Utley Pitching Technique

[Hstead]

Struggling a little

I just bought the Utley short game books. I liked the ideas and concepts, they seem to make sense and there are several similarities to what I am doing in my full swing.

BUT, I am having a little trouble with the pitching technique. I like to play low shots, and I like to lean the shaft at the target at impact, so I am struggling keeping the shaft straight up and down.

It does not seem to "feel" right when I set up with the shaft vertical, and I tend to get into the impact area with the shaft leaning forward. I feel like my hands are so far back behind the ball. This setup and shaft position is making a huge V in the back of my left hand which feels awful. It feels like my right arm is really long and my left arm is too short. The ball in the middle of my stance feels way too far back to for a pitch.

Granted, I have only practiced once so far for about 20 minutes, so I need a lot more work. Tomorrow morning I will put in at least 30 more minutes before I play practicing it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what worked for you with Utley's pitching technique and how long it took you?

Pitching is my weakest part of my game. I am a good chipper and have a pretty good flop shot, but I have never felt comfortable pitching because I like to play the ball low. In my full swing, I play the ball quite high.

I guess I need to reread the pitching chapters and maybe get out the video camera.

[dlygrisse]

Make sure you are still keeping our weight on our left side, that is what helps me, when I first started using this technique I struggled with the same thing, now it is the part of SU's book and method I like the most. I struggled at first as well but found that when I put the shaft more verticle I tended to let my weight drift more centered or to my right side. Practice hitting shots with 99% of your weight on your left foot, almost a one legged shot to get the feel. If your weight stays right then you tend to flip and top shots. Hope this helps.

Also you really have to trust using the bounce of your wedge, this for me was a weird thing to overcome, feels like you are going to hit it fat but if you do it correctly and trust it you will hit it more solid than ever, less chili dips and tops, classic case of feel and real not being the same thing.

[QuickFeet]

50 minutes.........give yourself a chance. I'm sure you've played long enough to realize any change from what you are comfortable with feels awkward in the initial stages. Utley's method is good but may not be right for everyone.

I'd at least give myself an hour..........LOL.......just kidding!

If making this kind of change will help your game, stay the course. Is there someone local to you that is familiar/teaches his pitching technique? It would probably help to have them work with you for 30 minutes. It can be pretty difficult at times to implement swing changes based on our interpretation of someone's ideas. At least in this game.

[Hstead]

[quote name='dlygrisse' post='2076897' date='Nov 21 2009, 09:16 AM']Make sure you are still keeping our weight on our left side, that is what helps me, when I first started using this technique I struggled with the same thing, now it is the part of SU's book and method I like the most. I struggled at first as well but found that when I put the shaft more verticle I tended to let my weight drift more centered or to my right side. Practice hitting shots with 99% of your weight on your left foot, almost a one legged shot to get the feel. If your weight stays right then you tend to flip and top shots. Hope this helps.

Also you really have to trust using the bounce of your wedge, this for me was a weird thing to overcome, feels like you are going to hit it fat but if you do it correctly and trust it you will hit it more solid than ever, less chili dips and tops, classic case of feel and real not being the same thing.[/quote]

[b]That is what is feeling so awful at the moment. In my full swing, I my head tends to drift back and fall back farther leading to me hooking the ball. I have recently worked really hard on maintaining my spine and swinging around my left leg more, which keeps my head exactly in the same position from start to impact. So I like the thought of staying left. I may be backing up coming down though. I am going to hit some shots on just the left leg next time as you suggest, thanks.[/b]

[quote name='QuickFeet' post='2076903' date='Nov 21 2009, 09:24 AM']50 minutes.........give yourself a chance. I'm sure you've played long enough to realize any change from what you are comfortable with feels awkward in the initial stages. Utley's method is good but may not be right for everyone.

I'd at least give myself an hour..........LOL.......just kidding!

If making this kind of change will help your game, stay the course. Is there someone local to you that is familiar/teaches his pitching technique? It would probably help to have them work with you for 30 minutes. It can be pretty difficult at times to implement swing changes based on our interpretation of someone's ideas. At least in this game.[/quote]

I wish I had a local teacher. I drive 8 hours to my swing coach now, from Ohio to the University of Alabama, LOL. He is worth the drive though. I am a practice-aholic so I know 20 minutes isn't very long and I know it takes time, as well as I know how the "feeling" of change can sometimes be Nasty.

I recently switched to O'Brien's putting method. I like the Seemore idea and some of the things Pat had to say vs Ultey made more sense to me so I went with Pat's putting technique. It took me about three weeks to start feeling comfortable with that setup and stroke. Now, I can stop thinking about it and think about holing putts. My putting has improved greatly. My ball striking and putting is better than it has ever been in my entire golfing life, but I am not getting enough out of my pitching, mostly from 60 to 20 yards. My bunker play needs to improve too. I get it out fine, but I usually leave myself with 8 to 15 feet, instead of 3 feet. I feel like if I can start pitching the ball better, and saving pars from bunkers, then I will be shooting under par nearly every round instead of these 3 to 5 over rounds that I can't seem to improve on.

How high are you guys hitting pitches with this techique from say 20 yards? My ball is only flying about 5 feet high. I want it to fly about 10 feet high or so.

[PivotDriven]

How high are you guys hitting pitches with this techique from say 20 yards? My ball is only flying about 5 feet high. I want it to fly about 10 feet high or so.
[/quote]

I couldn't chip or pitch at all when I bought his book (had been a 1 hdcp until I got to where I couldn't execute any short shot except a flop).

If your shots are shooting off low, you're probably falling back instead of going around to the left - that's what happens to me.

Yes your left wrist will be bowed on the pitch.

Remember that your ELBOWS have to remain soft to execute his style. As a matter of fact, when I started down this road I realized i could stand flat footed, pull my right elbow up my shirt seam to take the club back and pull my left elbow up my shirt seam on the through swing and make really good contact. This also gave me the feeling of how the club head should swing.

If you have been driving your pitches with shaft lean, it will take some work to get the new feels. Just remember that the clubhead has to SWING to slide under the ball. Start small and remember that the butt of the club doesn't have to move too much.

[phill]

My son spent 1 day with Stan a few years ago through a junior camp in Scottsdale. He was struggling with his chipping when Stan pulled him aside and really emphasized the importance of the right elbow staying on his side and actually moving straight back sliding against his side on the backswing. The motion was similar to the arm motion you would make while running if you literally keep your elbows in contact with your sides as they move back and forth. He told my son that this motion is the motion most of the top PGA players are working on. This method has totally changed my sons short game for the better. On the downswing you would make the same movement with your left elbow staying on your side. I'm not sure if the motion my son showed me is translating well in print but I hope this helps

[Hstead]

Thanks phill and PivotDriven. I think that makes sense and I bet I am not letting my elbows work the way Utley wants them to work. I appreciate the advice and I will make sure I chack them out tomorrow.

[PivotDriven]

One more thing - forearms have to rotate going back so the clubface will open. If you check out golfchannel.com, there are three Utley episodes. There is some info in there that will help you fill in some blanks. Let us know how it goes.

[Hstead]

[quote name='PivotDriven' post='2078251' date='Nov 22 2009, 02:22 AM']One more thing - forearms have to rotate going back so the clubface will open. If you check out golfchannel.com, there are three Utley episodes. There is some info in there that will help you fill in some blanks. Let us know how it goes.[/quote]

Well, I watched the golfchannel vids and they did help. I also reread the pitching chapter. There was something I missed. For some reason, I was thinking he said to play the ball in the middle of your stance, and that was what I tried, and that is what felt so terrible. Well, I then read where he suggests forward ball position just inside the left heel and it started feeling better set up wise. I then also started conecntrating on moving my right elbow along my side and this also helped. My ball starting flying much higher and softer and it was much easier to hit the pitches.

I took it to the practice range, and it started clicking. I then tried it on the course, and I got better results.

I am now a firm believer, and with some practice, I am sure this is going to improve my pitching and sand play. Chipping, I am going to use both his method and my old method for some.

[dlygrisse]

[quote name='Hstead' post='2079353' date='Nov 22 2009, 09:12 PM'][quote name='PivotDriven' post='2078251' date='Nov 22 2009, 02:22 AM']One more thing - forearms have to rotate going back so the clubface will open. If you check out golfchannel.com, there are three Utley episodes. There is some info in there that will help you fill in some blanks. Let us know how it goes.[/quote]

Well, I watched the golfchannel vids and they did help. I also reread the pitching chapter. There was something I missed. For some reason, I was thinking he said to play the ball in the middle of your stance, and that was what I tried, and that is what felt so terrible. Well, I then read where he suggests forward ball position just inside the left heel and it started feeling better set up wise. I then also started conecntrating on moving my right elbow along my side and this also helped. My ball starting flying much higher and softer and it was much easier to hit the pitches.

I took it to the practice range, and it started clicking. I then tried it on the course, and I got better results.

I am now a firm believer, and with some practice, I am sure this is going to improve my pitching and sand play. Chipping, I am going to use both his method and my old method for some.
[/quote]
Ah Ha! pitching ball is forward, chipping ball a little farther back, very important!