Most amateurs get themselves into a complete mess, technique wise, when faced with a shot that is neither a chip nor a full pitch. It’s somewhere in between the two, and frankly, that’s pretty hard for a lot of golfers to deal with. The secret lies not in complicated and sophisticated swing theory, but in simple, no-nonsense fundamentals applied with authority, like Tiger Woods. With a little practice, anyone can do that.

So what are the 5 basic steps to short pitch success? It is this…

1. First of all, you need to have a good stance, but also look at the slightly open stance and open clubface. They are just as important in this type of shots.

2. Now turn your body while swinging your hands and arms back. You should also add a little wrist hinge for good measure.

3. The left arm drives the club into the hitting area and established wrist angles are maintained to ensure a strong downward swing.

4. Keep your nerve and your rhythm. Accelerate the clubhead gently down and through impact. Let the club create loft and do not hit the ball.

5. As with the backswing, the follow through reflects the importance of turning the body while swinging the hands and arms.

If you follow the 5 basic steps above with practice, you’ll be able to hit the short pitch very well. Remember, simple and basic fundamental skills are the main key to success for good golf.