Pitching the Ball over a Bunker? Use this Feel!

The Underhanded Throw Feel: When you are hitting a pitch shot over a bunker or an obstacle, focus on making the motion feel like an underhanded throw. This familiar athletic movement helps simplify the swing and improves both contact and direction.

The Importance of Posture: To execute this underhanded motion, you must be in good golf posture. Get into a bowing posture, bending forward enough to create a natural path for your arms to swing freely underneath your shoulders.

Athletic Balance and Pivot: Place yourself in a state of good athletic balance. From this stable base, focus on your pivot as you swing. If you maintain good posture, the club will naturally follow the correct path, just like a well-executed toss.

The Result: Using a motion you already know—like a throw—from a solid athletic setup leads to more consistent, solid contact and much better accuracy on the green.

Questions and Answers

Q: Why should I think of a pitch shot as an underhanded throw? A: Most people already know how to make an underhanded throwing motion. Using this familiar feel makes the pitching motion more natural and easier to repeat under pressure.

Q: What is bowing posture in golf? A: It is a setup where you are bent forward from the hips. This creates the necessary space for your arms to swing directly underneath your shoulders rather than being cramped against your body.

Q: How does this help with clearing bunkers? A: When you have to hit a shot of consequence, like going over sand, good posture and a natural throwing feel give you the confidence to make a fluid, athletic motion instead of a restricted, mechanical one.