommends a narrower stance than a full swing to limit body movement and help the strike. Shifting a little extra weight onto the front foot promotes the downward strike a pitch shot needs. From there, the torso and shoulders should drive the swing while the arms follow, with a slight wrist hinge adding a steeper angle of attack.

How do you control the finish?

Capping the backswing naturally limits how far the ball can travel, and doing the same on the follow-through lets a golfer swing through impact with confidence rather than decelerating. Wood says unhinging the wrists with purpose through a shortened finish improves contact, including from poor lies or when grass catches the clubface.