Rickie Fowler on Pitching Through a Golf Cart (Video)

This video may seem a bit silly, but it's really a useful thing to know. Watch the video, then read on...



When Rickie pitches through the golf cart it's no different than pitching from an obstructed lie, like when you're behind bushes and trees. You've got a gap in the bushes where the ball can get through but you've got to keep it under the branches as well. I bet you find yourself in that situation occcasionally, don't you?

As Rickie says, this is all about trajectory.You not only need to hit the ball in the correct direction, you also need to hit the ball at the right height. You do this in two ways.

• Your choice of club is the primary way you control the ball's trajectory. I know you have to adjust ball position as well, but the loft of the club you choose determines where you need to place the ball.
• Once you have the club, you need a swing that allows you to use that loft. You don't want to increase the loft during your swing, nor do you want to decrease it. Either one will change the ball's trajectory.

That's why Rickie says you want to minimize your wrist cock. If you don't create a lot of wrist cock, you won't have to make compensations at impact.

But Rickie also offers some ideas on the swing itself.

• On the backswing you don't want to make a big turn. Instead, you turn your shoulders as little as you can. That way, you keep the stroke on your desired line as long as possible.
• But after impact you want to let your body turn toward the target. That way you don't "flip your wrists." Remember: If you stop your body turn at impact, your wrist angle will change because the club is still moving and, if your shoulders stop, something else has to give!

This motion helps you eliminate the excess wrist action all the way from start to finish during the swing.

If it sounds like a lot to keep in mind, just think of it this way: All you're doing is trying to keep your arms moving so your wrists don't have to. You don't want to stiffen up but you want your arms and the clubhead to swing at roughly the same speed. If you do, that minimizes the wrist action and you'll maintain the loft angle pretty much all the way to the finish.

Last thing: With a swing like this, you control the distance totally by the length of the backswing. Just keep it nice and smooth, and you should get the results you want very quickly... and very consistently.