What is a golf chipper? A golf chipper is a specialized club designed to help golfers get the ball close to the hole when they are near the green. It looks like a mix between a putter and an iron. It has a loft, usually between 30 and 40 degrees, which helps it lift the ball just enough.
Why Use A Chipper?
Many average golfers struggle with green-side chipping. They often use pitching wedges or sand wedges too close to the flag. These clubs have a lot of loft. This loft can cause the ball to fly too high or too far. This leads to missed short game shots.
A chipper offers a safer option. It helps you play a lower-trajectory shot. This makes precise golf chipping much easier. It is a great tool for short game practice.
Chipper Benefits Over Other Clubs
| Feature | Chipper | Pitching Wedge (PW) | Putter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft (Approx.) | 30° – 38° | 44° – 48° | 3° – 4° |
| Shot Type Favored | Low flight, rolling finish | Medium flight, soft landing | Pure roll |
| Lie Angle | More upright (like a putter) | Standard iron | Flat |
| Use Case | Tight lies, short chips (10-20 yards) | Any lie, longer chips | On the green or very fringe |
The chipper helps bridge the gap between putting and full wedge play. It is excellent for shots where you need a little lift but want the ball to roll out quickly. This shot type is often called the chip and run.
Selecting The Right Chipper
Not all chippers are the same. Choosing the right one matters for your success. You need a club that fits your swing and the type of shots you face most often.
Loft Choices
The loft is the most critical factor.
- Lower Loft (30° – 34°): These act almost like a strong 8-iron or 9-iron. They produce a very low flight and a long roll. Good for tight lies or when you need a lot of roll out. This promotes a true chip and run style.
- Medium Loft (35° – 38°): This is the most common range. It offers a good balance. It gets the ball airborne quickly but still ensures a decent roll. This is ideal for most general green-side chipping situations.
Shaft Length and Lie Angle
Chipper shafts are often shorter than standard irons. Some are made to the length of a putter. A shorter shaft gives you more control. This aids in controlling golf trajectory. Check the lie angle, too. It should feel comfortable when addressing the ball, similar to how your putter feels. A good fit prevents awkward setup and poor strikes.
Mastering The Chip Shot With A Chipper
Using a chipper effectively requires specific chipping techniques. You are essentially making a mini-putting stroke, but with a little bit more body movement. Focus on smoothness and solid contact.
Setup For Success
Your stance and grip are the foundation for mastering the chip shot.
Stance
- Ball Position: Place the ball slightly toward the middle or back of your stance. This helps keep the loft down. It promotes that lower flight path.
- Weight Distribution: Lean your weight slightly onto your front (lead) foot. Keep it there throughout the swing. This prevents you from lifting up through impact.
- Stance Width: Use a narrow stance. This limits body rotation. It encourages an arms-and-shoulders swing, much like putting.
Grip
Use a grip similar to your putting grip. Hold the club slightly shorter than normal, about an inch up from the bottom of the grip. Keep your hands quiet. Do not let your wrists flip or hinge excessively. A firm but relaxed grip is key for consistent contact.
The Swing Motion
The swing motion is compact. Think about hitting down slightly on the ball, just like you would with an iron. However, unlike a full iron shot, you want to minimize wrist action.
H3: Key Elements of the Chipper Swing
- Takeaway: Keep the clubhead low to the ground during the initial takeaway. Do not lift the club immediately.
- Backswing: Limit the backswing length. For a short chip, the backswing might only go to waist height. Use your shoulders to control the distance. Think of it as a pendulum motion.
- Impact: Maintain your forward lean. Strike the ball first, then the turf slightly behind it. A clean strike is vital for good roll.
- Follow-Through: The follow-through should be shorter than the backswing. Stop your swing when your lead arm is fully extended towards the target.
Integrating The Chipper Into Your Game
The chipper is a specialized club. It shines in specific situations. Knowing when to use it, and when to use other golf wedge shots, is important.
When to Reach for the Chipper
The chipper is best for shots with limited obstacles between you and the hole.
- Tight Lies: When the grass is very short, the ball sits down nicely. A wedge might scoop the ball up too easily. The chipper gets a cleaner strike.
- Short Distances (5 to 20 Yards): When you need to carry a very small fringe area and then have the ball roll out most of the way. This is the perfect chip and run yardage.
- Trouble Near the Fringe: If you are just off the green, chipping with a putter can be tricky if the fringe is slightly higher than the green. The chipper provides a little necessary loft to clear the edge smoothly.
When NOT to Use the Chipper
Avoid the chipper when:
- Deep Rough: The club can easily get caught or twist open. Use a higher lofted wedge here.
- High Sand/Bunkers: The chipper is not designed for bunker play. Its low loft will just dig in or slide under the ball.
- Long Carries: If you need the ball to stop quickly, use your sand or lob wedge instead. The chipper is built for rolling.
Drills For Developing Chipper Confidence
Consistent results come from consistent practice. Dedicate time in your short game practice sessions specifically for the chipper.
H4: The Clock Drill
This drill helps you calibrate distance control based on swing length.
- Place targets (tees or coins) at distances of 5, 10, and 15 yards away from where you are chipping.
- Set up a station for each yardage.
- For the 5-yard target, swing back only to 9 o’clock and finish forward to 3 o’clock (if the top of your backswing is 12 o’clock).
- For the 10-yard target, swing back to 10 o’clock and finish to 2 o’clock.
- For the 15-yard target, swing back to 11 o’clock and finish to 1 o’clock.
This reinforces making rhythmic, controlled swings, which is key for controlling golf trajectory.
H4: The Ladder Drill (Focus on Roll)
This drill emphasizes the chip and run aspect.
- Place five balls in a line, spaced two feet apart, starting 10 feet from the edge of the green.
- Your goal is to hit the first ball so it lands softly on the fringe and rolls onto the green, stopping within a three-foot circle around the hole.
- Repeat this for all five balls. If you miss the circle, drop back to the start.
- This teaches you to trust the roll once the ball gets airborne, improving your precise golf chipping.
H4: Lie Variation Practice
Set up different lie situations to test the chipper’s versatility.
- Tight Lie Drill: Chip from a spot where the grass is almost worn away. Focus on hitting the ball first.
- Slightly Longer Grass: Practice making a slightly bigger swing to ensure the clubhead moves cleanly through the grass without twisting. This simulates common fairway fringe lies.
Technical Aspects of Chipper Performance
The physics behind the chipper explain why it works so well for certain shots. It is all about gear effect and launch angle.
Gear Effect and Forgiveness
Because chippers often have larger heads (sometimes looking like a small hybrid or a face-balanced putter), they offer forgiveness. If you hit the shot slightly off-center (heel or toe), the gear effect helps keep the face square longer than a thin-bladed iron. This keeps the resulting shot straighter and closer to your intended line. This forgiveness is a huge aid in green-side chipping under pressure.
Launch Angle vs. Loft
The loft stamped on the club is not the actual launch angle you achieve. Because of the forward shaft lean used in chipping techniques (weight forward), the effective loft is slightly reduced at impact. This results in a lower launch angle than if you hit the same club with a standard iron swing. This is exactly what you want for a low, rolling chip and run shot.
| Swing Technique | Effective Loft (Approx.) | Resulting Trajectory |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Forward Lean (Chipper Use) | 2° – 4° less than stated loft | Lower, more roll |
| Neutral Impact (Standard Iron Use) | Stated loft | Medium trajectory |
| Leaning Back (Scooping) | 2° – 4° more than stated loft | Higher, less predictable |
Advanced Chipper Applications
Once you are comfortable with the basic chip and run, you can explore more advanced uses for your chipper.
Using It From Light Rough
If the rough is light (like second cut grass that isn’t too deep), a chipper can be surprisingly effective, especially if you need the ball to roll a long way. The key is a confident, slightly descending blow. You must swing firmly enough to get the club through the grass cleanly. Do not slow down! Slowing down invites chunks and shanks. Use a slightly wider stance here to promote stability.
Controlling Trajectory for Uphill/Downhill Chips
Controlling golf trajectory remains important even with a lower-launching club.
- Uphill Chips: If the green slopes up steeply after the fringe, you might need the ball airborne for a little longer. Use slightly more wrist hinge than normal (but still minimal) and maybe move the ball slightly more toward the center of your stance.
- Downhill Chips: If the green slopes away sharply, you want maximum roll. Set up even more weight on your front foot. Swing very smoothly and limit your follow-through drastically. You want the ball to hit the ground running.
Mental Approach to Short Game Practice
The mental aspect of mastering the chip shot cannot be overlooked. The chipper is designed to reduce anxiety around the green.
When you pull out the chipper, you are committing to the chip and run philosophy. Accept that the ball will roll out. Do not try to fly it all the way to the hole. Focus solely on hitting the ball cleanly in the center of the face. Trust the club to do the work once it lands. This belief boosts confidence during short game practice.
FAQ About Using A Chipper
Can I use a chipper from sand?
No, it is strongly advised against using a chipper from standard bunker play. Chipper soles are usually too narrow and flat for displacing sand effectively. A sand wedge is the correct tool for the bunker.
Is a chipper legal in golf?
Yes, a chipper is a legal club. It is essentially a specialized wedge or iron. As long as it conforms to the grooves and clubhead size rules set by the USGA/R&A, it is perfectly fine to use.
What is the difference between a chipper and a wedge?
The main difference is the loft and the intended shot shape. A wedge has much more loft, designed for higher flight and softer landings. A chipper has less loft, designed for a lower flight and more ground roll, promoting the chip and run.
How often should I use my chipper?
Use it often during short game practice until you feel comfortable. In actual play, use it whenever the lie and distance call for a low, rolling shot inside 20 yards of the green, especially when you struggle with chunking or blading your standard wedges.
Should I replace my pitching wedge with a chipper?
No. A good golfer needs versatility. The chipper is a tool for specific jobs. You still need your high-lofted wedges for shots where you need to stop the ball quickly or play out of deep trouble. The chipper complements your wedges; it does not replace them.