Pitching & Chipping are two different shots and thus a player needs to set up differently and the swing action is slightly different.

Pitching & Chipping are two different shots and thus a player needs to set up differently and the swing action is slightly different.

Chipping:

A chip shot is a shot that flies a little lower in which the carry distance is less and then rolls out more on the green. Think of that ratio as 40% carry and 60% roll.

Setup:

The ball position is more towards the back of the stance and the swing is more like a putting stroke where the wrists never break or hinge. You’ll notice that your hands will be slightly ahead of the ball and leaning a touch towards the target. When chipping, thinking of basically putting with your wedge where you’re body is relatively still and you’re just rocking your shoulders back and through with a smooth unrushed tempo. The putter only has 2-6 degrees of loft that causes the ball to carry almost 0% and roll almost 100%. With the wedge, where it can be anything from 46 – 64 degrees depending on your preference that causes launches the ball fairly low and rolls out.

Drill(s):

Sharpening the short game requires you to experiment with this shot by using the different wedges and short irons in your bag to determine which club you’re most confident with around the greens.

Get some baby powder, sprinkle a 1-foot line of the powder perpendicular to your target line, then set up with that line more back of the stance and take a swing. Using a putting-like swing, you should be brushing the powder off the grass towards the target. Once you’re comfortable with that, place a ball down and give it a go!

Pitching:

A chip shot is a shot that flies higher in which the carry distance is more and then rolls out less on the green. Think of that ratio as 70% carry and 30% roll.

Setup:

The ball position is generally in the middle of the stance and the swing requires a little body movement and wrists hinge. The combination of the body movement, wrist hinge in the swing, and loft of the club will cause the ball to launch out higher and land a little softer with less roll out.

Drill(s):

Use that baby powder, sprinkle a 1-foot line and set up with it in the middle of your stance and practice the swing where when you swing back your thumbs point away from the target, on the downswing the thumbs point into the ground brushing the grass and splashing the powder, then the follow-through is where your thumbs and body (chest and hips) are pointed towards the target.