Alright, golf nuts, gather ’round! It’s your favorite hacker-turned-self-proclaimed-expert, Linda, here to break down the subtle art of chipping versus pitching. And by subtle, I mean about as subtle as my hot pink driver that I bought after that Kirkland golf ball fiasco. (Yeah, you know the one I’m talking about. It’s a whole saga.)
The Great Short Game Debate
Picture this: You’re standing 20 yards from the green at Torrey Pines, your ball nestled in some gnarly rough. Your playing partner turns to you and says, “So, you gonna chip it or pitch it?”
You freeze. Chip? Pitch? Aren’t they the same thing? Don’t they both involve praying to the golf gods and hoping you don’t blade it across the green?
Fear not, my confused compadres. By the end of this article, you’ll know the difference between a chip and a pitch. Or at the very least, you’ll have some new terminology to throw around while you’re duffing shots around the green.
Chipping: The Art of Keeping It Low (Unlike Your Expectations)
Let’s start with chipping. Chipping is like the limbo of golf shots – the goal is to go as low as possible.
When to chip: You’re close to the green, you’ve got a good lie, and you want the ball to spend more time on the ground than in the air. Think of it as bowling, but with more swearing and expensive equipment.
How to chip:
- Use a higher-lofted club (like a wedge or 9-iron)
- Stand closer to the ball
- Keep your weight on your front foot
- Use a shorter backswing
- Strike down on the ball
- Follow through low and short
Sounds simple, right? Ha! I once attempted a chip shot at Aviara and somehow managed to hit the ball backwards. Yes, backwards. I’m still not sure how it happened, but I’m pretty sure it violated several laws of physics.
Pitching: Because Sometimes You Need to Get High (The Ball, Not You)
Now, let’s talk about pitching. If chipping is like bowling, pitching is like throwing a frisbee. Except the frisbee is tiny, dimpled, and hellbent on ruining your day.
When to pitch: You’re a bit further from the green, or you need to get the ball over an obstacle. Like that bunker you always seem to find. Or that group of geese that’s taken up residence on the 14th green at Coronado.
How to pitch:
- Use a higher-lofted club (usually a wedge)
- Open your stance slightly
- Play the ball forward in your stance
- Use a longer backswing
- Accelerate through impact
- Follow through high
The key difference? Pitching gets the ball up in the air more. It’s like chipping’s showier, more dramatic cousin. You know, the one who always has to make a grand entrance at family gatherings.
The Great Chipping Disaster of 2022
Let me regale you with a tale of short game woe. Picture this: I’m playing Torrey Pines South, feeling good about my game. I’ve only lost three balls, and I’m pretty sure I saw a pro in the distance shank a drive, so I’m basically on the PGA Tour now.
I approach the 18th green, just off the fringe. An easy chip, right? I grab my trusty 60-degree wedge, the one I bought after watching a YouTube video titled “CHIP LIKE A PRO IN 5 MINUTES!”
I set up, take a swing, and… chunk it. The ball moves about two inches. No problem, I think. I’ll just chip it from here. I set up again, swing, and… blade it across the green. It’s racing towards the Pacific Ocean like it’s late for high tide.
Five chips later, I’m on the green. My playing partners have aged visibly. I’m pretty sure I saw a gray hair sprout on Mike’s head in real-time.
The lesson? Sometimes the difference between a chip and a pitch doesn’t matter. Sometimes, you just need to get the ball in the hole before your friends stage an intervention.
The Chip-Pitch Hybrid: Because Why Make Things Simple?
Now, for the advanced players (or the gluttons for punishment), there’s the chip-pitch hybrid. It’s exactly what it sounds like – a shot that’s part chip, part pitch, and all confusion.
I tried to master this shot at Balboa Park. The result? I invented a new shot called the “chiptch“. It’s where you start with a chip, panic halfway through, try to turn it into a pitch, and end up doing something that looks more like an interpretive dance than a golf shot.
In Conclusion: To Chip or to Pitch?
So, when should you chip and when should you pitch? Here’s my highly scientific breakdown:
- Chip when you want to impress your friends with your “local knowledge” of the greens.
- Pitch when you want to blame your poor shot on the wind, even if it’s a perfectly calm day.
- Use the chip-pitch hybrid when you want to confuse your opponents and possibly yourself.
Remember, the key to a good short game is confidence. And if you can’t be confident, at least be entertaining. Your playing partners will appreciate the comedic relief as they watch you turn a simple up-and-down into a three-act tragedy.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go practice my chipping. Or my pitching. Or maybe I’ll just work on my excuses for why I can’t get the ball on the green in less than three tries.
Stay short (in your game, not in stature), my friends. And may your chips be crisp and your pitches be perfect. Or at the very least, may they eventually find the green. Eventually.
Fore!