Master Your Short Game: How To Use A Chipper Golf Club

Do you struggle with short shots near the green? Does getting the ball onto the putting surface feel tricky? Many golfers find these shots hard. It’s okay. Lots of players have trouble here. This part of the game is called the short game. It includes shots from just off the green, in bunkers, or short chips and pitches. It is a key part of playing good golf. A good short game can save you many strokes. It helps lower your score quickly.

Sometimes, a regular golf club like a wedge feels wrong for these short shots. It might make the ball go too high. Or it might make the ball roll too much. What if there was a club designed just for these shots? A club that makes hitting the ball simple? There is. It is called a chipper. A chipper golf club is made to help you hit simple, low shots that roll like a putt once they land. You might wonder, “What is a chipper golf club?” It is a club that looks like a putter but has a bit more loft, like an iron. It is made to be used with a putting stroke. This helps golfers feel more sure about hitting the ball well near the green. Many golfers ask, “Can I use a chipper golf club?” Yes, you can! Golf rules allow you to carry up to 14 clubs. A chipper can be one of them. It’s a tool designed to make a specific shot easier.

How To Use A Chipper Golf Club
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What is a Chipper Golf Club?

Let’s look closer at this club. A chipper golf club has a special design. It is different from other clubs in your bag. Think about your putter. It has a flat face and a straight shaft. Think about your irons and wedges. They have angled faces (loft) and angled shafts. A chipper is somewhere in the middle.

A chipper often has a clubhead shape like a putter. It might have a heavy sole. But its face is not flat like a putter. It has loft. The loft on a chipper is usually between 30 and 45 degrees. This is less loft than most sand wedges or lob wedges. It is more loft than a putter or a low iron. The shaft of a chipper is often shorter than an iron or wedge shaft. It might even be the same length as a putter shaft. It is also often more upright, like a putter shaft.

This design helps the club work in a specific way. The loft lifts the ball just off the ground. It sends the ball forward with less height than a wedge. The heavy sole helps the club glide over the grass. The upright shaft helps you stand closer to the ball. This lets you use a putting stroke. This simple swing makes hitting the ball cleanly much easier for many players.

Seeing When to Use Golf Chipper

Knowing when to use golf chipper is key. A chipper is best for certain shots. It is not for every shot near the green.

Here are times a chipper is a good choice:

You are just off the green: The ball is on the fringe or just in the short grass next to the green. You have a lot of green between your ball and the hole.
You need the ball to roll: The chipper hits the ball low. The ball will land quickly and roll a lot like a putt. This is good when there is no bunker or hazard right in front of you.
The grass is short: The chipper works best from short grass or the fairway. It is not made for deep rough or high grass.
You want a simple swing: If you feel nervous about chipping with a wedge, the chipper offers a simple, putting-like swing. This can build confidence.
The shot is uphill: An uphill chip often needs less height and more roll. The chipper is good for this.

Here are times when a chipper might not be the best choice:

You need a high shot: If you need to hit over a bunker, water, or tall grass, the chipper is not right. It hits the ball too low.
You have little green to work with: If the pin is cut close to the edge of the green, you need a club that stops the ball faster. A wedge is better here.
You are in deep rough: The chipper’s design doesn’t handle thick grass well. A wedge with a heavier head and more loft is better for cutting through rough.
The shot is downhill: A downhill chip often needs less roll. You might need a wedge to land the ball softer.

So, use your chipper when you are close to the green, the grass is short, and you need the ball to roll most of the way to the hole. It’s a go-to club for simple bump-and-run shots.

Golf Chipper vs Wedge: How They Differ

Let’s look at golf chipper vs wedge. These clubs do similar jobs near the green, but they are very different tools. Choosing the right one matters a lot for your score.

Here is a simple way to compare them:

Feature	Chipper Golf Club	Golf Wedge (Pitching, Sand, Lob)
Look	Often looks like a putter head, sometimes dual-sided	Looks like an iron head
Loft	Lower loft (around 30-45 degrees)	Higher loft (45-64 degrees)
Shaft	Shorter, more upright, like a putter	Longer, more angled, like an iron
Swing	Designed for a putting stroke	Uses a chipping/pitching swing
Ball Flight	Low, with lots of roll	Higher, with less roll
Best Use	Just off the green, short grass, lots of green to roll on	Different distances, over hazards, stopping ball quickly
Simplicity	Very simple swing motion	Needs more skill/practice for different shots
Lie	Best from short grass, fringe, fairway	Can be used from various lies (rough, sand)

A wedge is more versatile. You can hit high shots, low shots, soft shots, and spin the ball. But hitting these different shots well takes practice. A chipper does one job: a low shot that rolls. But it does that job very well, and it makes the swing simple.

Think of it this way: A wedge is like a multi-tool. It can do many things, but you need to know how to use each part. A chipper is like a hammer. It does one thing, but it does that one thing very easily and well.

For many golfers, especially those new to the game or who struggle with chipping nerves, the chipper is a great helper. It takes away some of the tricky parts of chipping with a wedge, like hingeing your wrists or judging how hard to swing.

Advantages of a Golf Chipper

Why put a chipper in your bag? There are several good reasons. The advantages of a golf chipper can really help your short game.

Here are some key benefits:

Simplifies the Swing: This is the biggest advantage. The chipper is made to be used like a putter. A putting stroke is a simple, pendulum motion. It is much easier to learn and repeat than a standard chipping swing with a wedge, which involves more body movement and wrist control.
Increases Consistency: Because the swing is simple, it is easier to hit the ball the same way each time. This means fewer “fat” shots (hitting the ground before the ball) or “thin” shots (hitting the top of the ball). Consistent contact leads to more predictable results.
Reduces Nerves: Chipping can be scary for many golfers. Missing a chip shot can add strokes fast. The simple chipper swing feels less risky. Using a stroke you already know (putting) builds confidence. More confidence means better shots.
Better from the Fringe/Short Grass: The chipper’s design is perfect for shots just off the green. The low loft and heavy sole help the ball get up and rolling quickly on the green.
Good for Bump-and-Run Shots: Many short game situations call for a shot that lands just on the green and rolls towards the hole. The chipper is built exactly for this kind of shot.
Can Replace Multiple Wedges for Certain Shots: While you still need wedges for other shots, a chipper can handle many of the short, low chips you might otherwise try with a pitching wedge or even a sand wedge (using a low shot technique). This simplifies club choice near the green.
Easy to Learn: A beginner can learn to use a chipper well very quickly. Mastering a wedge takes much longer.

Adding a chipper to your bag is like adding a specialized tool that makes a frequent task much easier. It won’t fix all your short game problems, but for many common situations, it offers a reliable and simple solution.

Grasping the Chipper Golf Club Technique

Using a chipper is meant to be easy. The chipper golf club technique is based on your putting stroke. You do not need a big swing. You do not need to use your wrists much. You just need a smooth, simple movement.

Here is how to hit a chipper correctly. We will break it down into steps.

H4: Chipper Shot Setup

Setting up correctly is the first step to a good chipper shot.

Stand Close: Stand closer to the ball than you would for a normal iron or wedge shot. The more upright shaft lets you do this.
Feet Position: Place your feet fairly close together. Maybe about shoulder-width apart or even narrower. You do not need a wide stance.
Ball Position: Place the ball forward in your stance. A good spot is usually near the inside of your lead foot (your left foot if you are right-handed). This helps the ball get up quickly and roll.
Weight Distribution: Put a little more weight on your lead foot (the front foot). Maybe about 60% on your front foot and 40% on your back foot. Keep your weight steady there during the swing.
Hands Ahead: Make sure your hands are slightly ahead of the ball at setup. This is called “forward press” or “leading with the hands.” It helps you hit down on the ball slightly, which is good.
Body Aim: Line up your body so it points slightly left of the target (for a right-handed golfer). This helps you swing along your body line towards the target.

This chipper shot setup puts you in a stable position. It prepares you to use a simple swing motion.

H4: Golf Chipper Grip

How you hold the club matters. For a chipper, you should use a grip like you use for putting. This is different from your full swing grip.

Here is the golf chipper grip:

Put Your Hands On Like a Putter: Use your regular putting grip. This could be a reverse overlap grip, an interlock grip, or a traditional ten-finger grip. The key is to use the grip you feel most comfortable with for putting.
Keep Grip Pressure Light: Hold the club softly. Do not grip it too tightly. Too much pressure makes your muscles tense. This makes it hard to swing smoothly. A light grip helps the clubhead swing freely.
Hands Together: Your hands should be close together on the grip. This helps them work as one unit.

Using your putting grip helps you feel like you are hitting a putt. This makes the swing motion easier and more natural for a chipper.

H4: The Swing Motion (Chipper Putting Stroke)

Now for the action. The swing for a chipper is very much like a putting stroke. This is why some call it a chipper putting stroke.

Here are the steps for the swing:

Start the Backswing: Take the club back using your shoulders and arms together. Do not use your wrists. Keep your wrists firm and straight. The length of the backswing depends on how far you want the ball to go. For short chips, it will be very short.
Keep It Smooth: The swing should be a smooth, rhythmic movement. Think of a pendulum swinging back and forth.
Swing Through the Ball: Swing forward through the ball. Again, use your shoulders and arms. Keep your wrists firm. Try to hit the ball first, then the grass just after the ball. This is called hitting slightly down on the ball.
Follow Through: Let the club swing through towards your target. The follow-through should be about the same length as your backswing. This helps control speed and distance.
Keep Your Head Down: Keep your head down and your eyes on the spot where the ball was for a moment after you hit it. This helps you hit the ball cleanly. Do not lift your head too soon to watch the ball fly.

This technique is simple. There is no need for a big shoulder turn. There is no need to hinge your wrists. It is just a small, smooth back-and-forth motion. This simplicity is the power of the chipper. It makes hitting good chips much easier.

Chipping Around the Green with a Chipper

This is the main job for the chipper. Chipping with a chipper around the green is what it is made for. It is for those shots where you are just off the putting surface. You want the ball to get onto the green quickly and roll towards the hole.

Imagine your ball is on the fringe, maybe 10 feet from the edge of the green. The hole is another 40 feet away on the green. This is a perfect situation for the chipper.

Here’s how you would play it:

Look at the Shot: Walk up to your ball. Look at the path to the hole. See how much fringe you need to go over. See how much green there is to roll on. Check the slope of the green. Is it uphill, downhill, or flat?
Choose Your Landing Spot: Decide where you want the ball to land on the green. With a chipper, you usually want to land the ball just onto the green. Aim to land it maybe 1-5 feet onto the green, depending on how far the hole is. The ball will then roll the rest of the way.
Set Up: Use the chipper shot setup we talked about. Stand close. Ball forward in stance. Weight on front foot. Hands ahead. Use your putting grip.
Make the Swing: Use the simple chipper putting stroke. Swing back just a little bit. Swing through smoothly. Do not try to lift the ball. Let the club’s loft do the work.
Watch It Roll: The ball will pop up just a little. It will land on the green. Then it will start rolling like a putt. Watch how far it rolls to learn for next time.

Using a chipper for these shots takes away the fear of hitting the ball too hard and sending it over the green. It also reduces the chance of hitting the ground behind the ball. Because the swing is small and simple, you are more likely to make good contact.

Practice chipping with a chipper around the green from different distances. See how far the ball rolls when you swing back different amounts. This will help you control distance.

Using a Chipper from Fairway

Can you use a chipper from fairway? Yes, you can. While the chipper is mostly used around the green, it can be helpful from the fairway too. This is true when you have a shot that is short and you need a low ball flight with lots of roll.

Think about this: You are 30 or 40 yards from the green. You have a clear shot with no bunkers in the way. The ground is firm. You want the ball to land short of the green and roll up. A low-running shot might be better than a high-flying wedge shot that stops quickly.

Here’s when using a chipper from fairway might work:

Short distance to the green: The shot is too long for a putt but short enough that a chipper can reach. Maybe 20-50 yards, depending on how hard you swing.
Firm ground: The ground on the fairway is firm. This helps the chipper glide.
Clear path: No hazards you need to hit over.
Need for roll: The shot calls for the ball to roll most of the way after landing.

How to hit a chipper from the fairway:

Assess the Distance: Figure out how far the flag is. Also, look at the area before the green. Is it fairway? Is it sloped?
Choose Landing Spot: Decide where you want the ball to land. It will be shorter than if you were using a wedge. Maybe land it 10-20 yards short of the green?
Adjust Your Swing Length: For these longer shots, you will need a longer backswing and follow-through than chipping from the fringe. But still keep it smooth and without much wrist break. It’s like a long putting stroke.
Set Up: Use the same chipper shot setup: ball forward, weight slightly forward, hands ahead, putting grip.
Swing: Make a smooth, longer putting stroke. The length of the swing controls the distance. Practice this to learn how far a certain swing length makes the ball go.

Using a chipper from the fairway is not for every shot. A wedge is often better for stopping the ball on the green. But if the situation is right – firm ground, clear path, need for roll – the chipper gives you a simple option for a low, running shot. It takes practice to judge the distance from the fairway with a chipper.

Practice Makes Perfect

Like any golf club, getting good with a chipper takes practice. Do not just buy one and expect magic. Spend time using it on the practice green.

Here are some practice tips:

Find a Flat Area: Start on a flat part of the practice green or fringe.
Hit to Different Holes: Practice hitting shots to holes at different distances. Start close, then go further away.
Focus on Contact: Work on hitting the ball cleanly every time. Try to make the same sound on impact. Avoid hitting the ground behind the ball or hitting the top of the ball. Use the simple chipper putting stroke.
Learn Distance Control: This is key. Hit ten balls with a very short backswing. See how far they go. Then try a slightly longer backswing and hit ten more. Note the difference in distance. Do this for several swing lengths. This helps you know which swing length matches which distance.
Practice from Different Lies: If possible, practice from the fringe, from short fairway grass, and maybe even very light rough. See how the club works from each.
Play Practice Rounds: On the course, when the situation is right, use your chipper. See how it works under real playing pressure. Do this during practice rounds, not in a important game at first.

Practice with your chipper will build your confidence. You will learn exactly when to use it and how hard to swing. This will make your short game much better.

Choosing the Right Chipper

If you decide a chipper is for you, how do you choose one?

Loft: Chippers come with different amounts of loft. Some have around 30 degrees (like a 7-iron), others 45 degrees (like a pitching wedge). More loft means the ball goes higher and rolls less. Less loft means the ball stays lower and rolls more. Think about the types of shots you want to hit. If you want maximum roll, get lower loft. If you want a little more height, get higher loft.
Weight: Some chippers are heavier than others. A heavier head can help with stability and feel.
Length: Chippers are usually shorter than irons. Check the length to make sure it feels comfortable for your putting stance.
Right-handed or Left-handed: Most chippers are made for right-handed players. Some are made for left-handed players. A few are dual-sided, meaning you can use them with either hand setup. If you sometimes chip left-handed (for shots where your stance is blocked as a right-handed player), a dual-sided chipper can be very useful (but check local rules if playing in competition, though generally allowed).
Try Before You Buy: If possible, try hitting a few different chippers before you buy one. See which one feels best and gives you the results you want.

Choosing a chipper is a personal choice. Find one that fits your eye and feels easy to swing like a putter.

Potential Drawbacks

While a chipper is a great tool, it is not perfect for every situation. Knowing its limits is important.

Not for High Shots: As mentioned, a chipper is not for hitting over hazards. If you need to fly the ball high and land it soft, you need a wedge.
Struggles in Thick Rough: The design of a chipper is not good for cutting through deep grass. It will likely snag, leading to a poor shot. Wedges are better from rough.
Less Versatility: A wedge can hit many different shots (high, low, spin, out of sand). A chipper is mainly for one type of shot: the low runner.
May Not Be Allowed in Strict Competitions: In some high-level or professional events, there might be rules about club design (like dual-sided faces). For most amateur play and club events, a chipper is perfectly legal. Always check the rules if you play in serious competitions.

A chipper is best seen as a specialist club for specific short game situations. It is not meant to replace your wedges entirely, but to work alongside them.

Final Thoughts

Improving your short game is one of the fastest ways to lower your golf scores. For many golfers, the shots right around the green cause the most trouble. They lead to extra strokes – sometimes two or three extra strokes per hole from missed chips and pitches.

The chipper golf club offers a simple, effective way to handle many of these shots. By using a putting stroke, which is familiar and less complex than a standard chip swing, you can increase your chance of making clean contact and getting the ball rolling towards the hole.

If you struggle with chipping nerves, if you often hit behind the ball or blade it across the green, or if you just want a simpler option for those basic bump-and-run shots, give a chipper a try. Learn the simple chipper golf club technique, practice using it from the fringe and short fairway, and see how it can improve your consistency.

Putting a chipper in your bag won’t fix everything, but it can make a big difference on a lot of shots. It can build your confidence and help you save strokes around the green. Master your short game by adding this simple, helpful club to your tool kit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

H4: Is a chipper golf club legal?

Yes, for most golf played by amateurs, a chipper golf club is legal. You can carry up to 14 clubs in your bag, and a chipper can be one of them. Some dual-sided chippers might have restrictions in very high-level professional play, but they are fine for casual rounds and most club events. Always check the specific rules if you are unsure about a competition.

H4: How far can you hit a golf chipper?

How far you hit a chipper depends on the club’s loft and how hard you swing. It is designed for short shots. From just off the green, you might hit it a few yards onto the green, and it rolls 20-40 feet or more. For longer shots from the fairway (using a bigger putting stroke), you might be able to hit it 30-50 yards or sometimes a bit more, with most of that distance being roll. It is not meant for hitting long distances.

H4: What is the best loft for a golf chipper?

The “best” loft depends on what you want the ball to do. A chipper with lower loft (like 30-35 degrees, similar to a 7- or 8-iron) will hit the ball lower and make it roll more. This is good for flat greens and when you have a lot of green to work with. A chipper with higher loft (like 40-45 degrees, similar to a 9-iron or pitching wedge) will hit the ball a little higher and make it roll less. This might be better on faster greens or if you need the ball to stop a bit sooner. Many players start with a chipper in the 35-40 degree range as a good middle ground.

H4: Can I use a chipper from the sand?

No, a chipper is generally not good for using from sand bunkers. Its design, especially the typically lighter sole bounce compared to a sand wedge, makes it hard to get the club through the sand correctly. You would likely dig into the sand too much and leave the ball in the bunker. A sand wedge is designed specifically for playing shots from sand.

H4: Is a chipper cheating?

No, using a chipper is not cheating. It is a legal golf club designed to help players with a specific type of shot. It requires skill to use effectively, just like any other club. It is a tool available to anyone playing under standard golf rules.

H4: How is a chipper different from a hybrid club?

A chipper is very different from a hybrid club. Hybrid clubs are designed to replace long irons (like 3, 4, 5 irons). They have more loft than long irons but less than wedges or chippers. Hybrids are used for longer shots from the fairway, rough, or tee. They are hit with a full swing or a longer partial swing, like an iron. A chipper is used for very short shots around the green, using a putting-like stroke. They have different purposes and are used in different ways.