Golf is a popular sport that attracts almost all the age groups for maintaining thrilling last-minute suspense about who would win it. Then, the beauty of the field and fresh air add another layer of excitement. If you are new to this sport, you may have come across the terms “chipping” and “pitching” quite often. These are more ubiquitous when playing short games that emulate the real game of golf for fun learning. Anyway, every time you hear them, your first instinct could be – what these exactly mean and how to differentiate one from the other for a comfortable grip? So, let’s delve into these techniques briefly.

What is chipping?

Executing a low stroke when the golf ball is slightly above the ground towards the hole is chipping. You use a nine iron golf club in this shot.

What is pitching?

When you drive the golf ball high in the air to avoid obstacles, like hills and bunkers, so that it makes a soft landing in the green, you call it pitching. You need sand or pitching wedge for this stroke and play it from a distance of usually 30 to 50 yards.

Exploring the differences in the techniques

Since these are two different strokes, it is evident that their methods will also be distinct from each other. For instance, if you are chipping, you have to keep the following points in mind:

  • Play with a 9 iron or pitching wedge
  • Bring your body weight on the front
  • Join your feet
  • Apply the strength of your shoulder for the stroke
  • Maintain the distance between your arms and the body
  • Swing through the ball

When you make stroke comparisons, you will realize where pitching differs from chipping. So, here is what you need to know about a pitch shot.

  • Play the shot with sand or pitching wedge
  • Maintain a distance between your feet as wide as your shoulder 
  • Keep your right-hand straight for left swings and left arm for backswings
  • Move your lower body and hips a bit for accelerating through the ball so that the ball rises in the air
  • Make sure your chest points at the target when you finish your stroke

Experts would tell you that a pitching shot is one where the ball stays in the air longer than the ground. For instance, you can imagine a situation where the ball is behind a bunker and near the green. You hit the ball in the air to allow it to cross the hurdle and land on the ground. Similarly, you play a chip shot when you are facing the green in the short grass, and a flagstick stands behind or in the middle of the green. 

Hitting the right shot requires continuous practice. Some golfers feel that chipping is easier to play compared to pitching because you have to swing small. Hence, the scope of mistakes tends to be limited. For help, you can watch online golfing videos and get the cues.