When to Putt, Chip, or Pitch: Choosing the Best Shot Around the Green

Stop Guessing Around the Green

You’re standing just off the green with a scoring opportunity in front of you. You ask yourself the familiar question: “Should I putt this, chip it, or pitch it?” It’s a question every golfer faces multiple times a round, but most answer it with uncertainty.

Too often, the wrong decision leads to poor execution—a chunked pitch, a bladed chip, or a putt that never had a chance. It’s not just technique that costs you strokes around the green. It’s choosing the wrong shot for the situation.

In this article, we’ll break down how to confidently decide when to putt, chip, or pitch. You’ll learn the strengths and weaknesses of each shot, how to evaluate the lie and green conditions, and how to pick the smartest play that gives you the best chance to save par—or at least avoid double bogey.

By the end, you’ll have a clear framework that takes the guesswork out of your short game.

Let’s dive in.

Understand the Three Shot Types: Putt, Chip, Pitch

Before you can choose the right shot, you need to understand what each one does—and when it’s designed to be used.

Putting is the most controlled and predictable of the three. The ball stays on the ground the entire time and is rolled with your putter, ideally through fairway or fringe and onto the green. There’s very little that can go wrong if the surface is smooth and you have a clear line.

Chipping involves a low-lofted shot that gets the ball into the air briefly, lands just onto the green, and then rolls out like a putt. Chipping is ideal when you need a little carry but still want the ball to roll most of the way.

Pitching is a higher-lofted shot that flies more through the air and stops more quickly. It’s used when you need to carry a bunker, rough, or a tier in the green—and you don’t have much room to let the ball roll.

Each of these shots has a purpose. Knowing what each one is best at is the first step toward making smarter short game decisions.

When to Putt

If the ground between you and the hole is smooth, putting is almost always your best option. It’s the lowest-risk shot because it keeps the ball on the ground the entire time—making speed control and direction much easier to manage.

Use your putter when:

• The ball is sitting on fringe, fairway, or tightly mown grass.

• There are no major obstacles like thick grass, sprinkler heads, or rough between you and the green.

• The green is firm and rolling smoothly.

Putt whenever you can because there’s less margin for error. You’re not worrying about catching the ball cleanly, flying it the right distance, or stopping it on a dime. You just have to control speed and roll.

Even from several feet off the green, putting can outperform a poorly struck chip or pitch.

📅 Pro Tip: Walk up and look at the entire path to the hole. If you see more smooth grass than trouble, take the putter and roll it close.

When to Chip

Chipping is your next best option when putting isn’t practical. It gives you a low-flying shot that lands early and runs out like a putt—making it a reliable, consistent play when executed correctly.

Choose to chip when:

• The ball is in light rough or sitting just off the green where putting could cause a bounce or snag.

• There’s a minor obstacle between your ball and the green, such as a small fringe or slope.

• You have a decent amount of green to work with and want a controlled rollout.

The key to chipping is choosing the right club to control how far the ball carries and how much it rolls. A pitching wedge, 9-iron, or even an 8-iron can be great options depending on the green speed and pin location.

Chipping keeps things simple when you can’t putt, but don’t need the height or spin of a pitch. It’s a shot that should be in every golfer’s toolbox—and practiced often.

🎯 Tip: Focus on picking your landing spot on the green and visualizing the rollout. Let the ball do the work after it lands.

When to Pitch

Pitching is your high-lofted option for when the situation calls for more air time and a softer landing. It’s a higher-risk, higher-reward shot that requires precision—but it’s absolutely essential in the right situations.

Choose to pitch when:

• There’s an obstacle between you and the green, like a bunker, thick rough, or a steep slope.

• You’re short-sided and don’t have much green to work with.

• You need the ball to land softly and stop quickly near the hole.

Use your sand wedge or lob wedge for most pitch shots. These clubs create enough height and spin to control the ball’s landing and minimize rollout. But with that added loft comes added difficulty—so practice is key.

Pitching is often the last resort, not because it’s ineffective, but because it demands touch and solid contact. It can save you when used wisely, but cost you if overused or misplayed.

⛳ Tip: Pitch only when you have no safe way to putt or chip. Make a confident swing and commit to your landing spot.

The Shot Selection Process

Now that you understand the difference between each shot, how do you make the right decision under pressure?

Start by walking up to your ball and asking yourself these four questions:

1. What’s the lie like?
   • If the ball is on short grass or tightly mown fringe, consider putting.

   • If the ball is sitting up slightly but not clean enough to putt, think chip.

   • If it’s sitting in thick rough or a depression, pitching may be your only clean option.

2. What’s between me and the hole?
   • A flat, clean surface = putt it.

   • A small ridge or fringe = chip over it.

   • A bunker, thick grass, or large slope = pitch over it.

3. How much green do I have to work with?
   • More green = easier to chip and roll it out.

   • Less green = may require a soft-landing pitch.

4. Which shot gives me the best chance to get close?
   • Choose the option you’re most confident in.

   • Don’t choose a pitch if you haven’t practiced it.

Keep this in mind: the best golfers eliminate unnecessary risk. They play the smartest shot, not always the fanciest.

🧠 Golden Rule: Putt if you can. Chip if you can’t putt. Pitch only if you have to.

Practice Drill + Final Thoughts

If you want to get better at choosing the right shot, you need to experience different lies and scenarios on the course—or simulate them in practice.

Try this practice game:

Set up one ball just off the green. Then play that same ball three ways: putt it, chip it, and pitch it. Track which shot consistently leaves you closest to the hole.

Do this from different lies—fringe, fairway, rough, and slopes. You’ll quickly see patterns emerge that help you make smarter decisions during your rounds.

Final Thoughts

The secret to a great short game isn’t just technique—it’s decision making. Knowing when to use each shot is a skill that can shave strokes off your score and reduce frustration.

If you found this helpful, make sure to grab my free “15 Short Game Drills PDF” to reinforce everything we covered. It includes chipping, pitching, and putting drills that build confidence and consistency under pressure.

📩 Click here to download the free drills

Smart decisions lead to simple strokes—and simple strokes lead to lower scores.