Pitching Setup Drill: Stance, Pressure and Ball Position.
Narrow stance. Simple routine.
This pitching setup drill gives you three clear checks before a short wedge shot: stance, lead-side pressure and ball position.
The feet cue is simple: stand as though you are waiting for a bus. Keep them fairly close together, open the stance a little and settle into your short-pitch setup.
This is Wedge Play Card 6 in the Golf Practice Made Fun App. Make five slow rehearsals, then play 18 short pitches and count how often you follow the whole routine.
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Your drill at a glance
| Drill detail | Your session |
|---|---|
| Category | Wedge play · Card 6 |
| Benefit | Build a repeatable starting position and pitching routine. |
| Practice format | Five slow rehearsals, then 18 short-pitch attempts. |
| Practice record | 1 point for following the whole routine; total out of 18. |
| Equipment | One wedge, practice balls and a suitable short-pitch target. |
Watch the pitching setup demonstration
Watch the video, then follow the Card 6 practice session below.
Step 1. Set Your Feet, Pressure and Ball
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Bring your feet closer | Use a fairly narrow, relaxed stance, as though waiting for a bus. |
| Open a little | Open your stance slightly while keeping a comfortable position. |
| Favour the lead foot | Use the Card 6 cue of about 70% of your weight on your lead foot. |
| Set the ball back | Place the ball near your trail foot for this drill, then take your normal two-handed grip. |
For a right-handed golfer, the lead foot is the left foot and the trail foot is the right. Reverse those labels if you play left-handed.
Your setup cue: “Feet. Pressure. Ball.”
Step 2. Let Your Chest Turn with the Club
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Let the arms hang | Take a comfortable address position with relaxed arms. |
| Turn back and through | Let your chest turn with the club through a small, controlled pitching motion. |
| Rehearse five times | Make five slow practice swings before starting the 18-attempt session. |
Use the five rehearsals to settle the setup and movement. Keep the motion small enough to repeat comfortably.
Step 3. Play 18 Short Pitches and Record Your Routine
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose one target | After the rehearsals, choose a suitable short-pitch target. Keep the wedge and target for all 18 attempts. |
| Reset each time | Check the narrow, slightly open stance, lead-side pressure and ball position before each shot. Let the arms hang and turn your chest with the club. |
| Record the routine | Award 1 point when you follow the whole routine and 0 when you miss part of it. Add your total out of 18. |
The five initial rehearsals are separate from the 18 attempts. A mishit can still earn a point if you followed the whole routine. Note the strike separately on your practice sheet.
| Routine score | When to record it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | You followed all the setup checks and the chest-turn routine. |
| 0 points | You missed part of the setup or movement routine. |
George’s Practice Tip
Say “feet, pressure, ball” quietly before the first few shots. Then give your attention to a comfortable chest turn. Write down which check you most often forget so the next session has one useful reminder.
FAQs
Which foot is the lead foot?
For a right-handed golfer it is the left foot; for a left-handed golfer it is the right. Your trail foot is the other foot.
Where should the ball be for this drill?
Use the Card 6 position near your trail foot. Check it again as you set up for each attempt.
Do I need to measure exactly 70%?
Use 70% as the lead-side weight cue for this drill. Settle into a comfortable, repeatable position while favouring the lead foot.
Do I make five practice swings before every shot?
Make five slow rehearsals at the start, then begin the 18-attempt session. Reset the setup before each attempt.
How do I score the session?
Record 1 point when you follow the whole setup and movement routine and 0 if you miss part of it. Add the points for a total out of 18.
Does a mishit automatically score zero?
You are recording the routine. A mishit can still score 1 if you followed all the checks. Write a short strike note beside the score.
What drill do you recommend I do next?
Try the Trail-Hand Wedge Drill to explore the release, or the Towel Pitch Body Turn Drill for another chest-turn cue.
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