It is easy to be confused - The confusion may be in part because many people do not understand the difference between a chip shot and a pitch shot.

If the ball rolls further than it is in the air then it is a chip shot. If the ball travels further in the air than it rolls it is a pitch shop. The higher the trajectory of the ball, the less it will roll once it hits the grass.

The first thing to look at is the lie of the ball. The amount of grass will affect how the ball reacts once it hits the putting green. What you need to determine is how much grass is there between your club and the golf ball on impact during the shot.

Once you have determined your lie you will now need to pick a spot for the ball to land and finish up. Many golf instructors will use ratios in discussing the short game such as when using an eight iron carry the ball one-third of the way to the hole and let it roll the other two thirds.

But first you must determine if there is a flat area on which to land the ball – it is easier to determine how the ball will react once it hits the green if you can land it on a flat surface. Hitting onto an up-slope or down slope makes it much more difficult to determine how the ball will roll. Where available always aim for the flat or level ground.

Now that you know what kind of lie you have and where you need the ball to land the type of short game shot has been determined for you. To really improve your short game play determine the lie of the ball, find a safe, flat landing spot, and where you want to finish up, and then determine which club will help you achieve these results.