Lee Trevino's 35-yard pitch: the left hip
Parker McLachlin, the Short Game Coach, asks Lee Trevino for his recipe for a 30- to 40-yard pitch. The answer consists of three ingredients: a back-of-the-club-face ball position, hands well forward, and a left hip that does all the work. All without ever “crushing the ball.”.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
First point for Lee Trevino: on any shot where one slows down the movement, like this pitch, The ball is played from a deep position, whether you want a high, medium, or low ball; it’s the clubface that makes the difference. He also wants the same setup for every shot. He follows the advice of his friend Jackie Burke: place the club behind the ball using only your left hand, with your arm and shaft in a straight line; add your right hand, then adjust your feet. The ball ends up in the center, in the right spot every time. The most common mistake is the opposite: hands back and ball forward.
The image: You don’t kill a fly on the table by swatting down at it; you brush it away so it hits the wall. Hands in front of you—a simple guide: look with your right eye without moving your head, the hands are above the shoe. They no longer need to let up: they return on their own and bring the club back to a square position. The club is connected to the left hip, which rotates and pulls the hands, like a tree trunk moving its branches. For a lower ball, he closes the clubface more; for a higher, softer ball, he opens it and rotates his body faster, which maintains the loft.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Hold the club with your left hand only, keeping your arm and shaft in a straight line.
- Place the clubhead behind the ball, then bring your right hand into position.
- Position your feet: The ball should be in the center of your stance, slightly back.
- Check with your right eye—without moving your head forward—to make sure your hands are above your shoe.
- Feel the club against your left hip.
- Rotate your left hip through the ball; your arms will follow.
- To lift the ball, open your clubface and swing faster; to drop it, close your clubface more.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Hands back and ball forward: you end up hitting downwards.
- “Swat the fly” instead of sweeping the ball.
- Move your arms without turning your torso.
- Change the setup every time.
- Believe that the open face is pointing to the right: with your hands in front of you, it comes back.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Jackie Burke's pre-shot routine for every pitch: left hand, then right hand, then feet
- Right-eye check: hands above the shoe
- A series of pitches focused solely on the left hip
- Three heights with the same setup: closed, neutral, open
Your Questions
Why move the ball back on a 35-yard pitch?
According to Lee Trevino, any shot where you slow down the swing is played with the ball set back, regardless of the desired height. It is the opening of the clubface that then determines the trajectory.
Where should the hands be positioned at the address?
Above the shoe. He checks this by looking with his right eye without moving his head forward. With his hands so far forward, they can no longer relax and snap back on their own, which brings the clubface back to square.
What does “don’t swat the fly” mean?
Swatting downward, as if at a fly sitting on a table—that’s the motion he sees many amateurs making. Instead, he wants to sweep the ball away, as if to send the fly crashing into the wall.
How can you get the ball to rise without changing your stance?
Open the clubface, keep the ball in the same position, and rotate your body faster: That’s how Lee Trevino maintains the loft. He adds that the faster your body moves, the shorter the ball travels, with backspin.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Lee Trevino). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.