Illustration by Jim McQueen

Like many Seniors, the passage of time has forced me to work harder on my short game to make up for decreasing length. One of the shots I've come to value more as I've gotten better at it is the pitch-and-run.

Shooting at the flagstick and "sticking" the ball with the wedges is fine when you are in top form but costly when you're not. I think you'll find that pitching-and-running the ball is equally effective on good swings and produces better results on poor ones. The shot is particularly useful in windy conditions, on fast greens, and on relatively flat courses.

You can play a pitch-and-run with a wedge by closing the face and positioning the ball well back in your stance, but the shot is more easily executed with the 7-, 8-, or 9-iron, depending upon the required amount of roll.

For better control, grip down on the club an inch or two, then set up with a narrow stance, weight favoring the left side, the ball in the middle of your stance, and your hands set ahead of the ball. I play the shot best with a short, crisp stroke in which the clubface never catches up with my left hand as I swing through the ball.

Until you've practiced this shot sufficiently to acquire feel for flight relative to roll, it's probably wise to hit a little harder than you think necessary, on the principle that you'll be short more often than long.

Next Week's topic: Work "Right Palm Under" for Soft Lobs.