If you have played golf for a while, chances are that you have come across the terms “chip” and “pitch” in conversation.
The two shots are used for different purposes and conditions, but they are still closely related. This article will explain what these terms mean, how to hit them correctly, and when they should be used.
Chipping Vs. Pitching: What Is The Difference?
Chipping | Pitching |
One-lever movement | Two-lever movement |
Used to get the ball out of deep rough or sand | Used to curve toward the target that you want to hit |
The purpose of chipping is to hit it high | The purpose of Pitching is to curve the ball |
The ball will travel a shorter distance | The ball will travel a longer distance |
Requires less skill, experience, & control | Requires more skill, experience, & control |
What is a chip shot in golf?
A chip shot is a short-distance shot that is usually played around the green and is designed to get the ball quickly onto the putting surface. The goal of a chip shot is to get the ball close to the hole so that it can be easily rolled in for a low score.
What is a pitch shot in golf?
A pitch shot is a medium to high trajectory shot that is usually played from 30-70 yards from the green and the goal is to get the ball onto the putting surface with a moderate amount of backspin so that it stops quickly and does not roll very far.
A chip shot is a one-lever move
That means that your body moves in one direction and your hands and club swing in another. The club head is not moving at the same speed as your body when you chip, but it does move slower than the ball does.
The reason for this is that when we hit a golf ball with our driver or iron (or any other club), we use more than just our arms to hit it. We also use our legs and hips to generate power behind every swing!
A pitch shot is a two-lever move
A pitch shot is a two-lever move. You take your clubhead on the inside of your body, square it to the target and align it with your target line. The clubface should be behind or in front of your body at all times during this process.
When to Chip?
Chip shots are often used when the golf ball is short of the green and you want to play it from a tight lie. If you have a long putt, chip and run may also be appropriate because they allow time for your swing to settle before taking another stroke.
When to Pitch?
When you’re in a situation where your shot is in flight for a long time (a rally), or when the ball is on the ground, you should pitch. This means that if your opponent plays a shot and it’s difficult to get past him or her, then pitching will help you get past them.
Pitch also works well when there are many balls around and it’s hard for one player to hit all five of theirs at once; pitching gives them an advantage over others because they can choose which ones they want to hit first!
Finally, pitching works best when there are lots of balls around, like after hitting four outta five shots from outside 20 yards away from the goal!
Impact of Chipping
The ball will travel a shorter distance. This is because the spin imparted on it by the chipper will be less than that of a smooth stick, and thus all of its energy is lost in the air, resulting in less distance traveled.
The game itself has become easier for beginners to learn and play as well as more accessible to players who may not have had much experience before playing this game.
Impact of Pitching
The ball will travel a longer distance. Pitching is a more difficult shot to play than a chip because it requires more skill, experience, and control. Pitches are used when you want to get the ball up in the air and avoid obstacles, or if you want to control the spin on your approach shot.
The most obvious difference between pitching and chipping is that not all pitches require spin, while many chippers need some amount of spin on their approach shots.
In fact, most players who use both techniques have developed their own style of using either one or both techniques depending on their strengths and weaknesses as well as their current level of experience with each technique.
Chip short Swing
The swing should be short and quick. You want to keep your backswing short, but not so short that you lose control of the clubhead as it travels through impact.
The clubface should be open as far back as possible with both hands in a steep angle (90 degrees). This will allow for the maximum loft at impact and make it easier for you to hit an accurate shot since there’s less energy required when moving forward quickly compared with slowly rotating down towards the ball from above rather than below.
The ball should be hit on its upward flight path so that when it lands it lands softly. The most important part is not hitting too hard or fast because then there won’t be much forgiveness left due to only being able to control where exactly each shot goes after being hit off-center by either too much force or just having too much air behind them which causes them all over again!
Pitch short Swing
The chip-and-run is a shot that you can hit with your short game. There are two main types of chip shots: the chip and soft pitch, and the hard-hit, soft-chip.
The chip and run is a shot where you aim at the ball, not down at it. This means that when you hit your ball well enough to get through onto it from around 10 yards out on your target line or less (depending on how much-lofted spin control), then you can use this type of swing for both pitchings but also for hitting off of fairway bunkers if need be!
It’s important not to grip tightly when making this kind of swing because otherwise, it may cause problems with accuracy later down range in terms of distance control issues due to poor contact between club head face angle position rest point inner edge outer edge shaft cavity mouthpiece throat lining front face back face inside outside front back side length ratio.
How to aim a Chip short?
Aim the ball at the pin. If you want to hit a chip shot, aim directly at your target. If you’re trying to get out of a bunker, aim for an area just short of where you think your ball will end up on its final resting place: if it goes too far back and rolls off into the water hazard or onto another green, then you can consider yourself lucky that it didn’t land in there instead!
How to aim a Pitch short?
The ball should be hit with a slightly closed clubface. This means that the shaft of your golf club should be facing toward you and pointing to the target on your target line (the imaginary wire that goes straight through the middle of your stance).
The clubface will open up as it moves away from this line, causing less lofted shots to curve more than square ones. A closed clubface also helps prevent hooks and slices by creating more lift at impact, which reduces spin rates on long iron shots.
Both shots are used for different purposes and conditions.
Chip: This shot is used to get the ball airborne, or get out of trouble. It can also be used as a backhand shot when you want to keep the ball on the ground and play it back into your opponent’s court.
Pitch: A pitch is used in order to keep balls in play if they go out-of-bounds or cross over lines that would otherwise result in an out-of-bounds ball being served by your opponent (i.e., if they serve over the net).
A pitch will also be taken if it looks like a player will smash their way through another player with no chance of getting back inside their service box before hitting this type of shot (which usually means getting hit with a smash).
FAQ
What is the difference between a chip shot and a pitch shot?
The main difference between a chip shot and a pitch shot is the distance and trajectory of the shot. Chip shots are played for shorter distances and have a lower trajectory, while pitch shots are played for medium to long distances and have a higher trajectory.
What clubs are typically used for chip shots?
Chip shots are typically played with a variety of clubs, including wedges, short irons, and a putter.
What clubs are typically used for pitch shots?
Pitch shots are typically played with a variety of clubs, including wedges and short irons, depending on the distance of the shot and the amount of backspin needed to achieve the desired result.
Is the swing technique the same for chip shots and pitch shots?
The swing techniques for the chip shots and pitch shots are different. Chip shots are usually played with a shorter, more delicate swing, while pitch shots are played with a more sweeping motion.
How does the impact of the clubface differ between the chip and pitch shots?
In a chip shot, the clubface is usually square to the target line, while in a pitch shot, the clubface is usually slightly open. This open position on the clubface creates a backspin, which helps the ball stop quickly once it lands on the putting surface.
How does the ball flight differ between the chip and pitch shots?
Chip shots usually have a low trajectory and fly close to the ground, while pitch shots have a higher trajectory and fly through the air for a longer distance before landing.
How does the ball roll differ between the chip and pitch shots?
Chip shots are designed to roll quickly and close to the hole, while pitch shots are designed to roll less and stop closer to where they land.
Are chip shots and pitch shots affected by wind differently?
Yes, chip shots are affected by wind less than pitch shots because of the low trajectory. Pitch shots, on the other hand, are affected more by wind due to the higher trajectory.
In what situations would you choose to hit a chip shot over a pitch shot?
Chip shots are usually chosen when the ball is close to the green and there are few obstacles between the ball and the hole. Pitch shots are usually chosen when the ball is farther from the green or when there are obstacles that need to be cleared, such as bunkers, water hazards, and rough.
Is it necessary to master both chip and pitch shots to play golf well?
Yes, mastering both chip and pitch shots are essential to play golf well. These shots are necessary to get the ball close to the hole and to make good scores. Knowing how and when to use each type of shot can be the key to making good shots and achieving better scores.
Conclusion
Chipping and Pitching in golf are two different shorts played in golf for two different purposes; Chipping is used to get the ball out of deep rough or sand while Pitching is used to curve toward the target that you want to hit.