Many people may not appreciate how hard it is to get a hole in one during a golf game. The truth is that even the best golf players often need to take another approach at the ball. This situation is where it can come in handy to know the difference between chipping and pitching.
The main difference between chipping and pitching is that a chip shot ends up staying close to the ground, while a pitch shot has a higher trajectory and spends most of its time in the air. Chipping is done with a smaller swing and closer to the green when compared to pitching.
In this article, I’ll explain more about the difference between chipping and pitching. I’ll discuss when to use which shot, the swing and movements required, and more. I’ll also share what you can do to improve your skills when it comes to both of these important shots.
The Difference Between Chipping and Pitching
Many people easily confuse chipping and pitching. However, there are important differences.
The following is a table that summarizes the differences between chipping and pitching:
| Type of Shot | Chipping | Pitching |
| When the Shot Is Used | When you’re close to the green | When you’re far away from the hole |
| Time in the Air | Very little, ball mostly stays on the ground | Quite a bit, most of the time ball is in the air |
| Swing Required | Relatively short | Relatively long |
| Movements Needed | Mostly in the shoulders, without hinging in the wrist Setup requires more leaning on the lead foot | Includes hinging in the trunk and the wrist Setup is more centered |
| Impact Points | Golfer strikes ball first | Golfer strikes ball and ground at about the same time |
Let’s talk about these differences in a little bit more detail.
When the Shot Is Used
You’ll use chipping when you’re closer to the green and want to let the ball slowly roll towards the hole. In contrast, you’ll pitch from longer distances (30 yards or 27.43 meters away or more).
A chip shot is meant to have less power, as there is a smaller distance between the ball and the hole. For this reason, you want to hit it gently with more precision. A pitch shot is meant to be powerful, to move the ball much closer to the hole.
Additionally, you shouldn’t chip when the ground conditions are rough, as you may not know exactly how the ball will move across that ground. Depending on the distance between the ball and the hole, a pitch shot may be the better option here.
A pitch shot is often the better choice when you do not want the ball to roll on the ground; one example of this is if there is a pond between the ball and the hole.
Time in the Air
Unlike a chip shot, which mostly rolls along the ground, a pitch shot will travel through the air. It moves with a high trajectory, with more of a spin than a chip shot; the spin assists in stopping movement once the ball reaches the ground.
A chip shot involves the ball staying low to the ground, perhaps with some bouncing as it moves along.
Swing Required
When you’re chipping, the swing required is relatively short. In contrast, you’ll need to take a longer swing during a pitch shot. A primary reason for this difference is you’re trying to make the ball travel a further distance when pitching.
Movements Needed
When you’re doing a chip shot, it’s a move that involves the use of one part of your body as a lever. You’re mostly using your shoulders, and you’re not hinging your wrists. In contrast, a pitch shot involves you using your wrist and trunk as levers.
A chip shot requires you to stand closer to the ball. You should put 70 to 80 percent of your weight on the lead foot (if you’re right-handed, this will be your left foot, and vice versa).
This stance makes it easier to hit the ball from the side rather than underneath, which would cause it to fly into the air. Make sure the ball is slightly behind the center of your sternum as you’re setting up the shot. Try to land the ball at a spot about 20 percent of the way to the hole.
With a pitch shot, you’ll want to be a little bit further away from the ball. Also, you should be a little bit more centered; don’t lean into your lead foot as much as you would with a chip shot. Picture your landing spot at a minimum of half of the way to the hole. A pitch shot will be closer to a full swing, so you’ll want to incorporate rotation of the body and wrist with this shot.
Impact Points
A chip shot involves striking the ball from the side, while a pitch shot involves striking the ball and ground at about the same time and hitting the ball somewhat from underneath.
When you’re making a chip shot, the setup involves a somewhat decreased loft of the club head, which will make for a shot with less of a trajectory than what you would see with a pitch shot. Striking the ball from underneath is more likely to propel it up into the air in the manner you’ll see with a pitch shot.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, chipping and pitching are far from the same type of shot. It’s a good idea for anyone who wants to improve their golf game to learn the crucial differences between these two shots. For starters, you must be able to differentiate between the two to practice these techniques. Once you know the differences, you’ll be more able to practice each type of shot the way that they should be practiced.
Also, you’ll need to use a variety of specific techniques for both chipping and pitching. Ultimately, this will help you play the best golf game possible.