• Picking the right tools in the golf bag for pitching.Golf Walk image by Kathy D from Fotolia.com
  
  Stemming from its birth in Scotland during the 15th century, golf has since become an extremely popular sport — spreading across the globe. The game is played over a large terrain, requiring an assortment of shots, from types that feature long and fast-paced “tee shots” to intricate “putts.” One of the most common types of shots in the game is pitching, which can be played with several different tools in a golfer’s bag.
  
  

Pitching Wedge

• Pitching is normally done when the ball lies at a distance of 40 to 100 yards from the hole. This is an area where full shots — even with the short-distances clubs — will sail the ball over the green; therefore, more compact, half-swings are used, which are known as “pitches.” The pitching wedge has become one of the most versatile tools in a golfer’s bag, being used for an assortment of shot types; however, one of its main uses is as a pitching tool.
  
  Pitching wedges usually contain a loft of 47 degrees. They are utilized usually when the shot is about 80 to 100 yard away — or based upon personal preference. The pitching wedge loft is designed to be optimal for long pitch shots, which require a loft low enough to still travel the necessary distance to make it to the hole.
  
  

Sand Wedge

• The sand wedge is a golfer’s tool that originated as a club that helped players get out of a sand trap; however, the club has since been adapted to take on many roles — one of which is pitching. The loft generally ranges between 54 and 58 degrees. Its higher loft makes the ball travel higher and roll less; therefore, the club is used on the shorter pitches, ranging from 40 to 80 yards, depending upon the amount of roll that is needed on the green. The club is one of the most utilized tools when pitching from the rough as the “rounded face” it possesses makes hitting the club through grass much easier.
  
  

Utility Wedge

• As of 2010, an assortment of utility wedges have become available. Also known as a lob wedge — or gap wedge — these utility wedges normally have an extremely high loft, ranging from 58 to 65 degrees. They are all designed to create an extremely high arc with little roll. If the golfer is required to pitch a ball that needs little roll — usually due to a lack of green to work with — then many golfer’s put utility wedges into play.