As a professional golf coach, I’m constantly being asked by beginner golf players: What is the difference between a chip and a pitch? The two shots can be defined in many ways, so lets discuss the difference between the two shots and when you’d decide to play them.
The first way a chip or pitch shot can be categorized is by the distance of the shot. Not by the overall distance of the shot but the distance you are from the edge of the green. A chip shot can be categorized as a short game shot that is played within 10 metres of the greens edge. To futher qualify the difference between the two, the flight of the golf ball must be considered. Any shot played with a wedge that flies more than around 50% of the total distance should be considered a pitch shot. Under 50% will be a chip shot. The club used must also be considered. Pitch shots are generally played with a lofted club, usually one of your wedges. Chipping can also be done with a lofted wedge but the flight of the shot must be considered when deciding, as per the last rule.
The next thing to consider is the type of swing that is employed. At the risk of being too technical for beginner golf players, a chip shot will be a shot where no or minimal wrist movement is employed and the club won’t get past hip height. To take the club back further without employing wrist cock and elbow fold would be extremely uncomfortable for any player. Therefore, to swing further the wrists and elbows must be used to increase leverage. When the club is swinging past the hips it is considered a pitch shot.
Now that all the qualifiers are out the way let’s discuss how to learn each shot. Believe or not a pitch shot is best learnt by doing a chip shot first. In a basic chipping action, little or no wrist or elbows are used. The club is moved primarily from the rotation of the body; back and forward. A pitch shot employs the same body rotation, as the hands move back over the trail foot the wrists and trail elbow start to cock and fold respectively as the body continues to rotate. The club is now levered into a supported position that has enough power and loft to flight the ball for a pitch shot. The same rotary movement is used to deliver the clubhead back to impact and the follow through. At no stage during the downswing does the body stop rotating and the hands flick at the ball. The rotation delivers the blow. This concept is one of the hardest for beginner golfers to grasp. Hopefully you understand the difference between a pitch and chip and how to play the two shots.
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