Zach Lambeck on Controlling the Distances You Hit Your Pitches (Video)

Zach Lambeck, "the GOLFTEC Guy," did this short GC video on controlling distance with your pitches.



This isn't anything new, but it may make the concept clearer for some of you.

We often talk about developing three swings of different lengths in order to get three different "part shots" with our wedges and short clubs. But the important thing is to find a couple of distances that you can repeat easily, and learn how far you hit your clubs with each of those swings.

Zach is recommending a three-quarter swing and a half swing.

• In his three-quarter swing, your lead arm is parallel to the ground at the top of your backswing.
• In his half swing, your lead arm is at a 45° angle to the ground. (Zach describes this angle in terms of the shaft, but it's the same thing. The arm angle may be easier for you to remember.)

Now the three-quarter and half designations have nothing to do with the actual distance the ball flies. By that I mean that, if you hit your normal gap wedge 120 yards, the three-quarter swing probably isn't going to travel 90 yards or your half swing 60 yards. The actual label you use doesn't mean anything; in fact, you'd probably find it easier to remember that you're making a 9-o'clock swing and a 7:30 swing. You can call them whatever you want!

The idea is simply to find a couple of extra swing lengths -- lengths besides your full swing, that is -- that you can easily remember and repeat, then learn how far you hit the ball with those swings. It just happens that those two swing lengths are fairly easy to remember, simply because of where your lead arm is pointing.

There is no such thing as a perfect golf swing. If you want to score better, the goal is to find swings you can repeat and then get really good with them. Adding a couple of easily remembered partial swing lengths is a good way to add more distance control to your game.

And don't forget that you can use this concept with all of your clubs -- mid-irons, hybrids and fairway woods as well as short irons and wedges. Distance control doesn't have to be complicated, so make it as easy as you can.