Why You Need A Chipper

Golf chippers have been, fairly or unfairly, the object of much disdain over the years. That all changed in 2022 when PING released the ChipR. Almost immediately, chippers became accepted, even popular, among golfers of all levels.

What Is A Chipper?

A chipper is a golf club that resembles a marriage between a putter and a wedge. Its loft falls somewhere between those two traditional clubs. Chippers are designed to help with consistency around the greens, especially (obviously) chip shots. 

The chipper works best from 50 yards in. Taking a full swing with a chipper is generally not considered a best practice.

Who Needs A Chipper In Their Bag

Who might need to add a chipper to their arsenal?

• Golfers struggling to clip a ball cleanly from a tight lie. 
• Golfers who frequently chunk or skull shots around the green.
• Golfers for whom a tap-in putt after a chip is not a signature move. 

Chippers offer versatility, forgiveness and a design that significantly increases your chance of success when it comes to distance control and accuracy.

Where To Use A Chipper 

Chippers don’t have as much loft as a sand or pitching wedge. Lofts generally range from about 30 to 45 degrees. Therefore, the shot you will get is more of a bump-and-run style. A chipper won’t produce a high-lofted pitch shot. (I guess that’s why we don’t call these “pitchers.”)

A few places to use a chipper would be:

• From the fringe, when you can’t choose between a putter and a wedge 
• In light rough, just off the green with some green to work with 
• A 20- to 40-yard approach where there is no trouble between you and the hole 

Are Chippers Legal? 

Chippers can be legal, according to the Rules of Golf. They must satisfy the following requirements: 

• One striking face. Two-sided chippers or a chipper with a putter face on the other side are not legal.
• The loft must be greater than 10 degrees. 
• It must also conform to all other regulations regarding dimension, shape, design, length, etc. 

A club like the PING ChipR is legal to use. 

What Is The Loft of A Chipper?

Most chippers have 30 to 40 degrees of loft. The PING ChipR has 38 degrees, for example. As well, it has a cambered sole to avoid digging into the ground and a lie angle in the 68- to 70-degree range. 

A chipper’s loft is similar to an 8- or 9-iron, depending on the specifications of your iron set. So why not just use the 8- or 9-iron? 

Although the loft is about the same, the general performance and functionality of the club are a little different. With a chipper, you take a putting-like stroke. The ball gets off the ground briefly and then rolls to the target. It’s a simple stroke and eliminates much of the margin for error. 

What Is The Lie Angle of A Chipper? 

The chipper lie angle is typically around 68-70 degrees. A chipper lie angle closely matches that of a putter. With a higher lie angle like this, it’s easy to take a putting-like stance and stroke. 

How Do You Use A Golf Chipper?

All chippers are designed a little differently so you may have to adjust based on the loft and your club’s overall feel and performance. 

• Grip the chipper the same way you would grip an iron.
• Take a narrow stance closer to the ball than when taking a full swing. 
• Make a pendulum-like swing without hinging wrists or transferring any weight. 
• Strike the ball at the bottom of your arc and follow the clubhead through to the target. 
• The golf ball will bounce once or twice and then roll towards the hole. 

Golf Chippers To Consider

If you think a chipper could be for you, here are a few of the best golf chippers to consider. 

PING ChipR

A premium golf chipper designed to improve control and precision around the greens. The ChipR has a low center of gravity and a large face. It still has a sleek PING look to it, albeit not the same as a PING blade-style wedge. 

Mazel Golf Chipper 

An affordable yet versatile golf chipper. Great option for beginners or those tired of chipping back and forth over the green. 

Cleveland Smart Sole C

The Smart Sole from Cleveland has an extra wide sole, a softer feel and is very consistent on short chips. Cleveland’s wedge technology is always among some of the best for amateur players. 

Wilson Harmonized Chipper

The Wilson Harmonized chipper is another budget-friendly choice. If you aren’t overly concerned about premium looks but want to try chipper technology, this is it.

Arias Golf Canada TB-30

A small company from Canada whose distinctive characteristic is zero offset. Currently being tested on the MyGolfSpy Forum, this chipper’s unique design and price makes it a great value option. 

Final Thoughts 

Most amateur golfers would benefit more from a chipper than a lob wedge.

If you can effectively use a 7-, 8- or 9-iron to hit chips of every length, you may not need one. 

However, if you are hitting shots short, past the pin, chunking them, etc., a chipper can bring increased consistency and leave you closer to the flag. 

Let’s make chippers cool. After all, there are few things cooler in golf than hitting a chip to tap-in range, right?

FAQ

Why Don’t More People Use Chippers? 

Chippers have gotten a bad rap over the years, often regarded as beginner-type golf clubs, but they can help just about anyone who struggles with their short game.

What Is The Loft of PING ChipR?

The PING ChipR has 38 degrees of loft. 

Are Two-Way Chippers Illegal? 

According to the USGA and R&A, chippers must follow the same regulations as irons, not putters, and must not have two striking faces. Therefore, a “two-way” chipper is not legal under the Rules of Golf.. 

Do Pros Use Chippers?

Professional golfers can use USGA conforming chippers when they play. However, as far as we know, no tour professionals have one in play right now. Professional golfers are looking for more spin control and workability  and they don’t need quite as much forgiveness in a golf club as the rest of us.