You have missed the green by a few yards. The ball is sitting on the fringe or in light rough, and the flag is 30 feet away. Do you putt, chip or pitch? It sounds like a small decision, but it happens several times a round, and the wrong choice is one of the most common reasons club golfers turn a bogey into a double. The good news is that there is a simple rule of thumb that will steer you to the right shot most of the time.
The putt-chip-pitch order
Ask three questions in order:
- Can I putt it? If the ground between the ball and the green is short, smooth and firm, putt.
- If not, can I chip it? If you can land the ball on the green just past the rough and let it roll out, chip.
- Only if not, pitch it. Fly the ball higher and further when you must clear something.
The reason is simple: the worst putt usually finishes closer than the worst chip, and the worst chip usually finishes closer than the worst pitch. Bad putts lose distance; bad chips and pitches can be thinned across the green or duffed a yard.
When to putt from off the green
- The lie is good: the ball sits on the fringe or very short fairway grass.
- The ground is smooth and firm: no thick collar, sprinkler heads or bumps in the way.
- The ground is dry: wet grass slows the ball unpredictably.
- You are not too far away: within a few yards of the green, depending on the grass.
A putt from off the green is sometimes called a "Texas wedge". Add some pace to allow for the slower grass before the green: as a rough guide, treat each yard of fringe as about two yards of green. Read how to putt: the fundamentals.
When to chip
- Grass is too long to putt through, such as a collar of rough or a thick fringe.
- The lie is in light rough, but the ball can be clipped cleanly.
- The green has room to roll the ball towards the hole.
The chip is a putting-style stroke with a lofted club: ball back in the stance, hands slightly ahead, weight on the lead side and little wrist action. It flies a short distance, lands on the green and rolls. Read how to chip in golf.
Choosing the club
Change the club rather than the swing:
| Situation | Club | Roughly: air time to roll |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of green, flag far away | 7- or 8-iron | 1 part air to 3 or 4 parts roll |
| Medium amount of green | 9-iron or pitching wedge | 1 part air to 2 parts roll |
| Little green, flag close | Sand wedge | 1 part air to 1 part roll |
Choose a landing spot a yard or so onto the green, then pick the club that will roll the ball the remaining distance.
When to pitch
- There is a bunker, water, a mound or long grass between you and the green.
- You are short-sided, with very little green between the edge and the flag.
- The green slopes away from you sharply.
- You are further away, typically more than 15 to 20 yards from the green edge.
Pitches fly higher and stop faster, but need a bigger swing and more precise contact. Read wedge play: pitching and spin and, for very high shots, how to hit a lob shot.
Other factors to consider
The lie
- Tight, bare lie: putting or chipping with a less-lofted club is safest. Lofted, high-bounce wedges can bounce into the ball and thin it.
- Ball sitting up in rough: a chip or pitch is fine, but take care not to slide under it.
- Ball sitting down in rough: you need a steeper chip with a more lofted club; putting will not work.
The slope
- Uphill to the hole: the ball stops quickly, so you can use less loft and be firm.
- Downhill to the hole: the ball runs. Land it softly and allow for more roll, or putt if possible.
Hybrids and fairway woods
From the fringe or a closely mown collar, a chip with a hybrid or a fairway wood, made with a putting stroke, can work beautifully. The club's wide sole glides over the grass and the ball rolls like a putt. Read hybrid golf clubs explained.
Your confidence
The right shot is also the one you trust. If you have a reliable chip but a shaky pitch, play the chip whenever possible, and practise the pitch until it is as reliable.
Practice drills
- Three-ball choice drill: drop three balls around the green in different lies and play each with a putt, a chip and a pitch. Note which finishes closest on average.
- Landing-spot drill: place a towel a yard onto the green and chip balls with different clubs, landing them on the towel. Watch how far each runs.
- Up-and-down game: play nine balls from different spots around the green and count how many you get up and down in two. Keep your score and try to beat it.
- Fringe putting: practise putts from the fringe to learn how much extra pace you need.
Read golf practice games for more ways to make short-game practice fun.
Frequently asked questions
Is it OK to putt from off the green?
Yes. It is often the smartest play when the grass between the ball and the green is short and smooth.
Which club is best for chipping?
There is no single best club. Choose the club that lands the ball just onto the green and rolls it to the hole: a 7- or 8-iron with lots of green to work with, a wedge with little.
Why do I keep duffing or thinning chips?
Usually because the weight is back, the wrists flick, or the ball is too far forward. Keep your weight forward, the ball back and the stroke like a putt.
When should I use a lob wedge around the green?
Only when you must get the ball up quickly and stop it fast, for example over a bunker to a close flag. It is the hardest shot to control.
The bottom line
Around the green, keep it simple: putt if you can, chip if you can't putt, and pitch only if you must. Consider the lie, slope and grass, choose your landing spot, and pick the club that rolls the ball to the hole. Making the right choice every time can save you several shots a round without changing your swing at all. For more short-game help, read putting drills to stop three-putting.
Related: how to get up and down and the links short game.