Pitch Shots Rolling Too far? Here's Why

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Description

What You’ll Learn: Why forward shaft lean lowers launch and reduces spin, How to adjust hand position for higher softer wedge shots, When and how to open the clubface correctly, How bounce prevents digging and improves turf interaction, The difference between low runners and controlled pitch shots

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(0:07–0:18) Struggles inside 50 yards → low shots, too much rollout, losing strokes

(1:04–1:20) Data check → good contact, low launch (~20°), moderate spin → not a swing issue

(1:20–1:35) Root cause → hands too far forward = de-lofted club

(1:49–2:10) Fix introduced → hands more centered, ball slightly forward → increase launch & spin

(2:41–3:11) Direction + height fix → slightly open clubface (set face first, then grip)

(3:21–3:45) Turf interaction → less shaft lean + open face = use bounce, prevent digging

(4:00–4:09) Immediate result → higher, softer shot on first try

(4:18–4:48) Measurable improvement → higher launch, +spin, better stopping power

(5:10–5:20) Player breakthrough → first time hitting it high, new awareness of face control

(5:20–5:32) Shot versatility → adjust face + ball position to control trajectory

(5:32–5:41) Final takeaway → technique wasn’t wrong, just not suited for stopping the ball

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Setup—not swing—was the primary issue → always diagnose before changing motion
Excess shaft lean reduces loft → leads to low launch and excessive rollout
Loft directly controls both launch and spin → less loft = less stopping power
Small setup changes can create immediate, dramatic ball flight improvements
Opening the clubface adds loft and improves both height and direction
Proper face setup = set face first, then grip (common mistake avoided)
Using bounce prevents digging → neutral hands + open face = better turf interaction
Encouraging ground contact (small divot feel) improves consistency in short game
Even small spin increases (~400 RPM) significantly improve stopping power at short distances
Ball position + face angle create a system for trajectory control (high vs low shots)
Technique must match intention → different shots require different setups

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0:00
Coach: Payton’s back—we’re going to do lesson number four.

0:01
Payton: Yep.

0:02
Coach: Not bad—pretty good counting. We’re doing alright so far. I know you got out to play—tell me a little bit about your round.

0:07
Payton: It was good. I’m struggling a lot from about 50 yards and in, especially around the green. Pitching was a problem—I’d hit it and it would go right over the green. So I lost a lot of strokes there.

0:18
Coach: Sounds like we’ve got something to work on today. We’ll focus on your short game for this one.

0:30
Coach: So, you said 50 yards and in was a big struggle. What was the biggest issue?

0:32
Payton: Getting the ball up in the air.

0:34
Coach: Okay.

0:36
Payton: I was using about a 54° wedge, and it was just coming out low and rolling way too much.

0:41
Coach: Got it. Let’s have you hit a couple shots. I’ll set you up from about 40 yards, and we’ll see what you’re doing. Then we can talk about what needs to change from a technique standpoint.

0:51
Payton: Sounds good.

1:04
Coach: Alright Payton—when you’re not getting the ball up in the air, there’s usually a simple reason, and it starts with your setup.

You hit a few shots just now—your launch angle was around 20°, and your spin was about 5,000 RPM. Your contact is actually really good—you’re striking it well.

1:20
One of the main reasons the ball isn’t getting up is how far forward your hands are compared to the ball in your stance.

1:26
What you’re effectively doing is taking your 54° wedge and reducing the loft by pushing the handle too far forward.

1:35
So unless you make a compensation during the swing, the ball is going to come out low.

1:49
What I want to do is adjust your setup. Your motion is actually pretty solid—we just need to change how you address the ball.

We’ll move the handle back a bit and position the ball closer to the middle or slightly forward in your stance. That should help increase your launch angle into the upper 20s and also add more spin.

2:10
Right now, because you’re taking loft off, you’re also reducing spin—that’s why the ball is rolling 15–20 yards every time.

2:18
So that’s what we’re going to work on today.

2:20
Payton: Yeah, that works.

2:21
Coach: Go ahead and set up like you normally would.

2:26
Originally, your handle was really far forward—your hands were almost in line with your lead thigh.

Let’s move your hands closer to the center of your stance.

2:33
There you go—that’s perfect. The shaft can still lean slightly forward, just not as much. That should help you see more loft on the clubface.

2:41
Another thing I noticed—your shots tend to start left and pull.

2:49
To fix that, we’re going to open the clubface slightly.

2:52
A lot of people do this incorrectly—they grip the club first and then open the face. That’s not ideal.

Instead, set the face slightly open first—just a few degrees—then take your grip.

3:11
Combine that with your hands being more centered and your ball position where it is now—that’s a really good setup.

3:17
Now make your normal swing and let’s see what happens.

3:21
One last piece: because the face is more open, you’ll use the bounce of the club more effectively.

When your hands are too far forward, the club wants to dig.

3:31
Did you notice that on the course—taking chunks and getting stuck?

Payton: Yeah.

3:34
Coach: By opening the face and neutralizing your hands, the club will glide through the turf instead of digging.

So when you hit this, I actually want you to feel like you’re taking a small divot. The bounce will keep it from digging and help you hit a higher, softer shot.

3:52
Payton: Got it.

Coach: Let’s see it.

4:00
Payton: That went high.

4:04
Coach: There we go.

4:07
Payton, that’s awesome—that’s really good.

This might even be a little higher than ideal, but this is exactly what we’re looking for.

4:18
Before, your hands were too far forward for a 30–50 yard shot. That’s why you struggled—your shots were landing and rolling forever.

4:33
Payton: Yeah.

4:33
Coach: That’s all about launch and spin. Even a small increase—like 400 RPM more spin—gives you noticeably more stopping power.

And your launch angle improved a lot.

4:48
So really, the fix was just changing your setup—how the club relates to the ball—and slightly opening the face.

That’s why this shot landed, took a couple hops, and stopped quickly.

5:08
That was really good. What felt different?

5:10
Payton: I don’t think I’ve ever hit the ball that high before. Opening the face is something I’ve never really tried, but it makes sense.

5:20
Coach: Exactly. If you want it even higher, you can move the ball forward and open the face more.

If you want it lower, you can do the opposite.

But for shots that are rolling too far—this is the adjustment you need.

5:32
There’s nothing wrong with your old technique—it just won’t stop the ball quickly.

5:38
So this is something you should keep practicing and building into your game.

5:41
Payton: Perfect—I’m excited.

5:42
Coach: Good job.

5:44
[music]

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