Chip vs Pitch: What's the Difference?
The difference between a chip and a pitch is how much time the ball spends in the air. A chip is a low shot that flies a short way and rolls most of the distance. A pitch is a higher shot that flies most of the distance and stops fairly quickly.
Both are short-game shots played near the green, and the words are often mixed up. Knowing which one to play is one of the simplest ways for a beginner to save strokes.
Chip vs pitch at a glance
| Chip | Pitch | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball flight | Low | Higher |
| Air vs roll | Mostly roll | Mostly air |
| Typical distance | Just off the green | Roughly 20 yards to a full wedge |
| Clubs | Wedges down to mid irons | Wedges |
| Wrist hinge | Very little | Natural hinge |
| Swing | Short, putting-style rock | Small swing with a body turn |
| Ball position | Back of centre | Middle of stance |
| Best when | Clear path, plenty of green to work with | Something to carry, or little green to land on |
What is a chip?
A chip is like a putt with a lofted club. You stand close with your feet together and your weight forward, put the ball back in your stance, and rock your shoulders with very little wrist movement. The ball pops over the fringe, lands on the green and rolls out to the hole.
Because you can use anything from a sand wedge to a 7 iron, a chip lets you choose how much it rolls. Less loft means more roll. Our full guide on how to chip in golf covers the setup and drills.
What is a pitch?
A pitch is a mini version of your full swing. You use a wedge, play the ball from the middle of your stance, hinge your wrists on the way back and turn your body through. The ball flies higher, lands softly and doesn't roll far.
You control the distance with the length of your backswing. For the full technique, see how to hit a pitch shot.
How to choose between them
Ask yourself three questions:
- Can I putt it? If the grass is short and smooth all the way, a putt is usually the safest option.
- Is there anything to carry? If there's a bunker, water or thick rough in the way, you need to pitch.
- How much green is there? If there's lots of green between the edge and the pin, chip and let it roll. If the pin is close to your edge, pitch so the ball stops.
The general rule is: get the ball on the ground as soon as you can. Rolling balls are easier to judge than flying ones, so chip when you can and pitch when you must.
Other shots in between
- Bump and run: a type of chip played with a less lofted club, often a 7 or 8 iron, so the ball runs a long way. Handy on firm links-style ground.
- Flop shot: an extra-high pitch with an open lob wedge. It stops quickly but is risky, so save it for when nothing else works.
- Lob: another name often used for a high, soft pitch.
How far each one flies and rolls depends a lot on loft. What is loft in golf explains why.
Try it in Mashy
In Mashy, there are no separate chip and pitch buttons: you pick an iron or wedge and set less power on the meter for a shorter shot. The ball lands, bounces and rolls differently on the green, fairway, rough and sand, so you quickly learn when to land it short and let it run, and when to fly it further on. It's a quick way to see the chip and pitch difference play out.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chip shot or a pitch shot easier?
For most beginners, a chip is easier, because the stroke is short and simple, a bit like a putt. A pitch involves a bigger swing with wrist hinge, so there's more that can go wrong. That's why golfers are often told to chip when they can and pitch only when they need height.
Can you chip with a pitching wedge?
Yes. A pitching wedge is a popular chipping club, and the name doesn't limit how you use it. Using a pitching wedge with a chipping stroke gives a low shot with a fair amount of roll, a useful middle ground between a sand wedge and a 9 iron.
What is the difference between a pitch and a flop shot?
A flop shot is a more extreme pitch. It's played with an open lob wedge and a fuller, faster swing to send the ball very high so it lands softly. It's useful over a bunker to a tight pin, but much riskier than a normal pitch, so most beginners should leave it until later.
Is a bump and run the same as a chip?
A bump and run is a kind of chip. It's played with a less lofted club, such as a 7 or 8 iron, so the ball spends very little time in the air and rolls most of the way. It works best on firm, smooth ground with nothing in the way.
Can you chip in on Mashy?
No. In Mashy only a putt can drop, so chips and pitches that reach the cup lip out instead of going in. The best plan in Mashy is to leave your chip or pitch close to the hole and hole the putt, which is good practice for the way you should think about the short game on a real course too.