Work on your pitching control(Part I)

Set up slightly open to your target and focus on swinging along the ball to target line.

In this first part on controlling your pitching, Ryder Cup winner and five-times European Tour champion Ross Fisher shares a few fundamentals on what can help sharpen your game and improve scoring around the greens.

Set up slightly open to your target and focus on swinging along the ball to target line. Work hard on maintaining that path – placing a club or cane on the ground can help you visualise and groove the correct motion. Fisher emphasises keeping the clubhead moving up and down the line for longer.

Pitching into the windAdjust your set up to counter the elements. Move the ball further back in your stance, with your hands positioned ahead of the ball to create more shaft lean. Swing a little easier to reduce spin, preventing the ball from ballooning into the wind and losing distance.

On longer pitches, the clubhead will naturally move a little inside, but it should never feel as though it is working back inside your hands.

Distance control

When the shot isn’t a full swing, judge distance by the length of your backswing. Keep tempo and speed consistent — it’s the size of

the swing that dictates how far the ball travels. This simple rhythm ensures reliable control under pressure.