pitching and chipping

Question
I'm not sure I know the difference.  In my mind, I figure that anytime I bring the club back to the point where I am cocking my wrists, it becomes a pitch.  Is that correct ?  Also, if I like using my lob wedge for almost all shots from 50 yards in, would you advise me to start  using other clubs?  When I experiment with other clubs, I end up being too tentative about the ball going further than I want.  

Answer
Hi Neil,

A pitch shot trajectory is high; the ball travels most of its journey through the air and doesn't roll very far.
A chip shot trajectory is low; the ball travels most of its journey rolling along the ground.

You can hit a pitch shot without breaking your wrists if you're using a lofted club. The breaking of your wrists enables you to generate more clubhead speed for greater distance.

Making solid contact with your lob wedge is more difficult than making solid contact with a lower lofted iron.

If you're successful with your lob wedge, though, continue to use it. I just wouldn't be using it when you have lots of green to work with (lots of rolling distance), like when you're right beside the green.

Once you become good at chipping, with say a 6 or 7 iron, there is less room for error in your distance control than lofting the ball all the way to the hole.

I would practice chipping with a lower lofted club (like a 5, 6 or 7). Once you become confident with execution, then take it to the course. In the meantime, continue to use your lob wedge.

Hope this helps.

Ken Tannar
www.probablegolfinstruction.com

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