Butch Harmon's high, soft pitch—the Mickelson method
Landing the ball on the green and stopping it near the hole with a very short shot: Butch Harmon demonstrates to golfer Mark Smith the technique he says he learned from Phil Mickelson—an open face and the club gliding under the ball.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
In some cases, you’d often choose a chip shot. Butch Harmon finds this short pitch, landed on the green, to be a great shot to work on. He asks you to’open the face wider and to play almost the same move, softer, keeping your weight shifted forward. It also corrects the length: a swing that’s too long ruins the shot. All you have to do is’a little swing, the speed is shown at the bottom.
He says he learned from Phil Mickelson another way to play it. Mickelson opens his 64-degree wedge, moves the ball forward into his stance and strikes about an inch behind her, to let the club slide under the ball. The club stays low both on the upswing and the downswing. Mickelson’s wedge has no bounce, which helps it glide. Harmon points out that you need the right lie for this shot.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Check that the lie is correct: the ball should not be buried in the ground.
- Open the face of your wedge as wide as possible.
- Move the ball forward in your stance.
- Take a short swing, keeping the club low on the upswing.
- Aim for the grass about an inch behind the ball and let the club slide underneath it.
- Stay low as you cross the court, and let the ball land gently.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Taking too long a swing on such a short shot.
- Keep the face closed: the ball rolls instead of landing.
- Try this move in a tough spot.
- Try to hit the ball hard instead of letting the speed carry it down.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Short shots toward a nearby flag, open stance
- A series of shots where you move the ball forward and aim just behind it
- Short swings, comparing the height and stop of the ball
- Always on the right track
Your Questions
Where should I hit the ball for this pitch?
According to Mickelson's method, as described by Butch Harmon, position yourself about an inch behind the ball to let the club slide underneath it.
Where should I place the ball?
Further forward in the stance, with the feet facing outward.
Do you need a big swing to get the ball in the air?
No. Harmon corrects a swing that's too long: a short swing is enough; the speed comes at the bottom.
Does this trick work in all situations?
Harmon points out that you need the right lie. Mickelson's wedge, which has no bounce, helps him slide under the ball.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Butch Harmon). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.