Attack hidden pins by shaping your pitch shots. Here’s how

Welcome to Play smartA regular column on GOLF.com dedicated to improving your game, helping you become a smarter, better golfer.

We would all like to always have a hole cut right in the center of the green. If there is enough room to miss on both sides, our scoring averages will likely plummet.

However, as we all know, having a hole right in the middle of the green is quite rare. Often the hole is cut closer to one side or the other of the green, hidden behind water hazard bunkers.

When the pin is tucked this way, getting the ball close to the hole can be a challenge—even with a wedge in hand. However, if you know how manipulate the flight of the ball of your service shots, this can make attacking tucked pins much easier.

How to shape your pitch shots

Shaping the serving shots to access the tucked pins is a high level skill that needs to be mastered, but the technique is actually quite simple.

“This is what they do on tour to get access to badges,” says Top 100 Golf Teachers Jonathan Yarwood. “It’s hard, but it’s not as hard to do as you think.”

To start learning this skill, all you have to do is manipulate a few things in your setup and swing to get the ball to work with a draw or a hard spin.

Cut step

Let’s start with a course that moves from left to right (for a right-handed golfer). With the address, you want to reveal the face of the club, and then reveal your position a little. Bring the handle a little closer to your lead foot and move the club slightly outward during takeoff. During your swing, focus on rotating your body and pulling the club shaft toward the driver pocket while keeping the club face as open as possible.

“Essentially, you cut the path to the left and leave your face open,” Yarwood says. “This thing flies from left to right in the air, hits the green zone and checks to see if it’s correct.”

Drawing step

The draw is great for taking some of the spin off your pitch shot, especially if you have a false front protecting the green. Start with a slightly larger club than usual, then focus on a longer, wider swing. During the downswing, roll the toe of the club and use a slow rhythm throughout the impact.

“It negates (and) the backspin part,” Yarwood says.

The pros hit these shots every week during Tour competition—and with a little practice, you can add them to your arsenal, too.