People have more trouble with this shot than any other, it seems to me. They practice full swings most of the time, but a pitch shot of 40 to 50 yards requires an abbreviated swing—abbreviated but firm. Two common mistakes I see are taking the club back too far and then decelerating through the ball, and keeping too much weight on the right foot at impact. Thin and fat shots result.
1. More weight on left side at address
2. Grip down for firmer swing
3. Keep my rhythm smooth
A good setup, with about 70 percent of my weight on my left side, helps me keep my weight on my left side as I hit down on the ball. A good practice drill is to swing with the right foot pulled back, forcing weight to stay on the left foot and the right heel to come off the ground. This drill will help anybody who scoops the ball.