How to Hit a High, Soft Pitch Shot: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

You did it. You striped a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway, and your approach shot was decent, leaving you just off the green. But now you face the ultimate test of touch: a pin tucked just over a menacing bunker, with very little green to work with. This is where scores are made or broken.

Your standard chip-and-run won’t work. It would scuttle across the green and into the rough on the other side. What you need is the secret weapon of the short game: the high, soft pitch shot. It’s that beautiful, floating shot you see the pros hit, the one that flies high, lands like a butterfly with sore feet, and stops on a dime right next to the hole.

For many beginners, this shot feels like a mysterious art form, but I’m here to tell you it’s a science you can learn. In my experience coaching hundreds of golfers, mastering this single shot can shave 5-7 strokes off your handicap. This guide will break down everything you need to know, from setup to execution, so you can add this game-changer to your arsenal.

Key Takeaways: The High, Soft Pitch in a Nutshell

For those who want a quick summary, here’s the cheat sheet for hitting a high, soft pitch:

• Club Selection is Key: Use your most lofted wedge, typically a Sand Wedge (56°) or Lob Wedge (58°-60°).
• Open Up: Set up with a slightly open stance (aim your feet left of the target for a righty) and an open clubface (point the face to the sky).
• Ball Forward, Weight Forward: Play the ball off the inside of your lead heel and keep about 60% of your weight on your front foot.
• Use Your Wrists and Body: Hinge your wrists early in the backswing and rotate your body through the shot. Don’t just use your arms.
• Accelerate Through the Ball: The biggest secret is to commit to the shot and accelerate through impact. Never slow down. The club’s loft will do the work.
• Finish High: Your hands and the club should finish high, pointing towards the sky, mirroring the trajectory you want the ball to take.

Understanding When to Use the High Soft Pitch Shot

Before we dive into the “how,” it’s crucial to understand the “when.” Hitting this shot at the wrong time can be just as damaging as executing it poorly. The high, soft pitch is your go-to shot in specific situations that demand height and minimal rollout.

Think of it as your “get out of jail free” card in these scenarios:

1. You’re Short-Sided: This is the classic scenario. You’ve missed the green on the same side the pin is located, leaving you very little green between your ball and the hole. You need the ball to land softly and stop quickly.
2. Getting Over an Obstacle: When a bunker, a patch of rough, or even a sprinkler head is between you and the pin, you need to launch the ball high to carry the obstacle and still have it stop.
3. To a Downhill Slope: Pitching to a green that slopes away from you is incredibly tricky. A low, running shot will never stop. The high, soft pitch allows the ball to descend vertically, using its trajectory to counteract the slope and minimize rollout.
4. To Fast, Firm Greens: On days when the greens are like concrete, a standard pitch will take a huge bounce and run out. The high shot with spin is your only chance to hold the green.

In my experience, recognizing these situations is half the battle. Don’t try to be a hero with this shot from a fluffy lie in the middle of the fairway; that’s what a standard pitch is for. Reserve it for when you truly need its unique magic.

How to Hit a High Pitch Shot: The Right Gear Matters

You can’t paint a masterpiece with the wrong brush. For the high, soft pitch shot, your wedge is your brush. Using a pitching wedge (PW) or a 9-iron simply won’t work because they don’t have enough loft.

For this shot, you need to reach for the most lofted clubs in your bag:

• Sand Wedge (SW): Typically has 54-56 degrees of loft. This is a fantastic, versatile club for this shot and a great starting point for beginners.
• Lob Wedge (LW): Usually has 58-60 degrees of loft, with some even going up to 64 degrees. This club is specifically designed for maximum height and is the preferred choice for pros hitting flop shots.

If you don’t have a club with at least 56 degrees of loft, I highly recommend investing in one. It will open up a world of possibilities around the green.

Pro Tip: Look for a wedge with a wide sole and significant “bounce” (the angle of the sole from the leading edge to the trailing edge). More bounce helps the club glide through the turf instead of digging, which is incredibly forgiving for beginners. A great option to consider is the Titleist Vokey SM9, which is beloved by amateurs and pros for its versatility and forgiveness. If you’re looking to upgrade, our Guide on Choosing the Right Golf Wedge is a great next read.

How to Hit a High Soft Pitch Shot for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, let’s get into the mechanics. We’ll break this down into four simple phases: the setup, the backswing, the downswing, and the follow-through. Get these right, and you’ll be hitting towering pitches in no time.

Step 1: The Setup – Your Foundation for Height

The magic of the high, soft pitch shot happens before you even start the swing. Your setup is designed to pre-set height and loft into the shot.

1. Stance Width: Take a narrow stance, with your feet about shoulder-width apart or slightly less. This promotes a steeper angle of attack and encourages you to rotate your body.
2. Stance Alignment: This is critical. Open your stance by aiming your feet and hips slightly to the left of your target (for a right-handed golfer). This helps you swing the club along your body line, cutting across the ball slightly to add loft and spin.
3. Ball Position: Place the ball forward in your stance, in line with the heel of your lead foot (your left foot for a righty). This forward position ensures you hit the ball on the upswing, which maximizes launch height.
4. Clubface: Now for the most important part: open the clubface. Before you take your grip, rotate the clubhead so the face points slightly to the right of the target (imagine it pointing towards the sky). Then, take your normal grip. This action adds effective loft to the club.
5. Weight Distribution: Lean into your front foot. You should feel about 60% of your weight on your lead side. This encourages a crisp, downward strike, preventing the dreaded “thin” or “fat” shot.

Step 2: The Backswing – Creating Potential Energy

With the setup locked in, the backswing is all about creating the right swing path and storing energy.

1. The Takeaway: Begin the swing by hinging your wrists almost immediately. This isn’t a long, slow takeaway like a driver swing. An early wrist hinge helps create a steeper swing plane, which is essential for getting the ball up quickly.
2. Swing Length: The length of your backswing controls the distance. For a typical greenside pitch of 20-30 yards, think about bringing your hands back to about hip or chest height. This isn’t a full swing; it’s a touch shot.
3. Maintain a Light Grip: A common mistake I see is a “death grip” on the club. Hold it with light pressure, as if you were holding a tube of toothpaste and didn’t want any to squeeze out. This allows the clubhead to release properly and use the loft effectively.

Step 3: The Downswing & Impact – The Moment of Truth

Here’s where you have to be brave. The number one fault for beginners on this shot is decelerating into the ball out of fear of hitting it too far. You must commit and accelerate.

1. Start with the Body: Initiate the downswing by rotating your lower body towards the target. Your arms and the club will naturally follow. This sequence is key to generating clubhead speed through the impact zone.
2. Slide Under the Ball: Your goal is not to “lift” the ball into the air. With an open clubface and a good swing, you should feel like the club is sliding through the grass right under the ball. The high bounce on your wedge helps with this.

Step 4: The Follow-Through – Guaranteeing a High Finish

Where you finish your swing is a great indicator of the shot you just hit. For a high, soft pitch, you need a high finish.

1. Keep Rotating: Continue to turn your chest and hips towards the target, finishing with your belt buckle pointing at or left of the target.
2. Finish High: Allow your arms and the club to finish high, with the club shaft pointing towards the sky. Your hands should finish around shoulder height or higher. A low, cut-off finish will produce a low, running shot—the exact opposite of what we want. The clubface should also remain open and pointing to the sky in the finish position.

Simple Drills to Master Your High Soft Pitch Shot

Reading about it is one thing, but building the feel takes practice. Here are a couple of my favorite drills that you can do in your backyard (with foam practice balls!) or at the range.

The Headcover Drill: A more advanced version. Place your driver headcover about a foot in front of the ball. This drill is fantastic for teaching you how to get the ball up very quickly, and it will build your confidence for getting over those scary greenside bunkers.

For safe home practice, a set of Callaway HX Soft Foam Practice Balls is a fantastic investment. They are soft enough not to break anything but have a realistic feel off the clubface.

What I’ve found works best is to complement these drills with visual aids. For a professional breakdown, the PGA of America offers excellent video tips on pitching technique which can really help solidify these concepts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Mastering the High Soft Pitch Shot to Conquer the Green

The high, soft pitch shot is one of the most satisfying shots in golf. It’s a true display of touch, technique, and confidence. While it may seem intimidating at first, breaking it down into the setup, backswing, and a committed follow-through makes it achievable for any beginner.

Remember the key feelings: an open clubface, weight forward, and accelerating through the ball to a high finish. Start with the drills, build your confidence on the practice green, and soon you’ll be ready to take it to the course. You’ll stop fearing those tucked pins and start seeing them as an opportunity to show off your new skills.

What’s the toughest short-game shot you face on your home course? Let me know in the comments below, and let’s conquer it together!