40 to 60 Yard Pitch; #1 Most Popular Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[mazdaspeedmx512lbs]

Hay thats sort of how I do it.

[gmonkey808]

Hi Sean,

I shank pitch shots regularly. I dont know why. Its not to do with my balance I have checked. I dont shank any other shot.

What could be causing this?

[clemshaw]

@gmonkey808 A couple things; you have the shortest club in the bag and are the closest to the ball with the hands at this point; so any loss of spine angle with eliminate that little space you have and second, it is way too easy to release at the ball when pitching; see "arms and body timing; shawn clement", "stop crashing; shawn clement" and "How to feel the chip and pitch; shawn clement" for starters; and "Posture integrity; shawn clement" and my shank vids for spine angle and space.

[bajadulce]

zoning in on feel using this artillery range finding technique makes sense. I've struggled with this aspect of the game a lot. I've got the 1st part of the routine down (practice stroke too easy).. Now just need to incorporate the 2nd "overshoot" in my routine. This principal would serve well in lag putting too I would assume. thnx for the tips. great videos

[clemshaw]

@bajadulce There you go! I have a couple of students from the Army that told me the same thing since; just an amazing way for the instincts to let us know what they want and help calm the conscious mind; and yes, works great on lag puts and chipping as well! Thanks for the great comment; Shawn

[TheFlopshot]

With the chiiiip shot. High pitched vioce... funny

[BluesRocker52]

I am a fanatic of the short game, expecially since I'm a mediocre ball striker. I found this tip to be very useful. Why It helps your powerful brain to bracket the swing speeds for the appropriate distance. I think I'll incorporate it into my practice and see how it works. Makes sense to me.

[patmustardy]

Shawn, thanks very much this. I've been regularly playing too short for fear of overhitting. This tip has now got me playing to within 10 feet of the flag almost every time. @avn33 what's your ground-breaking tip that's better than this? Or did Phil forget to tell you?

[liam111178]

hey avn33 i have to agree with clemshaw you are a queer why do you even remark on something if you dont agree seems like a waste off time ,i find shawns tips very good and very simple and evn over youtube he can achieve getting his msg accross ,im a member in ballybunnion links and have always struggled with a fade and thanks to shawns tips ive turned that into a draw ,

[BradMilligan]

Phil Mickelson is a touring pro who loves Phil more than the cheesecake he eats before bed. Don't get me wrong, Phil is an amazing player. Shawn Clement is a student and teacher of the game, who is clearly obsessed with discovering how a human being can most effectively strike golf shots. He may enjoy a sliver of cheesecake, but usually after he has watched a bunch of slow-mo swing vids. Often, a tour pro thinks they are doing one thing, but doing something else. Phil plays. Shawn teaches.

[BradMilligan]

Phil Mickelson is a touring pro who loves Phil more than the cheesecake he eats before bed. Don't get me wrong, Phil is an amazing player. Shawn Clement is a student and teacher of the game, who is clearly obsessed with discovering how a human being can most effectively strike golf shots. He may enjoy a sliver of cheesecake, but usually after he has watched a bunch of slow-mo swing vids. Often, a tour pro thinks they are doing one thing, but doing something else. Phil plays. Shawn teaches.

[mksim81]

Although I would not argue if someone can apply this method to excel in short game, I think more pros are trying accelerating through impact other than this type leading edge under-neath swinging motion. I think this type of 9-3 swing could cause many thin shots from tight lie especially under pressure. Although I don't know about David Ogrin, I happen to know that Phil has the greatest short game in the history.

[KaleAshrim]

@mksim81 - Leading edge underneath? No acceleration? Look at the divot flying up around 1:15 in the vid! Try doing that with a thin shot :). 

[mrmigs231]

@avn33 Clearly, you SUCK at golf LOL! Shawn Clements, in my opinion, is the best golf instructor out there... You know why? His videos are for everyone to watch, young or old. He wouldnt make videos that are BS like most others do in youtube . A golf instructor would cost about $90-100 and they dont teach SHIT. But with Sean its free and helpful! Name me one Golf instructor that analyzes a golf swing like him? He uses simple and basic instruction. SEAN, SORRY FOR WRITING AN ESSAY urthebest

[YaaashMichaelScott]

9 to 3 oclock

[avn33]

phil mickelson is somewhere laughing his butt off at this tip. He told me if anyone teaches you a short game tip like this, RUN!

[clemshaw]

@avn33 Well, another tour pro who was a multiple winner showed this tip to me; his name is David Ogrin and he is a really good guy; they also perform this tip in the US Army with artillery fire and in many other disciplines; it is the way the human brain was designed to zone in on it's pray a couple million years ago too; you just happen to have the same wiring inside you but it looks like you decided to believe someone else's opinion instead of getting your own facts...Oh well...

[weapons33]

@avn33 your phils mate...right????what you play off bro.. this guy has 5 million hits.. you have,,,, uuuh one .. mine ..idiot

[clemshaw]

@weapons33 Thanks for the D weapons!! LOL!!

You can tell him that I am about to turn 10 million and that is just on my own channel; there are other channels racking up past 4 million right now! :)

Shawn

[20secondsOFame]

@clemshaw I have always had a good mid-short game but seemed to struggle with coming up too short sometimes because i did not trust the power. This tip really helped me. If anything it definatley gave me a lot more confidence in my swing. Thanks!

BTW.... phil mickelson told me that avn33 is a queer

[KaleAshrim]

@20secondsOFame - You should avoid discriminatory racial/sexual comments. I suggest that you remove this post

[20secondsOFame]

what are you going to do kale?

[nosonf]

great tip Shawn, I have a lot of trouble with that shot too. Can't wait to practice it... keep 'em coming! Howdy from Houston, Tx.

[liamcal93]

@weapons33

God, you're such a moron. Shawn happens to be a scratch golfer both right and left handed. He is also here to help, which you obviously need otherwise you wouldn't have found this video. Why don't you try watching some other videos instead of trolling.

[weapons33]

@weapons33 what an arrogant prick you are,,soory..but he needs to be told.love to meet this guy to give him a slap..right on tilt with this nugget

[YaaashMichaelScott]

@avn33 Phil likes acceleration (which creates more spin) - not 3oclock to 3oclock with the club. We all can't control club head accel like Phil - he can get away with that. Most of us would lose distance control and not know how to control spin rates like Phil.

[silowhore]

@avn33 phil mickelson said he doesn't agree with the 9 to 3 method, i heard no mention in the video of how far to take it back or follow through, he's telling you how to get a feel for the right momentum in the shot. swing type or technique was never spoken of.

[BradMilligan]

@avn33 Phil Mickelson is also somewhere betting on horse racing and eating a spicy bean quesadilla admiring a picture of himself.

[MikePedersenGolfTips]

Good stuff Shawn. I have difficulty with this distance, and I think a lot of it is tension. I need to get out of my own way lol!

[wrxjunki]

Going to try this out on the course today. I am horribly inconsistent with my wedges.

[steckleinjr]

cockywatchman1976, you've got "paralysis by analysis" going on. as an instructor, i recommend you go see this clemshaw cat personally or consult a local pga pro. at some point golf becomes "here's a club and here's a ball-- make it go in the hole."

[ciscocapital]

sweet shot!!!! 

[cockywatchman1976]

Shawn-sorry another question, At one point/distance/club do you play a 'real shot...i mean this is just a hands and arms shot, right? You don't move weight off left leg, right? And you basically hit from the top. So say on a 100 yard shot should I play a normal shot, with weight transfer and starting down with lower body, or play it like hands and arms. Is this decided by club or distance-or do I have it all wrong!?? i often do!

[clemshaw]

@cockywatchman1976

Why would you even think about shifting your weight? And no, the body is always getting out of the way of the arm-club unit even in chip shots!! The weight shift is a result of your body turning in response to the arm swing; see "golf pro lesson proper weight shift" "golf pro lesson tilted spiral" part 1 and 2; "golf pro lesson learn your golf machine" and finally "golf pro lesson how to coordinate arm motion with body turn"

[79barkingspider]

@cockywatchman1976 I have been taught to hit this shot with my weight consistently on my left side. All I do is shank and skull shots this way. I don't see that Shawn keeps his weight on his left side throughout this short shot. I see a clear weight shift to the right and back to the left. I've been playing for over 50 years and been a good short wedge player. Now I can't hit a damn thing. Help!

[clemshaw]

@79barkingspider Have a look at my "feel the short swing; shawn clement" as well as my "chip yips; shawn clement" videos; You also want to have a look at my "one leg drill; shawn clement" and you will see what you are doing wrong; the key is to maintain pressure on the inside of the left ankle and not let the weight leak to the toes; another good videos is the "Chip and hip turn update; shawn clement"

[cockywatchman1976]

Shawn, It appears you do this more by 'feel', rather than by being mechanical and varying the backswing length....do you think this is qa suoperior method to the Dave Peltz type approach (1/2., 3/4 and full swings for 3 or 4 different lofted wedges).

[clemshaw]

@cockywatchman1976 Yes, absolutely; the pelz system is a stepping stone to this and will not work very well anyways unless you are using momentum! See "golf pro lesson how to feel the short swing" and "golf pro lesson stop crashing" too; thanks for the comment! Shawn

[enterjcs]

Easy fix. 64 degree wedge.

[jeanmunn]

That particular shot has always been a nightmare for me, in spite of the amount of practice I have put in I shank this 50 yard shot on a regular basis.

I guess it has now become a mental issue, I play a reasonable game of golf with my 8 handicap but look out if I have to hit that 50 yard pitch. I borrowed my pals 56 degree wedge yesterday and hit a perfect 50 yard shot to five feet.

His wedge is called an f/2 wedge it has no hosel = no shank.

[clemshaw]

@jeanmunn Have a look at my latest called "golf pro lesson how to coordinate arm motion with body turn" it will help you a lot; as well as "golf pro lesson how to feel the short swing"

[themightyturkeykicke]

shawn... great tip.. used it on every hole where ive come up short...

[gmonkey808]

Hi Shawn. Great advice. My shots in general seem to always go right of target. Even small pitch shots like this one. My grip seems ok but i think its an impact problem. Doesnt seem to slice just straight right. Have you come across this in any of your students? Any of your videos help this???? Please help me !!!!!

[dschultz6072]

@gmonkey808 face is open brother. for me i had to keep my spine angle on the downswing. take a video otherwise you'll never know where to start.

[Crimchaser]

Nice lesson....

FYI

Center = Center of hole, universe

Centre = Place, establishment

[clemshaw]

Thanks for that!

Shawn

[osgood54]

Shawn I have a lot of trouble with this shot. I think I don't turn my shoulders enough and am too handsy. What is the best way to master this shot?

[woodyfurball]

WHY the air shot? there is no danger in front of you! you neva heard of a pitch n run? or is target golf your game?

[clemshaw]

Dude; notice the rough line all the way to the target? I am talking about doing this to your landing area; and target golf is the name of the game; flag or landing area!

Shawn

[jsquires55]

For pitch shots in general, what kind of grip do you favour? a relatively strong grip or a neutral grip?

[clemshaw]

Same grip as usual; have a look at my "golf pro lesson fell the short swing" video and you will see that the focus should be on the shoulder sockets...

Thank you for your question! Shawn

[whokilledreno]

I think you meant Centre the ENGLISH way. It's ok. Dont let it happen again.

[clemshaw]

Yes...but of course! :)

[mit319]

shawn, i perfer to just take my 60 degree wedge and use a flop shot and land it just before the pin. Do you reccomend i keep at this?

[HECTORtorrez]

Flop shot is much riskier. I play off 3 and still find the flop shot tricky. You can easily hit at the ball with your hands, come way off plane and thin it 50 yards through the green.

[clemshaw]

When you have a shot that feels great and you have confidence in, go for it! When you are ready, you will enjoy other options to suit the situation when it is very windy or when the lie does not support a flop shot; in the meantime, see my "golf pro lesson how to feel the short swing;

Shawn

[SHoV17]

shawn do you choke down on your pitching wedge? saw it doesnt go far? people tell me to do that but im not sure, can you tell me?

[clemshaw]

I don't grip down as this dulls my feel of momentum; you will see more on this in the "Golf Pro Lesson Chip Yips video as well as the "Golf Pro Lesson ball bearings and sockets video"

Shawn

[HECTORtorrez]

you should go about 3 inches down the shaft.

[jyjyericz]

thx dude!

[boulton11]

0.24 omg lmfao

[riazkhancrm]

I am a 8 handicapper and have a hard time hitting half shots. My specific problem is as follows: I hit the PW 110 yards, SW 80 yds, and Lob wedge (60 degrees) 70 yds. What is the best shot to hit to a flag located 55 yds away? The flag is about 10 yds from the edge of the green. I use a PROV1 Titleist Golf ball. The greens are on the hard side and the ball rolls from 1 to 6 yds depending on the type of shot. How should the shot be hit with each of the three clubs?

[clemshaw]

Most Tour pros would use the lob wedge for this shot; just use a little less momentum than with the full swing with the lob; it will not spin too much and should release just right; Shawn

[highlyexperimental]

I would use a pitching wedge, make a shorter accelerated swing and use the bounce of the club. The nice thing is once you dial in the distance, you can also hood it and hit a little runner with the leading edge when the wind blows.

[qbb01]

hi shawn, i really like your videos. I am posting because i am having trouble with my short chip shots out of the rough. eg 10-25 feet. Generally i tend to use my 58* because the other clubs grip the rough too much and hook alot. The problem i am having though is when i hit the ball, sometimes the blade just goes right under the ball, and the ball goes high but only about 2 yards. Is it because my blade is too open?

[clemshaw]

hey Bud; sorry for the delay!

Have a look at my "golf pro lesson Very short Chip Shot" video where I show you how to use the putter grip and the toe of the club to make this shot; Shawn

[weaponspaul1]

hi shaun , practised a lot in my ist year, i;m 43... got down toc18 handicap in a year but when i practise harder doing my drills,i ha dtoo many things going through my head aand it took me backewards,, now i,m not practising and playing once on a saturday it all seems to be coming together... paul uk

[bigianm3]

Hey Sean, great tips..im looking to go on the hooter tour in 09.  Any advice before I make my journey. Still need to break it to my parents though.

[clemshaw]

The very best way to perform is by being in the present; a great book for you to read is the "Inner Game of Tennis" which is helping a few of my College students perform without pressure. The author is Timothy Gallway. Just buy one of his original copies from the 70's from "experienced books" online; cost you a couple of bucks but info is priceless! Shawn

[bogeyhitter25]

Nice tips. I'm just interested but what is you average score?

[clemshaw]

Hey bogeyhitter! I qualified number one in my PGA sectional and have qualified for many canadian tour events; my lowest scores are 65 right handed and 67 left handed and I currently play to scratch both sides;

Shawn

[LV4NYG]

we are close then, my front nine is you right handed, my back nine is you left....we got more in common than i thought

[clemshaw]

Cool! Best way to play! We will have to have an ambidextrous golf tourney! Shawn

[LV4NYG]

no i'm hardly any good at lefty nevermind trying to go at this right handed. no i was joking that yer two best scores lefty and righty is close to my one score is you added yours together. but wife is deploying for a year, so once i get back i will spend a year, working out in garage and practicing with my new training aids....all the best

[gildea303]

hey shawn, do you have a video for the correct stance on a pitch shot? Because it looked like you had your feet really close together. I would also like to say that your videos have helped me a ton! When i was a freshman trying out for the team last year i got cut, this year i kept playing and playing and watching a lot of your videos on whatever i needed to tune. today was the last day of tryouts and i am starting varsity and ranked 6th on the team. Thanks for the vids!!!

[clemshaw]

You are welcome dude! Let's get you up that ladder some more! Let me know if you run into any snags...Shawn

[gildea303]

will do haha

[clemshaw]

There is the "chip yips" video that could work; I will be doing a vid on how to hit the low spinner from 60 to 80 yards; this will fit right in there! Stay tuned; Shawn

[666mcnally]

i live in ireland where can i get this chip yips video i love the way you teach

[clemshaw]

I will be having a section soon where you will be able to download videos to your heart's content; in the meantime, you will find all of them on the "you tube shawn" page of my website; the chip yips video is in the short game section...BTW Happy St-Patties day to all of you out there from descendants of the O'Sullivans (Me) and the O'Larkins (My wife) ! :)

[666mcnally]

Hi Shawn, Thanks for that I used to play off 2 when i was a kid but i gave it up due to the yips with a wedge i was all ways a good putter so if i missed a green it was a night mare off the tee box i never missed a fairway . After watching your videos i understand what im doing after all these years as i turned in to the shot so would my head, instead of keeping it behind the ball no body picked this up!!! I went to the range this morning to see if it would work it did thanks for that .

[smashercrasher]

y dont u shorten up on that backswing

[clemshaw]

Because then I would be a hacker...:)

[golfpro020591]

hey shawn, at my course i have a lot of fluffy grass around the green. When the ball gets in this it tends to stay on top of the grass, is there anyway i can pitch the ball out cleanly without the club tending to slide under the ball, thanks, hope that makes sense

[clemshaw]

Yes; the way your club skips through impact is very important depending on the lie; you want to feel a thump on the ground with the sole of the club when the ball is sitting down and just a brush with the grass when the ball sits up... it also helps to "hover the club in the air" at the same level as the ball like when setting up for a bunker shot and the way to practice these is by teeing it high on the range...Thanks for the question, Shawn

[gcarlin92]

watch 24 seconds and listen for the 'CHIP' shot

[clemshaw]

I know, I know; my voice squeaks and does the same thing when I say "Chip Shot" in the short chip video...No Idea why but it sure sounds like somebody is grabbing me where the sun don't shine...LOL

Shawn

[gcarlin92]

haha, its fine, happens to the best of us.

[ADAMKTN]

what a great tip! very practical, thank you!

[dvfly]

Hi Shawn, I have requested your DVD series for Fathers day so I can catch you on the big screen-looking forward 2 it. Here is what brought me back to this video for the 25th time...I just purchased a set of ping g10 irons and a G10 driver. Love em but what the hell is this "u wedge" for? I can use your technique here with my PW from 5-100 yards. Also they sent me the G10 "draw" driver 12 deg. I kept it anyway, if I do not have a draw will this make my natural straight drive go left? U the Man!

[patzerr]

Shawn,

I am having the worst time with this shot. I just keep hitting it off to the right at about a 45 to 60 degree angle and can't stop. Any help or drills would be so appreciated.

[clemshaw]

We call that a shank; when the ball is struck on the hosel or heel of the club where the shaft joins it. Check out the "Short Game", "Chip yips and Downhill Chips", "one Leg Drill" and "Feet together drill" videos on the "You Tube Shawn" page of my website; then combine these with the "Arms Falling" and "Get some Lag" videos to understand that you still need to swing "through the ball" even on those shots; Shawn

[ryanith2]

hosel rockets suck i battled them myself. the problem i had was i wasn't turning my hips at all on this shot and that was getting in the way of my hands . you have to make sure that you are taking an aggressive swing and not trying to baby the ball. and don't forget your follow through

[Scampern]

What about doing the pitch shot on just the front leg like the one legged drill? This would ensure not to shift the weight and give a more consistent impact?

[clemshaw]

You Bet! Many of my students love doing it this way and as long as the lie of the land is level enough or on a downhill slope, no problem!

Great comment, Thanks!

[kmh196700]

When trying to gear down and hit a wedge to a shorter distance, I often will top or hit the ball fat. What do recommend to assist me and others in hitting 1/2, 3/4, and any other non-full shot solid, by hitting ball first then divot.

[dozu888]

another question... do you use the hips or the shoulders to start the back swing?

[clemshaw]

Which ever feels easiest to you; as long as when you do use the shoulders, you let the hips follow immediately without resistence;

Thanks for the great questions! Shawn

[dozu888]

hey Shawn, after trying 'arms falling', with the 'swing sequence', while making a concious effort to keep the pivot going, my pitch shots are not crisp and clean!

thanks so much again.... you are the best!

[clemshaw]

Right on Brother! :)

[dozu888]

hi Shawn, in these pitch shots, what is the weight distribution between the 2 legs? 70/30?

when you take the club back, is there any change in the weight distribution?

thx,

Don.

[clemshaw]

Great Question! You can choose to go with a swing sequence or as a one leg shot; see those videos on the "You Tube Shawn" page of the website; The one leg would be 70-30 to the front foot and the swing sequence would have the weight pressure shifting...

Shawn

[bigearnucsd]

Hey Shawn, i think i've seen in the golf magazine to do a 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock swing for 40 yard shots. could you give me your opinion on that? trying to figure out which method i should use to work on my short game.

[clemshaw]

You can have a look at my "golf pro lesson short game" video which will elaborate on this video here; the golf magazine tip is to give you an idea; you want to "feel" your distances with the technique I gave you;

Shawn

[oOSMoKInACesOo]

thx so much i am junior started 2months ago handicap 32 and the part i really struggled with was this kind of pitching. Thank you so much and keep posting more vids

[golfinPUNK]

i do agree with your lesson. it is good for a beginer to start off with but some players who are more experienced might do some changing in there set up

[strutt77]

all of your lessons are easy to follow and are giving me results on the course. couple more hours to tee off, cant wait to try some of the other tips ive watched on the range.

thanks,please keep it up

[iainlbc]

just found your series today. great tips I am a 36 handicap (started golf 2mo ago). I look forward to practicing with your tips in mind! keep up the great work and thanks!

[fataloptimist]

great, simple, and easy-to-use advice. I will try this out tomorrow! Thanks Shawn!

[Alpheraz]

Hi Clem, Thanks for your answer. I am using a 55 degree sand wedge Boomerang (same make that the rest of my clubs). That is the most difficult shot for me, specially to climb a sharp slope, same as mklin32, who wrote a message before.

I will come back to report my progress.

By the way, you posted a video explaining how the golf swing compares to a catapult, and showing a catapult drawing. I can not find that video anymore. Where is it? Thank you

[clemshaw]

It is the "leverage uphill" video;

[Alpheraz]

Hi Clem. As a beginner, I am improving a lot thanks to your lessons.

Which iron must be used for the pitch that you show us here?

[clemshaw]

I am using a 60 degree sand wedge, stick with Titleist Vokey or Cleveland or Taylor Made wedges which all have a soft feel and all feel similar; you could also do it with a wedge between 54 and 58 degrees as well;

Spread between your wedges should be 4 degrees; example is 52 degree gap wedge, 56 degree sand wedge and 60 degree lob wedge.

Keep up the good work!

[mklin32]

Hi Shawn, your lessons are fantastic! I'm still having some trouble with my short game, with 60-30 yard high loft pitch shots when i need to get past bunkers or elevated greens.. can you post a lesson on setup techniques, loft choices, momentum, etc? thanks :D

[pokerfinest]

clem dont pay attention to these fools!!! Keep up the great work, because of you i am getting so much better.

[clemshaw]

Thanks very much, I am happy to hear that; see you in the next video!

[galvin22]

Great lesson Shawn. I always go to your videos because you explain it so well. Oh by the way, that was a great shot.

[imstevecho]

Great Lesson.