We do not use the "pitch and run" shot as much in the United States as they do in Europe, for the main reason our golf courses have much softer ground and more greens protected in the front by bunkers. Nevertheless, the "pitch and run" is a shot worth having, especially if the course you play has very large greens or greens that have some openings in the front.

The "pitch and run" is a very good choice for the higher handicap player as it doesn't require as much ball striking precision as the true pitch we discussed last week. This shot can prove very successful for good players as well when you may draw a bad lie around the green or have a difficult pin placement. With practice you will only be limited by your imagination when you choose to hit this shot.

To play the "pitch and run", you land the ball well short of the hole, often short of the green, allowing it to run along the ground to the hole. You hit this shot much lower in the air, of course, and therefore must use a club that will produce lower trajectory and more run. The obvious choice for such a shot is somewhere between a five iron and a seven iron, but you may find a comfort level with another club and choose to hit something more lofted.

At address, play the ball just to the right of center of your feet, with your hands a little forward of the club head. This position promotes the low trajectory you need. The swing is made with the hands, arms and shoulders. There is little lower body movement required for this shot. In the backswing, the right hand should create only a slight cocking of the wrists. The backswing itself will be rather short; your hands should not go back much farther than waist-high, and only that for the longer shots you attempt.

The "pitch and run" does not require the precision of a pitch shot - you usually can get away with a slight miss hit. You do not have to fly the ball as close to the hole and put backspin on it as you do with a pitch shot. However, it still takes experience and practice to judge how far the ball will run after it lands on the ground. You must consider the condition of the ground, how hard or soft, how wet or dry, and the effect of any undulations. With practice you will learn to "read" the terrain as you would a putt. If the ground slopes to the left play the ball to land to the right of your target and allow it to "take the slope."