Around the Green
When an approach shot misses the green, golfers usually have two options to put the ball on the green, a chip shot or a pitch shot. Generally, a chip shot runs more than it flies, and a pitch shot flies farther than it runs. Chips are usually played with a stroke similar to that of a putting stroke, while pitch shots are like mini-swings. Finally, chips are played with lower-lofted clubs, while pitches are played with sand or lob wedges.
Strategically, the goal, if at all possible with short shots, is to land them on the green. This means that if a golfer is undecided whether a chip or a pitch is the best choice, it’s probably best to go with a pitch to ensure the ball landing on the green, and also to eliminate doubt. A rough guideline on whether to chip or pitch involves how much green there is with which to work. If the distance from the edge of the green to the hole is greater than the distance from the ball to the edge of the green, a chip is probably called for. This can change, of course, depending upon the character of the terrain and the firmness of the ground.
When it comes to chip shots, there are two schools of thoughts on club selection. Some teachers advocate using many clubs for maximum versatility, while others say using only one or two clubs for all chipping is best due to simplicity. Today, most touring professionals use one or two clubs, but some excellent short game artists from years past, like Lee Trevino, used many. We consider both schools of thought valid, but using many clubs requires a lot of practice, for which most of our students won’t have time.
An underutilized option is to use a putter, hybrid, or fairway wood to hit chips. A study done several years ago showed that average golfers fared better using a putter from within six feet (approximately two meters) of the green rather than hitting a traditional chip shot. Undoubtedly, some players will do better from even farther away with a putter, hybrid, or fairway wood. Better players will likely find it easier to hit a traditional chip regardless of distance, but there are circumstances where running the ball onto the green with those non-traditional clubs is the best option for them, too.
One would be if the hole is near the edge of an elevated green and it would be difficult for a pitch landing on the green to get close. Another would be if the grass is very thin and hitting a crisp chip or pitch is in question.
A ball sitting in the rough near the green in chipping range gives the golfers some options. Most players automatically pick a chipping club, but the rough presents some difficulty in making clean contact, so it might not be the best choice. Hitting a pitch shot, using a hybrid or fairway wood, or hitting a bellied wedge are options that may be better in this case.
