Conflicting advice on short game, which is correct?

[acegolfer]

Most tips on pitch shots involve open stance.

But the swing path is ambiguous. Some say swing to the target line. Others say swing along your toe line.

What is the correct swing path for pitch shots? How about for chip shots?

[allin]

This is always puzzled me as well. On short pitches if you are open and take the club back from the target it will normally be inside compared to your toe line. My experiments have convinced me that taking it along my toe line gets the club to far outside and I fail to keep my hands underneath the club and lose my turn. Occasionally I will hit a flop this way but if I miss it can be ugly. I have seen others do it, but they are all more hands, handsy then I. On chips I always start my club back keeping my the back of my left hand facing the target,

[Chief Broom]

I just do what feels natural to me. This means I play from a stance that is aligned to my target. Even in the sand I line up to where I want the ball to go. I play the club pretty square to my stance too. When I chip I'll set my feet together and in that case they are fairly open to my target line, but I've been squaring that up more and more lately too. I tend to play this part of my short game a lot like putting, where I'm following through with my swing down the target line. I will say though that I'm much more of a bump and run style player than hitting high soft shots. Occassionally this does get me in trouble when I've got to carry something and then stop the ball because of a close cut pin. Often times in those situations I'll play some kind of a lay up rather than go for the pin. So I should probably learn to hit more high soft shots.

[sean_miller]

If I'm in the sand or hitting a flop, the path will follow the footline. Typically the angle of the club face is like a mirror image of the open stance - ball path will typically be the middle of those two angles, or straight at the intended target.

For most other pitches and chips around the green I get the clubface and swing path square to where I want the ball to land. I don't worry too much about the stance on those, since it varies depending on the lie.

[timnsr72]

I think it is more of a thing that changes in different situations (green topology/bunkers/water), like what was said above, do what feels right

[double_j]

Don't overthink the short ones. On shots of 30 yards and in just do whatever feels natural to you to get the ball moving in the right direction. The more important things to think about (in my mind) are:

1.) weight forward, head down, quiet body
2.) control distance with the backswing and accelerate down and through the ball
3.) Control loft by opening/closing the clubface. Ball position should match the shot (front of stance for high shots, middle/back for low bump 'n runners or spinners). Swing mechanics don't really change unless you're trying to hit a non-standard shot (mega flop, etc.)