Chipping vs Pitching: When to Use Each

The amateur instinct is to pull lob wedge and float it. The coach instinct is to pull 8-iron and roll it. The math agrees with the coach almost every time.

The decision tree

• Lots of green to work with, no hazard — chip (low, roll).
• Short-sided, must carry rough or bunker — pitch (higher, soft).
• Tight lie, fast green — chip with putter or 7-iron.
• Fluffy lie, green sloping away — pitch with 56.

Why chipping wins

A chip has fewer moving parts: shorter swing, lower face, more margin on contact. Pitches require precise low-point control — exactly what amateurs lack under pressure. Stats from amateur tracking show chips finish 4 feet closer on average than pitches from the same distance.