3.4 The GOAT Pitch Shot

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Once you've got a good "hand" on your putting and chipping, the next phase - pitching - will be your first step into the foundation of a full swing as you will learn how to rotate using your core while setting your wrist to get the club up on plane.

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matthew
what do you all think? i think i'm one of those guys who needs to release earlier in the downswing to allow the hands to get more in front of my right thigh. i constantly feel like the club is too far behind me (feel stuck). other places online will tell you never to do that, but i think it's a necessity for my swing. thoughts? thanks!

March 21, 2025
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matthew
i practiced today with my hands preset in front of right thigh to see if i can get back to that position. i still have a hard time getting to the GDP position

March 21, 2025
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Chuck
This is because you are rotating your shoulders too much in the downswing. The arms will always come in late here. Take a look at the GOAT Whip video to get a feel for how the lead leg drives back and this is what brings the arms and hands down for you.
March 23, 2025
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matthew
i also think i have slight out of proportion long limbs.. have a small torso and long legs/ arms. i've heard it said that a longer wingspan can cause feeling "stuck."
March 21, 2025
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Jeff
Your advice would be appreciated. I have a tendency to have a long backswing…I feel no resistance. Other than that, trying to swing more upright…I was swinging WAY too flat. This clip also shows my tendency to stand up during the downswing. On fuller swings, my hands at impact are more away from my body than at starting position…tried standing more vertical and that is helping. Help, please!

February 27, 2025
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Jeff
Shorter swing…

February 27, 2025
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Chuck
This swing is still quite long for this step. You want to make sure you get more onto your lead side during the downswing as you're hanging back too much on your trail foot.
March 1, 2025
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Kendall
I watched the 20 yard wedge video and you had a good explanation of what part of the core you were supposed to use and it did help me have a better feeling through the shot. I was using the left side of my core to start the takeaway (more like a crunch feeling). I’m now trying to use my right side (more of a stretching feeling) like you mentioned in the 20 yard wedge video. Face does open a bit more (still needs work) this way and the path feels better as well. I still can’t tell if my arms and shoulders are catching up too fast but I’m guessing they are because I feel like my downswing is alot of shoulders as I’m still working on the feeling of the core to bring it to impact. I also notice that having the feeling of stretching my right side core, my head lifts up in the takeaway. Definitely still a bit lost but putting the hours in to try to fix it.

February 26, 2025
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Chuck
You’re holding the right arm a little too rigid, and not allowing it to bend it all which is making your shoulders Want to fire too soon. Your over overall upper body needs to relax a little bit more and have a little more fluidity in your stroke, which will allow your core to lead, but if you’re very, very stiff in your shoulders and arms, they will take over
February 27, 2025
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Kendall
Chuck, I feel like I’m on the struggle bus now. I’m focusing on only using my core but when I rewatch the videos I can’t tell if my arms and shoulders are catching up to my body too quick. It’s such a small move it’s hard for me really get anything ahead of anything else sequence wise. On the down the line video here I really exaggerated it and it feels like I’m dragging the club through which doesn’t look or feel right. When I rewatch the compression and goat pitch videos, I can’t see much core movement ahead of arms and shoulders either. I know it’s happening, but is it more of a feeling than a visual on such a short shot? Also, I know you said in one of the videos that weight is 60/40 to the lead side and it really wasn’t worth talking about but is there any shift at all that you would see? From the videos it looks like you and tiger actually move forward on the takeaway…so is your weight favored toward the lead side for the duration of a pitch? Thanks for any help.

February 26, 2025
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Chuck
Use this clip as your model

February 27, 2025
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Kendall
I’m a couple hours into chipping and it seems to be going okay. I’m verifying all checkpoints and angles from both the compression video and goat pitch video and all seem to be mostly there. I do have a question on lower body feelings in chipping versus pitching. While chipping I felt a lot activation in the lead leg muscles and glute. While pitching I don’t feel it near as much. Is this because while chipping, most of the weight is maintained on the lead side through the entire shot versus pitching where the weight shifts essentially 3 times (lead, trail, lead)? Also, what would cause the club to be on the bottom side of the trail forearm during a pitch takeaway? Yours matches the forearm, tigers is slightly above, mine is just below. When practicing slowly in the mirror I can get it match but when I swing it drifts lower and I can’t figure out why. Looking forward to feedback and more grinding! Pretty crazy how well this seems to be working and how good my contact and consistency has become. Can’t wait to move on to the wedge play.

February 24, 2025
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Chuck
You’re really close here, but you’ve got the club face a little too shut going back as you get the shoulders tilted very aggressively going back and on the way down, you need to focus on rotating more from the core of your body rather than from your shoulders, and that will help you get the proper sequence on the downswing as your arms and shoulders are catching up to your body a little too early
February 25, 2025
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Kendall
Chuck, when you say “ your arms and shoulders are catching up to your body a little too early” does that mean that my core should be turning first to start the downswing while my arms and shoulders are lagging a bit?
February 25, 2025
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Chuck
Yes always
February 25, 2025
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Bradley
I was doing well with pitching, then somehow lost it. I can still pitch ok with my trail hand, but consistently thin/shank with both. I watched the pitch vid in the ref section. It emphasizes a couple of different things. I know the GOAT program uses the pitch to progress to the full swing, so I don't want to get off track.
February 24, 2025
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Chuck
What do you see happening on video?
February 24, 2025
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Jeff
Would appreciate some clarification on the location of your video recording device when it's behind you (aka, down the line). Do you line up the camera in-line with your feet or the ball or somewhere in-between? My initial goal is to ensure my clubface is in front of my hands like you teach in the video.
February 23, 2025
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Chuck
do you want the camera about waist height and in between the ball and your body
February 24, 2025
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Chris

February 18, 2025
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Chuck
a little two army going back with too much lead arm push and make sure you get more pressure onto your lead foot on the downswing, but otherwise looking good
February 18, 2025
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Chris

February 18, 2025
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Bradley
recommend a good app for recording the strokes?
February 17, 2025
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Chuck
There are quite a few in app store. I use visual eyes which is pretty good
February 18, 2025
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Tyler
Hi Chuck! I feel that I am doing the move correctly. bit. I am tending to hit the ball in the toe a bit. I am not sure if it is from set up or swing mechanic in backswing or downswing. Thank you!

February 4, 2025
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Chuck
The mechanics of your stroke look very good, but I would set up more square and with less knee bend and that will get you a little taller and closer to the ball, which should remove the toe strikes
February 5, 2025
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Stanley
Here's the Down the Line view. Thanks!

November 9, 2024
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Chuck
Setup looks good, but your arms are too active in the stroke. Try and take the club back with the core and the arms follow
November 11, 2024
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Stanley
Hi Chuck. Your critique would be greatly appreciated!

November 9, 2024
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Chuck
See how your right arm is bending a lot? On these short shots, it should barely bend much at all. This happens when you're not using your core to move the arms
November 11, 2024
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Stanley
Thank you very much! Your expert eye is greatly appreciated!
November 11, 2024
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Thomas
Hello chuck, I have been doing great with chipping and started to work on the pitching. Here are a few videos of the start of the pitching.

October 29, 2024
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Thomas

October 29, 2024
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Chuck
Here ya go Thomas!

October 29, 2024
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Thomas
Thanks Chuck, this makes a lot of sense. I will start recording myself more often to help correct these issues. Outside of my chipping I started to feel my old swing habits come back.
October 29, 2024
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Jeff
Hi Chuck, I have a question about the chipping and pitching setup and how it seems to me to be different from your video on the GOAT setup i.e., the club shaft should point to your belt buckle. In the chipping and pitching setup the club shaft isn't pointing to your belt buckle. Just wondering/curious as to why that is. I'm guessing that with a wedge and the type of shot, it's kind of like the driver---a specialty shot. ???
October 6, 2024
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Chuck
Yes it is more like a specialty shot compared to a full swing for the same reason you don’t shift weight to your trail foot there’s simply not enough time on such a short stroke
October 6, 2024
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Lorenzo
Hi Chuck, I assume that you use the bounce for the pitch shots? And I assume that you have more release (hands and arms get a little higher) then when chipping. For the short game you need fines so you need soft hands and because of this it will feel and look like you flip a little with your right hand, you don't actually flip but due to the weight of the club head and soft hands it happens. Is that correct? Could be that I'm wrong but I don't see much differences between this pitch shot and the chip shot. I assume that with the chip shot you stop with your turn and arms so the clubhead is approx less than 45° above the ground?
September 29, 2024
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Chuck
Ok, a lot of questions here. First, yes the bounce is used on many pitch shots, depending on the shot and the lie, it may not be. Second, no, I don't flip and I hold the club firmly unless I need more height on the ball. As you watch more of the pitching videos and wedge shots I talk more about the differences, specifically I think this is discussed in the Clubface is King video - long story short, pitch has more wrist set.
September 30, 2024
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Lorenzo
Many thanks. It’s clear.
September 30, 2024
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Carver
Chuck, curious if you have an opinion or preference for the optimal bounce for the 60 deg given the chip and pitch protocol you are teaching.
September 28, 2024
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Chuck
I've always preferred minimal bounce, 4-8* maximum and typically grind down the heel so when the club is open there is 0* of bounce
September 28, 2024
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Bob
As the swing gets a little bigger does the left shoulder/arm ever pronate or does that supination stay throughout the full swing with all clubs?
September 23, 2024
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Chuck
Hi Bob, it has to pronate, you're just trying to avoid it happening right off the ball.
September 24, 2024
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andree
Is it correct that the take-away shown here can be used and extended to then make a full iron swing? Specifically how the right hand moves, the sensation of 'shut face' and perhaps steepness, as you say yourself? Also: I know that you don't like 'pushing with the left arm/hand' to start the swing. In my case, I've had a tendency to both rotate flat and roll the left arm with the clubhead going inside in an opening fashion. BUT: I find that if I start the swing by "pushing" my left shoulder down on plane, while monitoring that my left hand gets "pushed" back/in at around 20 degrees or so, I get a pretty solid start with passive arms and good upper body engagement/rotation. I also don't feel this left shoulder move leads to swaying in my case. I almost feel that if I just "push the left shoulder to below my chin" and "set my right wrist with a small "right hand lift" I'd be 90% there to a full swing. With all this said, do you still think it's too error-prone to focus on lead side pushing (be it arm or shoulder)? I've never really connected with the "rotate the right scapula back inside" feeling. Thanks!
September 14, 2024
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Chuck
Yes, that is the entire point of the program. Is that the exact same mechanics you learn here carryover to the full swing. You can use the lead side to help for sure and even focus on that as long as it does not cause you to start changing the club face angle. The starting line drill will be the truth teller for you to know if you are manipulating the club face, because you should be able to consistently get at least four out of five in that 1 foot slot
September 15, 2024
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Carver
Chuck, too steep?

September 12, 2024
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Chuck
Hey Carver, note how your left arm is pretty vertical as you go back towards the end of the Takeaway this shows that you’re pushing with that left arm. When you pull back more with the right, the left arm angle in and point more towards the back of your foot, and this is very important to get in face control, because when you push with the left arm, it will change the club face angle most of the time as it will cause the left arm to pronate, which will rotate the face And the starting line drill will be very difficult and it will be very easy to get off plane
September 13, 2024
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Carver
Thanks for the response Chuck. Very timely as I just spent 2 hours pitching and filming. I have been trying to get lead shoulder back and in as per your GOAT takeaway video. Going back and trying pulling with right side more. Thank you.
September 13, 2024
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Carver
So I went back and hit more pitch shots with my 60 pulling with the right side. What a difference. Shallower AOA and much better strike. Club face contact moved from closer to toe to center face. Thanks Chuck. Made my day.
September 13, 2024
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Chuck
Awesome! Toe hits are almost always indicative of too much pulling with the lead side
September 15, 2024
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Jeff
In your prior pitch shot video (before GOAT) at address you recommended the club head to be toe down (to eliminate chunking it). I've seen videos of Tiger talking about how he will use the toe down to eliminate hitting it fat. Any thoughts on incorporating this?
September 8, 2024
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Chuck
You can do that here for sure. I personally don't do that very often but if you're comfortable with it, it can help, especially in bermuda.
September 9, 2024
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Steve
Another great video and step for us students to follow! Perfect progression to learn the full swing! One quick question though, the one spot that you didn’t really elaborate on was what are you feeling for the slight shallowing move? I can do this and fully understand what we are trying to do and what it should look like but I want to make sure I’m doing this the “Way of the Goat” The way you want us to! Thank you Chuck!
September 5, 2024
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Chuck
Hi Steve, it's mostly the wrist that is creating the shallowing, the arm is involved a bit as well.
September 5, 2024
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Steve
For sure, just wasn’t sure if there was a slight supination or slight clockwise twist of the wrist to initiate it?
September 5, 2024
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Chuck
Because the club is being taken back in a way that feels quite vertical when doing it correctly, it's natural for the wrist to want to do this motion to shallow. If your wrists are relatively relaxed going back as the core gets the motion going, you'll find this to be a natural motion.
September 5, 2024
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Steve
Thanks so much for the explanation! That makes a lot of sense! I definitely overthink and over complicate the movement in an attempt to set the wrists! I am a huge believer in this Goat trial! It is phenomenal! Thanks Chuck!
September 5, 2024
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Chuck
You're welcome!
September 5, 2024
1.1 Introduction to The GOAT Code 1.2 The GOAT Delivery Position (GDP) 1.3 The GOAT Grip 1.4 The GOAT Setup 1.5 GOAT Ball Position 1.6 Trail Hand Putting Drill 1.7 Tiger Woods Tee Drill 1.8 Add Lead Hand to Putting Stroke 1.9 Skills Assessment Challenge: Putting
2.1 Clubface is KING 2.2 Trail Hand Chipping Stroke 2.3 Trail Hand Ripper Chip 2.4 Add Lead Hand to Chipping Stroke 2.5 Progressive Drill to Add Lead Hand 2.6 Add Lead Hand to Ripper Chip 2.7 Skills Assessment Challenge: Chipping
3.1 Transferring Power from the Core to the Hand 3.2 The GOAT Takeaway 3.3 Fundamentals of Compression 3.4 The GOAT Pitch Shot 3.5 Pitch Shot Starting Line Drill 3.6 Skills Assessment Challenge: Pitching
4.1 Core Activation - Chair Drill 4.2 Core Activation - Medicine Ball Throws 4.3 Core Activation - Slam Ball 4.4 Core Activation - Punching Bag Power 4.5 20 Yard Wedge Shot Basics 4.6 Skills Assessment Challenge: 20 Yard Shots 4.7 40 Yard Wedge Shots - The Magic! 4.8 GOAT Power Sequence 4.9 The GOAT Drill 4.10 How to Increase Hand Speed - J Release 4.11 The Importance of the Waggle for Speed 4.12 How the Lead Side Works for Power 4.13 Magic of Supination 4.14 80 Yard Shots - Down the Line 4.15 80 yd Shots - Face On 4.16 Tiger Woods 80 yd Face On Reference Video 4.17 How to Coil Around the Trail Leg 4.18 GOAT Backswing 4.19 Rotation & Footwork 4.20 GOAT Downswing - The Whip Effect 4.21 The GOAT 9 to 3 Drill
Webinar 1: The Core Webinar 2: Core Power & Putting Webinar 3 - Compression & Clubface Control Webinar 4 - Fascia & Effortless Power
Is Tiger Woods Golf Swing a Baseball Swing? Pt. 1 of 3 Throw the Club or Push the Club? Pt 2 of 3 Squish the Bug for Effortless Power - Pt 3 of 3 The GOAT Release The GOAT Release Intro - Endless Conveyor Belt GOAT Code Secret to Effortless Power - Pt 1 of 4 GOAT Code Effortless Power - Head Movement - Pt 2 of 4 GOAT Code Effortless Power - Using Your Head - Pt 3 of 4 GOAT Code Effortless Power - Take it to the Course - Pt 4 of 4 Creating Torque in the Swing - Pt 1 of 3 Creating Torque in the Golf Swing - Pt 2 Creating Torque - The Magic Pill for the Feel - Pt 3
The GOAT Code - Ep 1 - How the Hands & Wrist Create Speed The GOAT Code - Ep 2 - How Tour Player Equipment Deals Work The GOAT Code - Ep 3 - 69 yr Old Increases Swing Speed 15 mph in 30 minutes!
Bryan's Journey - Introduction How Bryan's Letting RotarySwing PAY For Itself

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