The Short Game: Chipping & Pitching 🏌️
The Magic Touch Around the Green
Imagine you’re trying to toss a ball into a trash can across the room. Sometimes you need a gentle underhand toss that rolls along the floor. Other times, you need to loft it high so it lands softly. That’s exactly what chipping and pitching are!
The short game is like being a magician with your golf ball. You’re close to the hole, and now it’s time for the delicate touch that saves your score.
🎯 Chipping Fundamentals
What Is a Chip Shot?
A chip is a low, running shot that spends more time rolling on the ground than flying in the air.
Think of it like rolling a bowling ball. You want the ball to get on the ground quickly and roll toward the hole like a putt.
When to Use It:
- You’re just off the green (a few steps away)
- Nothing blocking your path to the hole
- The green is smooth and flat
The Setup
graph TD A["🦶 Narrow Stance"] --> B["⚖️ Weight Forward 70%"] B --> C["🤲 Hands Ahead of Ball"] C --> D["🎯 Ball Back in Stance"] D --> E["✨ Arms & Shoulders Swing"]
Simple Steps:
- Feet close together — like standing in a phone booth
- Lean toward the target — put most weight on your front foot
- Hands stay ahead — like pushing a shopping cart
- Ball near your back foot — this keeps the shot low
The Swing
No wrists! Think of your arms and shoulders as a triangle. The triangle rocks back and forth like a pendulum on a grandfather clock.
Example: Pretend you have a ruler taped to your forearms. Keep them straight. Just rock your shoulders back and through.
Common Mistake: Don’t scoop! If you try to lift the ball, you’ll hit the ground behind it. Trust the club to do the lifting.
🏃 Bump and Run
The Secret Weapon
The bump and run is the safest chip shot. You barely lift the ball off the ground. It lands quickly and runs like a putt.
Think of it like skipping a stone on water, but on grass. Low and rolling!
When It’s Perfect
- Flat or uphill green
- Lots of room to roll
- Wind blowing hard (low shots beat the wind!)
- You want maximum control
How to Hit It
Club Choice: Use a 7-iron, 8-iron, or 9-iron (not a wedge!). These clubs have less loft, so the ball stays low.
Setup Tweaks:
- Stand even narrower than a regular chip
- Ball WAY back in your stance (near your back heel)
- Handle leaned forward more than usual
The Motion:
- Tiny backswing (barely past your back knee)
- Brush the grass — don’t dig!
- Follow through low toward the target
Example: Imagine throwing a ball underhand along the ground to a friend. You wouldn’t throw it up in the air — you’d release it low so it rolls to them. Same idea!
The Landing Spot
Pick a spot just on the green (about 2-3 steps onto the putting surface). That’s your target. The ball will land there and roll the rest of the way.
graph TD A["🏌️ You Hit"] --> B["🟢 Land Here - Just on Green"] B --> C["➡️➡️➡️ Ball Rolls"] C --> D["🕳️ To the Hole!"]
🌈 Pitching Fundamentals
What Is a Pitch Shot?
A pitch flies high and lands soft. Less roll, more air time.
Think of it like tossing a water balloon to a friend. You want it to land gently so it doesn’t pop!
When to Use It
- You have a bunker or rough between you and the green
- The hole is close to the edge of the green (no room to roll)
- Downhill green that would run your chip too far
The Setup Differences
| Chip | Pitch |
|---|---|
| Narrow stance | Slightly wider stance |
| Ball back | Ball in middle |
| Little wrist action | Wrists hinge more |
| Low follow-through | Higher follow-through |
The Swing
graph TD A["🏌️ Wrists Hinge on Backswing"] --> B["⬇️ Swing Down Into Ball"] B --> C["🌊 Let Club Slide Under"] C --> D["🎯 High Follow Through"]
Key Move: Let your wrists “set” on the way back. This creates the power to send the ball up high.
Example: Pretend you’re cracking a whip. Your wrists need to hinge and then release. That snapping motion creates height.
Controlling Distance
Three ways to hit it shorter or farther:
- Backswing Length — Bigger swing = farther shot
- Club Choice — Pitching wedge goes farther than sand wedge
- Speed — Don’t change your tempo, just your swing size
Golden Rule: Same smooth rhythm, just shorter or longer swing.
🎨 The 80/20 Rule
Here’s a secret the pros know:
| Shot Type | Air Time | Ground Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | 20% | 80% |
| Pitch | 80% | 20% |
If you can use a chip, use a chip! It’s safer and easier to control.
⚡ Quick Tips to Remember
For Chips:
- Keep it simple
- No wrist action
- Weight forward
- Let the ball roll
For Bump and Run:
- Use less-lofted clubs (7-9 iron)
- Barely lift it off the ground
- Pick a landing spot on the green
For Pitches:
- Wrists hinge
- Ball in middle of stance
- Higher swing = higher ball
- Land it soft
🧠 The Confidence Builder
The short game is where you save strokes. Pros spend more than half their practice time here!
Start with chips. Get comfortable. Then try the bump and run. Finally, work up to pitches.
Your Practice Homework:
- Drop 5 balls just off the green
- Chip them with a 7-iron (bump and run)
- Then try the same shots with your pitching wedge
- Notice the difference in roll
The ball will tell you which shot works best. Listen to it!
🌟 You’ve Got This!
Remember our analogy: The short game is like tossing things to a friend.
- Chip = Underhand roll along the floor
- Bump and Run = Low skipping stone
- Pitch = Gentle lob of a water balloon
Start close. Keep it simple. Build your touch.
Every great golfer became great because they mastered these little shots. Now it’s your turn! 🏆