The Setup Change That Stops You From Duffing Pitch Shots Forever

Hitting a bad drive or slicing a fairway wood is frustrating but it’s also expected. These are tough shots that demand speed, timing and precision from a long way out. But duffing a short pitch shot from just off the green? That’s a different kind of pain. You’re close. You’re in position and then, all of a sudden, you are trying to save bogey.

For most golfers, those chunked pitches aren’t swing issues; they’re setup problems. In this Chris Ryan video, he walks through a few simple setup changes that helped a student go from chunking everything to spinning shots cleanly and confidently.

Shift your weight forward at address

Most amateurs set up too centered. Some even put weight on the trail foot in an effort to lift the ball. This weight distribution at setup causes a fat shot. The goal is to get more left-sided for right-handed players (or lead-sided) in the setup.

• Let your lead hip bump slightly forward.
• Move your head just ahead of the ball (about the “middle of your hat” over or in front of the ball).
• You don’t need a massive lean, just enough to feel pressure on your lead foot.

This forward bias helps you stay over the ball and encourages a cleaner, more confident strike.

Narrow your stance and stand closer

If you’re too far from the ball, you’re more likely to swing with stiff arms or hit off the toe of your wedge. For pitch shots, it helps with feel and distance control to get closer to the ball.

• Bring your feet closer together (about two inches closer than a normal setup).
• Stand slightly closer to the ball.
• Raise the handle a touch to match this new position.

This setup promotes a more neutral shaft angle and makes it easier to control the low point and use the bounce on your wedge.

Soften your arms and let the club work

Tension makes it difficult to hit a great pitch shot. Most golfers get rigid with short shots and try to control the motion too much. Chris Ryan talks about getting the arms to be soft and relaxed. The swing thought that always helped me was to make my arms feel “heavy.” If they are heavy, they are loose and hanging, allowing for a better path and clubface angle.

• Keep your arms soft and relaxed.
• Let the clubhead swing freely.
• Focus on landing the club on the ground, not hitting the ball.

This encourages proper use of the bounce and removes the fear of digging the leading edge.

Finish with chest and head rotating left

Duffed pitches often come from giving up on the shot or getting scared before impact. You tilt away from the target, the shoulders go vertical and you catch the ground early.

The fix:

• Let your chest and head rotate left through impact (right-handed golfers).
• Don’t freeze your head or try to keep it down; allow it to turn naturally.
• Visual cue: finish with your shirt buttons facing the target.

How to bring it all together

Once you have this setup and the basics down, you can try to pull the entire shot together. The student in Chris Ryan’s lesson video was able to make a complete turnaround and finally start controlling his shots around the green.

Here’s how to finalize the motion:

• Use practice swings to feel the club land on the ground, not dig.
• Let the toe of the club rotate slightly up in the backswing.
• Keep the arms soft, the face slightly open and the chest moving.
• Build a “mid-flight” baseline shot, something that doesn’t feel extreme in height or speed.

Final thoughts

If you haven’t already tried, these golf lesson videos on YouTube are a great way to watch someone who may be struggling with the same issues you struggle with find a cure. Chris Ryan is one of the best to look for. He explains things clearly and gives players actionable ways to make real improvement. See if this one works for your greenside pitch shots!