Many people do not know the difference between chipping and pitching the golf ball. Generally speaking chipping is done around the edges of the green and pitching is done from a little farther away and requires getting the ball higher in the air and is done with a fairly lofted club. Examples of both would be if you ball is a few feet off the green and you use your 8 iron to run the ball up to the hole would be a chip and using you wedge to loft the ball over a sand trap onto the green would be considered a pitch.

Chipping can be done with many different clubs from your sand wedge right up to your fairway woods. The object is to get the ball on the ground as soon as possible and let it run up to the hole.

The basic chipping motion is very similar to your putting stroke. Not much wrist hinging if any and a very simple stroke. Your clubface gives you all of your direction so how you stand is a little irrelevant however standing with your front foot pulled back a bit (open stance) does give you a better plane and more of an opportunity to get under the ball.

Pitching on the other hand should be done with your most lofted clubs. A lot of the pros will use their 60 degree sand wedge to get the ball up in the air and come down with little or know roll. Swinging the arms back and through similar to a pendulum tempo will help judge distances. The longer the swing the farther the ball will go.

As in chipping your stance should be slightly open as stated before this allows a better plane to get the ball airborn. To get the ball even higher you could also open your club face however all these specialties shots should be practiced and used only when it is absolutely necessary.

Learning to chip and pitch does make the game more enjoyable. This will lead to more up and downs. (Chipping or pitching on to the green and sinking the putt.)

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