Best Golf Chippers for Tough Spots Around the Green

Now there’s a lot of truth in the fact that the best golf chippers are not designed for everyone. But what’s also undeniable is that they’re extremely useful when struggling with short game performance. But with top-rated equipment like this, you’re effortlessly bound to avoid some of the most common mistake of golfers chunking their wedges.

So in this post, I introduce you to the best of the best chippers in golf. And also walk you through the selection process, which consists of crucial buying considerations, along with the most frequently asked questions.

So let’s find out how to stay away from the possibility of wreaking havoc around the greens!

What Is A Golf Chipper?

The clubhead and length of a golf chipper are the same as those of the putter. But the difference is that the loft of the chipper clubface is between 30 degrees and 37 degrees, just like 7-irons and 8-irons.

But it’s the similar putter-like length that makes it possible to swing using the putting stroke. After all, the ultimate goal of a golf club like this is to deliver more control and feel during putting. All thanks to the special lie angle.

Along with that, you can also place the chipper flat on the turf at address. Thus, it’s much easier to hit in comparison to those high-loft wedges and irons. With high-lofted golf clubs, your chances of producing off-center shots are indeed the highest.

And in the case of off-the-toe, thin, or fat shots, as a result of mishits, poor contact is established. Plus, strokes keep increasing across your scoreboard.

Important Fact to Note:

The majority of USGA-accepted golf chippers, which are often classified as irons, are between 33 inches and 48 inches. And they also feature standard wedge or putter shafts. As for the grips on them, it’s either a standard grip or a putter grip (that depends on what you prefer).

Who Should Use A Golf Chipper?

Important Buying Considerations for Golf Chippers

1. Loft

The loft, in most cases, is always revolving around 35 degrees. That’s generally the loft of 7-irons or 8-irons.

Striking the golf ball using your putting stroke with a high loft leads to the ball only hopping up slightly. This means a higher loft, 35 degrees or more, increases height. Therefore, making it more difficult to control where on the green your golf ball lands. On the other hand, a lower loft compromises speed much in the same manner.

Hence, choose a moderate loft that is around 35 degrees or so.

2. Shaft Length

The length of a golf chipper shaft should be the same as that of the putter. And that is 35 inches, give or take. Otherwise, you won’t be able to set up the golf ball comfortably the way you do for a putt.

The matter of fact is that plenty of chippers are outfitted with a special clubhead that has a lot in common with putters.

3. Clubface

Standard wedges are built with stainless steel grooves. So that’s one option. While the other option consists of chippers that feature putter-like face inserts. The former, no doubt, offer a more solid, responsive feel. Face inserts, on the other hand, provide a muted, very soft sensation.

So you just pick one that suits the way you play or any other personal preferences.

4. Material

It goes without saying that durability appears hand in hand with the materials used for construction. A material that can tolerate wear and tear and even a little bit of mishandling seems worthwhile, right. So that would be steel. Plus, its affordability makes even more sense.

What about graphite though? I mean aren’t golf clubs for beginners and high handicappers made with a graphite material shaft? Yes, of course. Even so, choose steel since it’s both more durable and affordable. On top of that, steel gives you higher chances of producing a deliberately more consistent putting stroke.

5. Weight

Does the weight of your putter/chipper feel well-balanced? Well, this brings into the picture how the weight is positioned in the first place. Typically, the CG has to be placed lower to allow the clubhead to strike the golf ball better. Therefore, minimizing the potential of off-center shots.

But then there are some golfers who prefer weighting that’s more centered. And this indeed is a harmless choice as long as you can comfortably control that kind of construction.

Then, needless to say, comes the weight of the shaft. Graphite is lightweight while steel is heavier. Therefore, the former is highly recommended for beginners and high handicappers as they’re the easiest to swing. And steel shafts are the most fitting for those with a faster swing speed.

6. Offset

Offset means shaft positioning is further away from the part that makes direct contact with the golf ball. So a chipping iron with a decent offset is capable of rotating the clubface naturally for generating optimal forward spin. The offset here also more easily paves the way for striking the golf ball through the upward motion.

8. Grip

Chippers, more often than not, are equipped with a putter grip. This means that if the one provided with the golf club itself is not big enough for you, then feel free to use your oversized putter grip.

9. Comfort

Your goal is to produce consistent results and also get an optimal feel. Yes? Then make it a point to take factors such as shaft length into some serious consideration, which should be 35 inches as discussed earlier.

Comfort is also made possible through the grip material. Rubber works best at such times since it gives you a firm feel and prevents slips and mis-hits. Moreover, rubber has shock-absorbent properties, so it minimizes vibrations for handing out greater control over the club without sidelining comfort.

11. Legal Compliance

If tournament play is a part of the experience for you, then it’s important, or rather necessary, to select a golf chipper that comes with a single clubface and cylindrical-shaped grip.

Keep in mind that double-faced chippers are created for recreational golf only, which means they’re not in adherence with tournament regulations.

Also, please note that it makes absolutely no sense training with a two-faced chipper when you can’t use it for tournament play.

12. Price

There’s no denying that golf chippers are indeed gimmick clubs. Even though they have the ability to lower golf scores, not much attention is paid to them. After all, have you ever heard of any Titleist or TaylorMade golf chipper? That means don’t spend a fortune on them; as little money as possible is the right way to go here.

Reviews of 9 the Best Golf Chippers

1. Wilson Men’s Harmonized Golf Chipper (Top Choice)

Wilson Harmonized can be a very useful 14th golf club to have in your arsenal. It’s just what you might need for tough spots around the greens.  And don’t expect this golf chipper to be heavy as the others. There’s no large clubhead here. Instead, this one feels just right, so you can easily execute your putter swing to chip.

The chipper length is the same as a putter. So there’s no choking down or closing the club at the time of chipping, unlike when you use golf irons and hybrids.

I mentioned earlier that the clubhead isn’t heavy, which is 100-percent true – just ask any male golfer who’s used it and he’ll tell you the right thing. Rather its revolutionary head shaping allows you to produce the putter swing required for chipping the most easily. Naturally, it moves through all kinds of surfaces effortlessly.

So if you’ve been struggling with your chip shots using wedges, then do consider switching to the Wilson Harmonized Chipper. It gives you a squared impact on your golf ball, which eliminates the additional missed aligned stroke. It’s also a highly recommended choice for amateur golfers finding ways to lower their handicap level.

One last thing golfers of all skills would like to know – the chipper comes with an alignment aid that welcomes more accuracy in terms of lining up your putts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are golf chippers legal?

The USGA classifies chippers as irons, which means they are in fact legal. But only as long as the chipper doesn’t have the putter grip. Nor is it legal if it’s a two-way chipper.

What degree wedge is best for chipping?

No doubt, the best wedge for chipping is a pitching wedge. The idea is that the wedge should have a loft angle between 44 degrees and 54 degrees. It’s what works like a charm each time when it comes to achieving the right amount of roll and spin on shots.

What is the difference between chipper and wedge?

Wedges are lofted between 46 degrees and 64 degrees. So you can use them for bunker shots, pitches around the green, etc. Or from the fairway in the fortunate case of finding yourself about 100 yards, more or less, from the green. However, using wedges for really tight or difficult shots that are around 20 feet away, now that’s a huge challenge.

In such situations, using a wedge means blading/chunking it with a full, half, or short swing. Thus, producing big numbers despite being so close to that pin. So the solution? Enter golf chippers! These have a loft between 30 degrees and 37 degrees.

Even though the chipper length is the same as that of a putter, achieving consistency with a chipper is relatively easier.  Thanks to the putter-like design but with a higher loft, which makes it more forgiving and easier to hit. Also, with chippers, you use your putting stroke and not a half or full swing.

The drawback to golf chippers, however, is that they are only suitable from the outskirts or fringe area. So that’s a problem if you’re strict about carrying just 14 golf clubs in your set.

What loft is a chipper?

Usually, chippers are equipped with a loft angle of around 37 degrees, just like your 7-irons and 8-irons. But then there are golf chippers with a loft of almost 48 degrees as well. In that case, keep in mind that a higher loft means your golf ball flies higher with a better chance of stopping short on the green.

How does a chipper work?

It’s a wedge-shaped golf club that features an angled clubface and short shaft. It works simply by sending the golf ball upward through the putting stroke. And if you execute the stroke and use the chipper properly, it can actually lower your golf scores by getting the ball onto that green and closer to that pin all in just a single shot.

Is using a golf chipper cheating?

If what you want to know is whether using a chipper is legal or not, rest assured it is legal as long as the hitting surface is one and there’s no putter grip. Legally though, a golf chipper is a complete waste because the loft is the same as your 7-iron or 8-iron.

But then you have to include golf clubs that work for you, right? And the putter-like length with the short iron-like loft might just do you good in terms of lowering your golf scores.

Can you put a putter grip on a chipper?

Golf chippers are, in fact, irons and not putters. Therefore, chippers should be USGA-conforming with irons and woods. Therefore, they must not be outfitted with a putter grip or be two-faced (meaning have double striking surfaces).

Do chippers work from the rough?

Golf chippers are specifically designed for the fringed section of the green. Nevertheless, it depends on what your situation of the lie is.

Can a chipper be used to get out of sand traps?

Is the golf ball sitting up with no lip on the sand trap? If yes, then it makes absolute sense to use a chipper to get out of the sand trap. Otherwise, the chipper’s lower loft angle makes it difficult for getting that ball out of the sand bunker.

Conclusion

When not confident about using your wedges, a golf club like the chipper can be of immense help. It’s very much like a putter, which means you get a generous amount of control and accuracy. At the same time, you can generate a greater loft for getting out of any rough or fringe that’s circling the green.

Hopefully, our extensive guide and even answers to the most frequently asked questions about golf chippers should clear the confusion and do away with the most common myths revolving around this particular golf club.

In the end, just remember that you’re choosing a golf chipper because it feels solid and forgiving while also being easier to hit.