Pitch shot or chip and run?

Hi guys am not really too clued up on the exact names of each kind of shot but was after a little advice when just off the edge of the green. At the moment I normally use my 58 or SW aim laft of flag and open club face to pop the ball up and drop down onto green, but when watching the pros on tv not many do this they tend to do a smaller chip and run type shot....

How or why would you choose one from the other?

Stephen,

What you are doing is known as a flop.  It's generally done when the flag is close to the near edge of the green and you have something to go over (such as a bunker) as when the ball lands it tends not to run too far. 

The one you have seen the pros do is a pitch shot. This is designed to carry some of the distance and roll the rest of the way.  The amount of carry will depend on the club used; usually an 8 iron, 9 iron or pitching wedge is used.  It's sometimes known as a 'bump and run' when the ball rolls a long way. 

The pitch shot is easier to control and less likely to go wrong (it's like putting with the club) and with a little practice can be very accurate once you have the feel for the distance.  I would always pitch where possible with a couple of exceptions: -

• When there is something between me and my intended destination, such as a bunker or large mound
• When the green is particularly awkward with lots of break or tiered between me and the hole

In both cases, the flop will allow me to take these out of play by carrying over them. 

I, like you, used to always flop onto a green and used to suffer with occaisional thins.  Then a wise old sage on this forum (Dave Lythgoe) posted posted a comment that has stuck with me ever since, has changed my approach around the greens and seen a massive improvement to my short game.  That simple comment: -

"Don't chip over something that isn't there"

Jamie,

I used to use my 52* wedge too, but now I use my PW.  I find I can judge the distance better and it has roughly 50% carry and 50% roll.  I would normally expect to be within 10' with it.  I will use my 52* wedge too though if there is not a lot of green to hit.  I agree it's whichever club you feel is best. 

A chipper is just an 8 iron with a wide sole.  Waste of a slot in the bag in my opinion but then I can chip ok....

I tend to to use an 8 iron, although I too suffer from the occasional thin, some days I can do no wrong other days are hit and miss. I have trie both options but prefer the chip and run

The short game requires imagination and a feel for distance. This is an instinctive part of the game which is mastered by a few only and the amount of high handicappers tells the story.

I was told a simple definition for these shots.

Pitch shot - Travels further through the air than it does along the ground.

Chip shot - Travels further along the ground than it does through the air.

In the situation you describe the safer shot would be the chip shot.

The reasoning is that the ball will behave more like a putt when it starts rolling along the green.  This way you can read the shot like a putt.  All you have to do is land your ball where you want too and as long as you read the line well it will roll towards the hole.

When I had a lesson on chipping my pro told me to aim to land the ball on the green.  The reason for this is that it takes away any funny bounces if you land the ball on the fringe.

He told me to land the ball about a yard or so onto the green and let the ball roll like a putt.  Use different clubs depending on how far away the flag is.

I have practiced this a bit and I'm pretty pleased with the results so far.

You can also play a bump and run shot if you are on the fairway and there are no hazards between you and the flag.  Again, this is probably a safer shot than trying to get one up in the air and land on the green.

As with all these thing practice, practice, practice.

Russ

I try to use the same club wherever possible, for me thats a 52 wedge that i try to get just a bit of check on, but if its a 9 iron that rolls out or a hybrid that is a long putt, then that is good as long as you trust it

I do remember watching a programme on the Golf Channel when you could get it on Sky.

Cannot remember if it was Dave Peltz (sorry for spelling!)

He stated that there are two types of players.

One likes to get the ball in the air, land it short of the flag and let it roll a short bit towards the flag.

The other one hits the ball onto the green and allows it to run like a long putt towards the hole.

He stated that you were one or the other and that most people would revert to the way they like to play the shot.

I must admit that if I was faced with a fifteen yard shot to the flat, three yards off the green and twelve yards of green to play with I would have been the 'Up in the air and land it near' person.

After having a lesson on chipping I'm totally the other way now.  I would much rather take my eight iron and chip it four yards onto the green (always land the ball on the green) and allow the ball to run like a putt towards the flag.

Some people are a 'One club person', they will use the same club whatever the distance and adjust the length and speed of the swing to reach the flag.

One of the drills I did during my lesson was to have three flags on the practice green.  My pro told me to land the ball on the same spot on the green, about a yard onto it.  Use a PW, 9 Iron and 8 Iron for the three different distances.  It worked really well and if I did land the ball close to where I wanted it to land I usually got a good result.

I can see that if I practiced this for a couple of months I would be really good at getting the ball close from these positions.

Russ

7 iron chip and run for me on most occasions :-)

I'm a bump and run, followed by a chip and run and then a pitch it close. All depend on what's between me and the flag. But its also down to the type of course you play on. Pitching close on a links course will generally see the ball heading towards the back of the green.

I don't like playing check shots as there is always the possibility it lands on a firm spot and bounces on rather than taking the spin.

And my experience of flop shots is that occasionally I catch them a little heavy and the ball comes up short. Something  that is unlikely to happen with a chip and run shot... it's a percentage thing for me.