Chip vs Pitch
Also known as: chip vs pitch, chip or pitch, difference between a chip and a pitch, chipping vs pitching, chip shot vs pitch shot, pitch vs chip
A chip flies low, spends more time rolling than flying and uses a short stroke with little wrist hinge. A pitch flies higher, carries most of the way and uses a longer swing with wrist hinge. Chip when you have green to work with, and pitch when you must carry rough, a bunker or a slope.
A chip is the smallest shot from off the green. The ball pops up just enough to clear the fringe, lands early and rolls out like a putt. Golfers chip with anything from a sand wedge to a 7-iron. The stroke stays short, with the hands slightly ahead and very little wrist hinge.
A pitch is a bigger shot, often from about 10 to 50 yards. It flies higher, lands softer and rolls less. The stroke is a mini swing with the wrists hinging and the body turning. Golfers usually pitch with a pitching, gap, sand or lob wedge.
Many coaches teach a simple order of choice. Putt if you can, chip if you cannot putt, and pitch only if you cannot chip. A rolling ball is easier to control than a flying one. Choose the pitch when something is in the way, when the green slopes away hard or when there is little green between you and the hole.
Tips by skill level
Before each short shot, ask whether you can putt it. If not, ask whether you can chip it. Only pitch if you have to carry something.
Learn one chipping stroke with three clubs, such as a sand wedge, pitching wedge and 8-iron. Changing clubs changes the carry and roll without changing the stroke.
Example
His ball is just off the green with 40 feet of green to the hole. He chips with an 8-iron and lets it run. On the next hole a bunker sits between him and a tight flag. He pitches with a lob wedge and lands the ball softly.
Why it matters
Choosing the right shot is half of getting up and down. Using a chip when a pitch is not needed takes the hardest part, the carry, out of the shot.
Common mistakes
- Pitching the ball high when a simple chip would do
- Chipping into a slope or over rough that a pitch should carry
- Using lots of wrist hinge on a chip and stiff arms on a pitch
- Using the same club for every short shot
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a chip and a pitch?
A chip flies low and rolls most of the way, with a short stroke and little wrist hinge. A pitch flies higher and carries most of the way, with a longer swing and more wrist hinge.
When should I chip instead of pitch?
Chip when you have plenty of green between you and the hole and nothing to carry. Pitch when you must clear rough, a bunker or a slope, or when the hole is close to the edge.
Related terms
- ChippingChipping is a short shot played from just off the green. A small swing gets the ball rolling on the green quickly so it can run to the hole.
- PitchingPitching is a mid-range short-game shot, usually from 30–100 yards, that carries the ball most of the way to the target. It uses a descending blow and controlled spin.
- How to Hit a Pitch ShotSet up with a narrow stance, the ball in the middle and a little more weight on your lead foot. Hinge your wrists as you turn back, then turn your chest through to a finish as long as your backswing. Control distance with the length of the swing, not by hitting harder.
- Chip-and-RunA chip-and-run is a low, bouncing chip that gets on the green fast and rolls toward the hole. It is the safest choice when there is room between the ball and the green edge.
- Bump-and-RunA bump-and-run is a low chip that lands on the green just past the fringe and rolls to the hole like a putt. It uses the fringe and green to deliver the ball.
- Short GameThe short game covers putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker play, on and around the green. It usually accounts for 60–65% of strokes in an average round.
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