Golf Glossary
Pitch shot (pitching)
In short
A pitch is a high, short approach shot to the green. The ball covers most of the distance in the air, lands softly and rolls out only a little. You pitch when a bunker, rough or a hollow lies in front of the green, or when the flag is close to the edge of the green.
What is a pitch shot in golf?
The pitch is the high-flying relative of the chip. Both belong to the short game and are played near the green, but on a pitch the ball flies much higher and further before landing. Because it drops steeply onto the green, it stops quickly.
There is no official distance limit for a pitch. The term usually covers shots shorter than a full wedge swing, from a few metres off the green up to a half or three-quarter swing from further away. Pitches are played with wedges such as the pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge or lob wedge.
The English word ‘pitch’, meaning to throw or land, also gives us the pitch mark: the small dent a landing ball leaves on the green. After high pitches in particular, repair these marks straight away.
Pitch or chip? Making the right choice
Before every shot around the green, ask yourself: does the ball need to fly, or can it roll? Rolling is easier to control, hence the rule of thumb: roll it as much as possible, fly it only as much as necessary.
A pitch makes sense when
- a bunker, water or thick rough lies between ball and green,
- the flag is close to the edge with little room to roll,
- the green runs downhill and a rolling ball would not stop,
- the distance is too long for a chip.
If there is open, short grass in front of you and plenty of green, a chip or even a putt is usually the safer choice. Many beginners reach for the high shot too quickly when a low one would carry less risk.
How to pitch: step-by-step technique
A pitch uses a longer swing than a chip, and the wrists play a bigger role. For right-handed players:
- Stance: a little narrower than for a full swing, lead foot slightly open.
- Ball position: around the middle of the stance.
- Weight: slightly on the lead leg, roughly 60 per cent.
- Backswing: the wrists hinge naturally and the upper body turns.
- Downswing: body and arms rotate together to the target, striking ball first, then ground.
Control distance with the length of the backswing. Many coaches use a clock face: the arms swing back to ‘8 o’clock’, ‘9 o’clock’ or ‘10 o’clock’, and each position gets its own distance. The tempo stays the same smooth pace every time.
Which wedge for pitching?
Club choice decides how high the ball flies and how quickly it stops. The key is loft, the angle of the clubface: more loft means a higher, shorter shot.
- Pitching wedge: lower flight, a bit more roll, good for longer pitches.
- Gap wedge: fills the gap between pitching and sand wedge.
- Sand wedge: high flight, stops quickly, versatile around the green.
- Lob wedge: very high flight for short shots over obstacles, but demands clean technique.
Bounce matters too. It is the angle on the sole that stops the club digging too deeply. Softer ground suits more bounce, firm ground less. Beginners do very well with just a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.
Practical example: pitching over a bunker
You are playing a par 5. After two shots your ball is 35 metres short of the green. A bunker lies between you and the flag, which is only five metres beyond the bunker’s edge.
A chip would end up in the sand, so you choose a pitch with your sand wedge. From practice you know your ‘9 o’clock’ swing carries about 30 metres. You swing slightly longer, the ball flies high over the bunker, lands just past the edge and rolls three metres.
Two putts give you five strokes, a par; holing the first putt would make it a birdie. The example shows why knowing your own pitching distances pays off.
Common pitching mistakes
The most common mistake is trying to scoop the ball into the air with the hands. The weight stays back, the wrists flip before impact and the club hits the ground too early or catches the ball too high. The ball then comes up short or shoots low across the green.
Other faults include:
- decelerating through impact for fear of hitting it too far
- a long backswing with too little follow-through
- swinging only the arms without turning the body
- changing tempo from one shot to the next
Trust the loft of the club to provide the height. Your job is an even swing in which the body turns to the target and the club keeps moving after the ball.
Learning to pitch: how to practise
Learning to pitch is mostly about building reliable distance control. A simple practice plan:
- Pick one wedge and three swing lengths, for example ‘8’, ‘9’ and ‘10 o’clock’.
- Hit ten balls with each length and note the average carry distance.
- Repeat with a second wedge.
The result is a personal distance chart with six stock shots. On the course you only need the yardage to choose the right one.
A launch monitor such as TrackMan shows carry, launch angle and ball speed precisely and makes the differences between swing lengths visible. Target practice on a practice green adds feel, and a coach can quickly tell whether weight shift or wrist action is causing inconsistent distances.
Try it at Golf Lounge
At the Golf Lounge you can book a 60-minute private lesson with a PGA professional, by appointment. Besides standard lessons there are short focused sessions, for example on the short game, and swing analyses using TrackMan data, so you can see how far every pitch really carries. If you prefer learning in a group, the group course with PGA coaches covers the basic chip, pitch and approach shots. Lessons can be booked online, daily by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pitch in golf?
A pitch is a short, high shot to the green. The ball flies most of the way and rolls only a little after landing. It is played with a wedge and a half or three-quarter swing, and it is the right choice when you must carry an obstacle or have little green to work with.
What is the difference between pitching and chipping?
When chipping, the ball flies low and short and rolls most of the way; when pitching, it flies high and lands softly. A chip is a short swing with quiet wrists, a pitch a longer swing with wrist hinge and body turn. Rolling is easier to control, so only pitch when you need to.
Which wedge is best for pitching?
A pitching wedge suits longer pitches, while a sand wedge is ideal for high shots that stop quickly. Gap and lob wedges complete the set. Beginners manage very well with a pitching wedge and a sand wedge; a consistent technique with set swing lengths matters more than the club.
How far does a pitch shot fly?
It depends on the club, the length of the swing and your tempo, so there is no fixed distance. The best approach is to measure your own numbers: hit three swing lengths with two wedges and note the carry. That gives you a personal chart you can trust on the course.
How can I learn to pitch?
Start with short swings and make sure the club strikes the ball first. Then work with set swing lengths using the clock-face method and measure your distances. A coaching session with ball-flight data quickly shows where length or strike vary and gives you the right drills.
As of: October 2026