Short Pitch Shot Technique: The Cradle Drill Explained | Titleist

A short pitch over trouble often tempts golfers to slide the clubface beneath the ball in an effort to scoop the ball into the air. Joe Plecker explains how that motion, which may feel familiar to players with a background in racket sports, sends the upper body away from the target and leaves the golf shot vulnerable to blades, chunks and flips.

The Cradle Drill places the clubface against the back of the ball with pressure favoring the front foot. The chest and shoulder carry the sweet spot forward while the hands trace a J-shaped path around the hip. Rotating the upper body over the lower body, moving the handle up and in, and finishing with the shoulder facing the target keeps the clubhead from slipping under the ball on a short finesse pitch. When the trail shoulder rotates and your head moves forward in sync with the clubface, you create a proper pitching motion that you can rely on when you get on the golf course.

Chapters:
0:00 Why Short Pitch Shots Go Wrong
1:01 Set Up the Cradle Drill
1:25 Move the Chest and Clubface Together
2:15 Follow the J-Shaped Hand Path
2:53 Finish With the Shoulder Forward

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