mohuyu:If your ball isn't directly next to the green, don't bother with the chip - it won't go anywhere. Use the pitch shot instead. If you are too far to pitch then try the flop (about 19 - 30yds i'd say). If you are 30yds or more - the best thing to do is use a punch or full shot with the shortest of your wedges. Always remember you want to pick a club that uses as much as the swing meter as possible.
Couldn't disagree more and I think my stats prove my case. 538 holed shots and I almost exclusively pitch or chip. Flops may be good to get close but not nearly as effective for knocking it in. Depending on the lie, I even chip from 40 50 rough sometimes and have holed at least 40 of those.
5-14 yds are almost always chips. Tinker with top spin some if you have to run it through the fringe.
14-34 yds are pitches 90% of the time. Some holes like STA #13 or #14 (old pins) short of hole mandate a flop. There are several other lies where you have to hit a flop but bottom line, practice CHIPPING and PITCHING if you want to sink more approaches.