Chipping vs Pitching: What’s the Difference?

Unlock the secrets to elevating your golf short game. Dive into the essential techniques that differentiate chipping, pitching, and lobbing, empowering you to select the optimal shot around the green with assured precision.

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Understand Basic Differences — Chipping, Pitching, Lobbing
• Step 2: Correct Setup — The Key Change
• Step 3: Preset Impact — Sternum and Nose Control
• Step 4: Forward Shaft Lean for Turf Contact
• Step 5: Avoid Early Release — Common Mistake
• Step 6: Maintain Connection — Triangle and Pressure Points
• Step 7: Vary Distance by Shoulder Turn
• Step 8: Swing the Handle — A Powerful Feeling
• Step 9: Setup Checklist — Chip vs Pitch
• Step 10: Low Tight Spinner — Technique
• Step 11: Trust the Swing Line, Not Just the Face
• Step 12: Drills to Ingrain Feel
• Step 13: Common Mistakes and Fixes
• Step 14: On-Course Decision Making — Chip vs Pitch
• FAQ — Chipping vs Pitching
• Conclusion — Elevate Your Short Game

Step 1: Understand Basic Differences — Chipping, Pitching, Lobbing

The distinction between chipping, pitching, and lobbing lies in flight versus roll. These shots can be categorized as:

• Chip shot: Low trajectory, with the ball rolling out on the ground toward the hole.
• Pitch shot: Medium trajectory, spending more time aloft, landing with some spin.
• Lob shot: High trajectory, landing softly with significant spin to stop quickly.

The main differences are in setup, ball position, face angle, and swing amount, without drastically altering body movement.

Step 2: Correct Setup — The Key Change

Setting up correctly dictates face angle, shaft lean, and ball position. Key considerations include:

• Lower, tighter shot (Chip): Ball slightly back, closed face, forward shaft lean.
• Higher, softer shot (Lob): Ball slightly forward, open face, less forward lean.

Position and face are crucial to control trajectory and ball roll.

Step 3: Preset Impact — Sternum and Nose Control

A stable sternum ensures consistent low-point control. Align your sternum over the intended swing low point, keeping it stationary:

• Keep nose and sternum centered.
• Return to your setup’s chest-hand relationship at impact.
• A still upper body prevents erratic swing bottoms.

Step 4: Forward Shaft Lean for Turf Contact

Forward shaft lean ensures a descending shot for low-running bumps and tight chips. Even with higher shots, maintain a low point past the ball to avoid scooping.

Step 5: Avoid Early Release — Common Mistake

Avoid early release, where clubhead passes the hands too soon. This causes:

1. Chunk shots — turf contact before ball.
2. Thin/bladed shots — high bottom strike.
3. Inconsistent contact — unpredictable distance.

Cue: Finish with the grip left of your body, ensuring no clubhead snap past the hands.

Step 6: Maintain Connection — Triangle and Pressure Points

Keep your arms connected with the torso. Maintain the triangle formed by your arms and chest by:

• Pressing triceps lightly into the chest.
• Gently narrowing elbows.
• Relaxing hands and forearms.

Step 7: Vary Distance by Shoulder Turn

Vary shot distance by shoulder turn size rather than arm strength. Maintain connection and consistent chest-hand alignment during each swing.

Step 8: Swing the Handle — A Powerful Feeling

Feel like you swing the handle, not flick the clubhead. This reduces casting and maintains wrist angles through impact. Ensure hands move forward, controlling the leading edge consistently.

Step 9: Setup Checklist — Chip vs Pitch

• Chip: Ball back, hands ahead, squared or slightly closed face, narrow stance.
• Pitch: Ball center to forward, perpendicular shaft, opened face, larger shoulder turn.
• Lob: Ball forward, open face, perpendicular shaft, larger shoulder turn.

Key is ball position relative to your center.

Step 10: Low Tight Spinner — Technique

The low tight spinner combines high-shot setup with low-shot swing characteristics. Setup with the ball slightly forward, open face, and execute a handle-led, descending swing for quick stopping action.

Step 11: Trust the Swing Line, Not Just the Face

Ball flight mostly follows swing direction, not face pointing. Practice trusting your swing line even with an open face for controlled height and spin.

Step 12: Drills to Ingrain Feel

• Preset impact: Practice centering sternum over low point and maintaining chest-hand setup relationship at impact.
• Handle swing: Practice forward handle-leading swings.
• Finish left: Hold finish with grip pointing left to reduce early release.
• Connection drill: Maintain shoulder-initiated swings by keeping elbows together.
• Low-spinner practice: Experiment with ball position and face openness for spin and run control.

Step 13: Common Mistakes and Fixes

• Fix early release with finish-left and handle-swing drills.
• Avoid scooping by maintaining preset impact positions.
• Vary distance with shoulder rotation, not arms.
• Position ball relative to sternum, not feet.
• Trust open face with trust lines to prevent wrist flipping.

Step 14: On-Course Decision Making — Chip vs Pitch

Choose your shot based on green conditions and landing area:

• Chip: Run-friendly green setup.
• Pitch: Carry hazards with anticipated rollout.
• Lob: Quickly stop on firm or elevated greens.

FAQ — Chipping vs Pitching

Q: Ideal shaft lean for a chip?

A: A noticeable shaft forward lean ensures a descending strike, keeping the low point just beyond the ball.

Q: Ball position in stance?

A: Positioning depends on your center, not feet. Back for chips, center or forward for pitches.

Q: How to prevent early release?

A: Focus on the finish-left and handle-led swings to train proper hand positioning.

Q: Club selection for chips and pitches?

A: Use lofted clubs for flight control or less-lofted for roll variants. Match club to shot goal.

Q: Practicing the low tight spinner?

A: Forward ball setup, open face, and descending attack for spin and controlled rollout.

Q: Impact feel for correct pitch?

A: Hands ahead, steady chest, loft delivery, and a low point just beyond the ball.

Conclusion — Elevate Your Short Game

Chipping vs Pitching involves fine-tuning setup, face angles, and controlling low points. By mastering sternum stability, connection, and avoiding early releases, your short game will not only be more reliable but also creative. Implement shoulder turns for distance control and the “swing the handle” for a pro-level touch.

Integrate these drills and strategies to transform your short game into a consistent and versatile aspect of your golf prowess. Elevate your craft on the course and make strategic shot decisions that align with your goals.