Golf is a popular sport many enjoy, but the short game can be pretty challenging. Golfers often need help with chip and pitch shots, essential shots to get the ball close to the hole. This article will explain the difference between chip and pitch shots, how to hit them, and when to use each shot.
Chip Shot vs. Pitch Shot
A chip is a type of shot in golf where the ball is hit low and rolls along the ground with minimal time spent in the air. Golfers use this type of shot when they don’t need to carry the ball significantly in the air and want to get it rolling toward the hole like a putt. Golfers can hit chip shots with several clubs, ranging from wedges to as low as a #7 iron.
Conversely, a pitch shot is intended to be played more through the air and does not have as much roll as a chip shot. The ball travels a greater distance and reaches a higher altitude than a chip shot. Pitch shots are suitable for longer lengths of up to approximately 30 yards and are typically played with higher lofted clubs, such as a 54, 56, 58, or 60-degree loft utility wedge.
Chip and Pitch Setup
Although chip and pitch shots have distinct characteristics, the setup has several shared elements. To set up effectively for a short game shot, keep your stance narrow by spacing your feet no more than a foot apart. Place your trail foot close to being square to your target line while rotating your lead foot open. Ensure that your stance and alignment are set up between square to the target and slightly loose but never closed. Furthermore, ensure that the line of your shoulders is square to the mark or somewhat open.
In addition, there are two crucial factors to keep in mind. First, ensure that your weight is primarily on your lead foot. Second, maintain level shoulders and avoid tilting your spine as you would with a full shot. It can be helpful to utilize an alignment tool such as Swing Align to help establish the correct setup.
How to Execute a Chip Shot
The ability to execute a chip shot is crucial for all golfers, regardless of skill level. Even if you’re an elite player who hits 15 greens in regulation or a beginner who only manages two, there will be occasions where you’ll find yourself off the green and need a well-executed chip shot to save par.
To hit a decent chip shot, you need to:
- Select the appropriate club for the chip shot – Opt for a pitching wedge or a 9-iron or 8-iron to increase the chances of getting the ball rolling towards the hole and minimize the risk of errors near the green.
- Get in the proper stance – position yourself closer to the ball and shift around 70% of your weight onto your lead foot. This technique enables you to hit the ball before the ground and prevent the club from striking the ground first.
- Put the ball back in the center – place the ball slightly behind the center of your sternum. This will position your hands ahead of the ball and create a slight forward lean in the shaft.
- Choke down – Choking down helps achieve the control you need.
- Choose your landing point – Envision the intended landing spot for the ball. Aim to make the ball land about one-fifth of the distance between your position and the hole on a chip shot.
- Use your shoulders – Maintain a slightly forward position of your hands in relation to the ball, execute a fluid and unhurried swing, and refrain from reducing your swing speed as you near the ball.
How to Execute a Pitch Shot
Although the pitch shot shares a similar technique with the chip shot, it demands a slightly distinct approach. Learning how to execute a pitch shot is crucial since you won’t always find yourself near the green. You use a pitch shot when you are too far from the green to chip but too close to the green to take a full swing.
Here are the steps to help you hit a pitch shot:
- Choose the right club – For a pitch shot, you should use a pitching wedge or a sand wedge. These clubs have more loft, which will help you get the ball in the air and control the shot’s distance.
- Get in the proper stance – Set up with your feet shoulder-width apart and position the ball in the center of your posture. Place more weight on your lead foot to encourage a downward strike on the ball.
- Take a shorter backswing – Unlike a chip shot, a pitch shot requires a longer backswing. This will generate more power and distance. However, make sure your follow-through is shorter than your backswing to ensure control and accuracy.
- Accelerate through impact – As you swing through the ball, accelerate the club head. This will help you generate more power and control the shot’s distance.
- Choose your landing point – Similar to a chip shot; you need to visualize your landing point for a pitch shot. Aim to land the ball about 1/3 of the way to the hole.
- Practice, practice, practice – Like any golf shot, practice is the key to mastering the pitch shot. Spend time at the driving range and on the course to get comfortable with the technique and build your confidence.
Following these steps, you can hit a pitch shot with confidence and accuracy, helping you save par and improve your overall golf game.
When to Pitch vs. Chip
Knowing when to use a chip shot and when to use a pitch shot is essential to playing good golf. Typically, you’ll want to use a chip shot when you have a lot of green to work with and you want to get the ball rolling toward the hole. A pitch shot is best when you have to carry the ball over a bunker or rough and stop it quickly on the green.
Additionally, assessing the holes’ conditions and situation is essential before deciding which shot to use. For instance, if you have a tight pin placement, you might need to pitch the ball higher and stop it quicker to get it close to the hole.
