If you want to lower your scores quickly, your short game is the place to start. And within the short game, understanding the difference between chipping and pitching is fundamental. These two shots may look similar to beginners, but they serve very different purposes, require different techniques, and knowing when to use each one can save you several strokes per round.
In this guide, we break down the key differences between chipping and pitching, explain when to use each shot, and share the technique fundamentals that will help you get up and down more consistently.
What Is a Chip Shot?
A chip shot is a low-trajectory shot played from close to the green where the ball spends more time rolling on the ground than it does in the air. Think of it as an extended putt with a lofted club. The ball pops up just enough to clear the fringe or any rough between you and the green, then rolls out toward the hole like a putt.
Chip shots are typically played from within a few metres of the green using a less-lofted club such as a 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, or pitching wedge. The lower loft keeps the ball low, and the rolling action makes the shot easier to control in terms of distance.
What Is a Pitch Shot?
A pitch shot is a higher-trajectory shot where the ball spends more time in the air than it does rolling on the ground. It is played when you need to carry the ball over an obstacle such as a bunker, a mound, or thick rough before landing it softly on the green.
Pitch shots are typically played from ten to fifty metres out using a higher-lofted club such as a sand wedge, lob wedge, or gap wedge. The higher loft launches the ball on a steeper trajectory, and the increased backspin helps the ball stop more quickly after landing.
The Key Differences at a Glance
The fundamental difference comes down to the ratio of air time to ground time. A chip shot is mostly roll with a little air. A pitch shot is mostly air with a little roll. This simple distinction drives every other difference between the two shots, from club selection to technique to decision-making on the course.
Chip shots use a shorter, more compact stroke with minimal wrist action. The motion resembles a putting stroke with a slightly longer club. Pitch shots use a longer, fuller swing with more wrist hinge and a more pronounced follow-through. The swing is essentially a miniature version of your full swing.
Club selection differs as well. Chipping typically uses lower-lofted clubs from a 7-iron through a pitching wedge, while pitching uses higher-lofted wedges from about fifty degrees up to sixty degrees of loft.
How to Chip: Technique Fundamentals
Set up for a chip shot with a narrow stance, feet close together, and the ball positioned just back of centre in your stance. Lean your weight slightly toward your front foot, roughly sixty percent on the lead side. This forward weight distribution encourages a descending strike that contacts the ball cleanly before the ground.
Your hands should be ahead of the ball at address and remain ahead through impact. Think of pressing the shaft forward so the handle points toward your lead hip. This delofts the club slightly and promotes the low, running ball flight that defines a chip shot.
The stroke itself is driven by your shoulders and arms, with very little wrist action. Rock your shoulders like a pendulum, keeping your wrists firm. The backswing and follow-through should be roughly equal in length. Avoid scooping or flipping your wrists at impact, as this adds loft and inconsistency to the shot.
A useful way to practice is to imagine the shot as a putt. Choose your landing spot on the green and then pick the club that will land the ball on that spot and roll it out to the hole. Different clubs produce different ratios of air to roll. A 7-iron might fly one-third of the way and roll two-thirds, while a pitching wedge might fly half and roll half.
How to Pitch: Technique Fundamentals
The pitch shot set-up is wider than a chip, with your feet about shoulder-width apart and the ball positioned in the centre of your stance. Your weight distribution is more even, though a slight lean toward the front foot is still beneficial.
Unlike the chip, the pitch shot requires wrist hinge. As you take the club back, allow your wrists to hinge naturally, setting the club on a steeper angle. This wrist hinge is what creates the height and spin that distinguish a pitch from a chip.
Swing through the ball with confidence, accelerating through impact rather than decelerating. A common mistake with pitch shots is to slow down through the hitting zone out of fear of hitting the ball too far. This leads to fat shots and poor contact. Commit to the swing and control your distance by varying the length of your backswing rather than your swing speed.
The follow-through on a pitch shot should be at least as long as the backswing. Let the club release naturally through impact, and finish with the club pointing toward your target.
When to Chip vs When to Pitch
The golden rule of the short game is to chip whenever you can and pitch only when you have to. A chip shot is a lower-risk play because the ball spends most of its journey on the ground, rolling predictably like a putt. A pitch shot introduces more variables: higher trajectory means more influence from wind, spin rates vary with lie conditions, and distance control is harder with a longer swing.
Choose a chip shot when you are close to the green with a clear, unobstructed path to the hole and plenty of green to work with. If the flag is at the back of the green and there is nothing between you and the putting surface, a chip is almost always the smart play.
Choose a pitch shot when you need to carry the ball over a bunker, mound, rough, or other obstacle, or when the pin is tucked close to your side of the green and you need the ball to stop quickly after landing. A pitch is also the better choice when you are farther from the green, beyond comfortable chipping distance.
Common Short Game Mistakes
Using the wrong shot for the situation is the most common error. Many recreational golfers automatically grab their most-lofted wedge for every shot around the green and try to hit a high, spinning pitch when a simple chip with an 8-iron would be far more effective and far less risky.
Decelerating through impact is another widespread problem, particularly on pitch shots. This happens when a golfer takes too long a backswing and then slows down to compensate, resulting in fat or thin contact. Match the length of your backswing to the distance you want to hit the ball, and then swing through with consistent tempo.
Failing to pick a specific landing spot is a third common mistake. Many golfers aim at the general area of the hole without choosing a precise point where they want the ball to land. Always pick a landing spot, then select the club and swing length that will land the ball on that spot and let it roll out to the target.
Practice Drills to Improve Your Short Game
The towel drill is excellent for practicing your landing spot accuracy. Place a towel on the practice green at your chosen landing spot and try to land your chips and pitches on it. This trains you to be precise with your carry distance.
The ladder drill helps with distance control. Place five tees in a line at increasing distances from the green, then try to chip or pitch balls to land next to each tee in succession. This develops your ability to vary distance by changing club selection or swing length.
The up-and-down challenge simulates real course pressure. Drop ten balls in various positions around a practice green and try to get up and down (on the green and into the hole in two shots or fewer) from each position. Track your success rate and try to beat it each session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What club should I chip with?
There is no single best chipping club. The best approach is to vary your club selection based on how much roll you need. A 7-iron produces maximum roll and minimum air time, while a pitching wedge produces roughly equal air and roll. Choose the club that lands the ball on your target spot and rolls it out to the hole.
Should I open the clubface when pitching?
Opening the clubface adds loft, which increases height and spin but reduces distance. This is useful when you need to land the ball softly over a bunker with a short-sided pin. For standard pitch shots, a square clubface is typically the most reliable option. Save the open-face technique for situations that demand extra height and stop.
How do I control distance on pitch shots?
Control pitch shot distance by varying the length of your backswing while maintaining a consistent tempo and acceleration through impact. A shorter backswing produces a shorter shot, and a longer backswing produces a longer one. Avoid the temptation to vary distance by swinging harder or softer, as this introduces inconsistency.
