To obtain maximum control over the ball, always play pitch shots with a slightly downward blow.
Contact between the club and the ball takes place just before the club head reaches the lowest point of the downswing curve.
To address this effect it is necessary to have the body a shade ahead of the clubhead through impact ( pictures 3, 4, & 5).
As I play the shot the club starts up without taking turf, weight finishes mostly on the left leg. The follow-through ends in the way demonstrated.