For some golfers, the short shot from just off the green is one of the most uncomfortable shots in the game.
You are close enough to feel that you should get the ball near the hole, but there are still plenty of ways to get it wrong. You can chunk a wedge, blade it across the green or become so concerned about the strike that you forget where you are trying to land the ball.
A golf chipper is designed to make that shot simpler. It combines the loft of an iron with a shorter, more upright build that feels closer to a putter. You use a putting-style motion, get the ball airborne briefly, then let it roll towards the hole.
So, should you buy one? For the right golfer, I think a chipper can be an extremely useful club. It will not suit everybody, and I would not automatically give one to a beginner, but there are plenty of golfers who could lower their scores and enjoy the game more by carrying one.
What is a golf chipper?
A chipper is a specialist club made for low-running shots around the green. Most have approximately 35 to 40 degrees of loft, putting them in a similar area to a traditional 7 or 8 iron. The head and shaft are normally designed so that you can stand closer to the ball and make a simple putting-style stroke.
The idea is straightforward. The loft helps the ball clear the fringe or the first section of uneven ground, while the putting motion reduces the amount of hand and wrist action required. Once the ball lands, it rolls for most of the remaining distance.
It is essentially a purpose-built bump-and-run club.
Who should consider buying a chipper?
I think chippers make the most sense for golfers who have already tried conventional chipping and still find it unreliable. That commonly includes:
- higher-handicap golfers who regularly chunk or blade chip shots
- older golfers who want a simpler movement with less wrist action
- golfers who have developed the chipping yips
- players who have lost confidence around the green
- golfers who do not have much time or desire to practise their short game
I would not necessarily rush a complete beginner into buying one. A beginner has the opportunity to learn a sound chipping technique from the start. If they can become comfortable using a wedge, that is generally the better long-term option because a wedge can play a much wider range of shots.
However, once a golfer has spent years struggling with the same short shot, the answer does not always have to be more frustration. A chipper can remove one of the most damaging mistakes from the game.
Where does a chipper work best?
In my opinion, a chipper is at its best from roughly five to twenty metres around the green. You want enough room to land the ball and let it run.
Good situations include:
- from the fringe or closely mown apron
- from a tight fairway lie
- when there is plenty of green between you and the hole
- when you need to carry a small patch of rough before the ball starts rolling
- when a bump-and-run can travel up a bank or slope onto the green
Many golfers immediately assume an elevated green rules out a chipper. That is not always true. If the slope is reasonably smooth and you can run the ball up it, a chipper can work very effectively. You simply need to judge the landing point and allow for the change in speed as the ball climbs the slope.
As with any club, a ball sitting nicely on top of the grass is usually easier to strike. The more predictable the lie and the ground in front of you, the more useful a chipper becomes.
Where should you avoid using a chipper?
A chipper is not a replacement for every wedge shot.
I would not use one from a bunker, and thick rough can make it difficult to get clean contact. It is also the wrong club when you need to hit the ball high, carry a hazard or stop it quickly on a short section of green.
I would generally avoid trying to stretch a chipper into a 40 or 50-metre club. That requires a much longer swing and starts to remove the simplicity that makes the club useful in the first place. At those distances, a conventional wedge offers far more control and versatility.
If the shot demands height, spin or a large carry, use a wedge. If it can be played mainly along the ground, that is when the chipper earns its place.
Is a golf chipper legal?
Yes, a conforming golf chipper is legal under the Rules of Golf and can be used in competition. It counts as one of the fourteen clubs you are allowed to carry.
A chipper is treated as an iron rather than a putter under the equipment rules. Among other requirements, a conforming model must have an appropriate circular grip and only one striking face. The conventional chippers sold by established golf brands are designed with these requirements in mind.
The important point is that using a legal chipper is not cheating. It is simply choosing a specialist club for a particular job.
Why are some golfers embarrassed to use one?
Golf has some strange traditions, and there is still a little stigma attached to chippers. Some players believe they should be able to play every short-game shot with a wedge, or they worry about what their playing partners might think.
I do not see it that way.
Golfers already carry clubs designed to make particular shots easier. We use forgiving drivers, hybrids instead of long irons and high-MOI putters. A chipper follows exactly the same logic.
If it helps you avoid two or three poor shots during a round, improves your confidence and makes golf more enjoyable, it has done its job. There are no bonus points for making golf harder than it needs to be.
Should you get a chipping lesson instead?
If you are local to Golf 360, I would normally recommend trying a chipping lesson first. A relatively small setup or technique change can sometimes solve the problem and allow you to use a wedge confidently.
A lesson also gives you more options. Learning how to alter loft, landing point and trajectory with a wedge helps when the lie or green does not suit a low-running shot.
That does not mean buying a chipper is admitting defeat. Some golfers have limited practice time, physical restrictions or a long history of anxiety around these shots. Others simply want the most repeatable solution available.
We stock entry-level chippers for around $100, so trying one does not have to be a huge investment. If it becomes a trusted club, it may be among the best-value improvements you make. If it does not suit you, at least you have tested the idea without spending a fortune.
If you would prefer to work on the technique first, our guide on how to chip consistently is a useful starting point. We also have separate advice for golfers who keep chunking chip shots or blading them across the green.
How do you use a chipper?
The exact setup varies slightly between models and golfers, but the basic method should remain simple:
- Use a narrow, comfortable stance.
- Stand a little closer to the ball than you would for a normal wedge shot.
- Position the ball around the middle of your stance.
- Keep your weight slightly favouring your front side.
- Use a putting-style stroke with quiet hands and wrists.
- Choose a landing point, then allow the ball to roll towards the hole.
The biggest mistake is trying to help the ball into the air. The loft is already there. Focus on brushing the ground and moving the club through the ball.
Which golf chipper should you buy?
The right choice depends on how much you want to spend and the level of feel and finish you prefer.
An entry-level model such as the Bay Hill 37° Chipper or Dynacast Up 'N' Down Chipper is a sensible way to test whether a chipper suits your game. They provide the basic shape, loft and putting-style simplicity without a large investment.
For golfers who want a more premium club, I particularly like the Odyssey 37° Chipper. They are more expensive, but the overall quality is excellent. The face insert produces a familiar, responsive feel, while the alignment aids make it easier to aim the club and start the ball on your chosen line.
The PING ChipR is another high-quality option. It sits slightly closer to the wedge end of the spectrum and will appeal to golfers who want a premium, iron-style look with chipper forgiveness.
We also carry men's, women's and selected left-handed options. You can view our current range of golf chippers or visit us in Mount Maunganui to try them and compare how they sit behind the ball.
My honest verdict
If you are a beginner, give yourself the opportunity to learn conventional chipping first. A wedge is the more versatile club if you can use it confidently.
If you are an experienced golfer who continues to lose shots around the green, has developed the yips or simply wants a more reliable bump-and-run, a chipper is well worth considering.
It will not play every short-game shot, and it should not be asked to. Its job is to turn one difficult shot into a simple one. I have spoken to plenty of golfers who have a favourite chipper, use it regularly and would not want to take it out of the bag.
Try a lesson if you want to improve your technique and build a more complete short game. But if a chipper gives you confidence and helps you get the ball closer to the hole, carry it without embarrassment.
FAQs
Are golf chippers legal in competitions?
Yes. A conforming chipper is legal and counts as one of the fourteen clubs in your bag. It must meet the equipment rules that apply to irons, including requirements relating to its grip and striking face.
What distance should you use a chipper from?
I think chippers are most useful from approximately five to twenty metres around the green. They are designed for short bump-and-run shots rather than 40 or 50-metre pitches.
Can you use a chipper from the rough?
You can use one from a light, predictable lie, but thick rough makes clean contact difficult. A wedge is normally the better option when the ball is sitting down.
Can you use a chipper in a bunker?
A chipper is not designed for normal bunker shots. Its low-running flight and putting-style motion do not provide the loft and sole action required to move the ball through sand effectively.
Is a chipper better than a wedge?
A chipper is easier for a specific low-running shot, while a wedge is far more versatile. The better club depends on the golfer, the lie and the shot required.
Happy golfing,
Scott
