Can get there in one, two or three but can't score well

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, bm85 said:

I'd recommend trying a chipper out if you haven't. Not a popular (or necessary) choice for serious golfers I'm sure, but they actually work quite well. Never would have considered using these, but was gifted one, tried it, and found it pretty fun/effective to use.

Chipping wasn't really a problem for me, but why I decided to keep it is because there is next to no % chance for error with these things. That and I knew I wouldn't miss my 5 iron

As many here know, I'm also a huge advocate of chippers.  A lot of golfers would lower their scores if they'd just let their egos go...

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, David in FL said:

As many here know, I'm also a huge advocate of chippers.  A lot of golfers would lower their scores if they'd just let their egos go...

I'm pretty much at the point where I would use the chipper. Hmm, might be a tough call to get rid of my 3i which I "hit so well".

[vangator]

I don't get chippers.  Not making fun of them.  Why not use the iron with the same loft?

[Lihu]

36 minutes ago, vangator said:

I don't get chippers.  Not making fun of them.  Why not use the iron with the same loft?

They look like a putter with a really wide sole.

[David in FL]

47 minutes ago, vangator said:

I don't get chippers.  Not making fun of them.  Why not use the iron with the same loft?

A chipper has a shaft length and angle identical to a putter.  Along with a wide sole, they allow for a very simple, consistent chip and run.  

A buddy was playing off 11 last year.  Big hitter, but inconsistent around the greens.  He finally listened to me and put a chipper in the bag.  His index is 8.6 as of this past revision.  I've paid for that damn chipper several times over again in lost bets these past several months....  

[RH31]

20 hours ago, cooke119 said:

All good input guys I appreciate it. A couple of things:

1. I've been on this site for quite some time and my handicap is no longer a 15 since I had back surgery (my third), not sure what it is today. Plus I'm 64 now, (can't believe that).

2. I don't keep stats but will start now, good suggestion, then I'll be able to really see what needs work.

3. I do know, my chips are always short (I feel like I'm not committing to the shot); my putting needs work, (you can't score well with a lot of three putts), and my GIR has to increase.

Thinks about it, my whole damn game needs improvement! I have a lot of work to do.

Try giving yourself more room for error. Don't try those shots where you just barely carry over the fringe. Carry it  3 or 4 paces on and don't worry about it going past the hole. I play with guys all the time that get upset when they don't chip it inside 3 feet. If they'd just focus on solid contact and then canning that 5-10 footer, their scores would be much better.

[Dave2512]

16 hours ago, vangator said:

I don't get chippers.  Not making fun of them.  Why not use the iron with the same loft?

Same opinion. That and using a chipper pretty much requires a putting stroke, tough to do in the rough. Balls on short stuff are easy enough to toe down chip with a putting stroke. I see chippers causing a lot of trouble for those that flip at the ball with it like wedge.

[9wood]

19 hours ago, David in FL said:

As many here know, I'm also a huge advocate of chippers. 

You want a chipper? Then just take your 7 iron go into a putting stance with it by bringing the ball in closer to your feet like you do with a putter and then choke down on the grip. Now simply take a putting stoke. Works like a champ.

[vangator]

18 hours ago, Lihu said:

They look like a putter with a really wide sole.

 

18 hours ago, David in FL said:

A chipper has a shaft length and angle identical to a putter.  Along with a wide sole, they allow for a very simple, consistent chip and run.  

A buddy was playing off 11 last year.  Big hitter, but inconsistent around the greens.  He finally listened to me and put a chipper in the bag.  His index is 8.6 as of this past revision.  I've paid for that damn chipper several times over again in lost bets these past several months....  

I know what a chipper is.  Seen many of them.  I just don't see any advantage over an iron with the same loft.  Maybe the chipper is more upright?  If you use a putting stroke with a chipper, then use a putting stroke with an iron.  But, if the chipper somehow works better, that's a good thing.

1 hour ago, 9wood said:

You want a chipper? Then just take your 7 iron go into a putting stance with it by bringing the ball in closer to your feet like you do with a putter and then choke down on the grip. Now simply take a putting stoke. Works like a champ.

+1.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[ppine]

Carry 4 wedges, and learn the 10:30, 9:00, and 7:30 swings with each of them. Practice chipping and short pitches more than anything. That will help your putting because you will start closer. 

If your chips are short, shorten your swing and hit through the ball. Avoid decelerating the club.

 

Edited March 5, 2016 by ppine

[David in FL]

24 minutes ago, vangator said:

 

I know what a chipper is.  Seen many of them.  I just don't see any advantage over an iron with the same loft.  Maybe the chipper is more upright?  If you use a putting stroke with a chipper, then use a putting stroke with an iron.  But, if the chipper somehow works better, that's a good thing.

+1.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Yup, much more up right and a wider sole.  Much easier to use for those, especially higher hcp players to use.  As I've said though, too often ego gets in the way.

[vangator]

27 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Yup, much more up right and a wider sole.  Much easier to use for those, especially higher hcp players to use.  As I've said though, too often ego gets in the way.

I bet there is an ego thing with quite a few.  I have no ego when it comes to golf.  I use Single Length irons which gets a few raised eyebrows (until I beat their a$$ ). 

My issue with a chipper is that it takes another club out of my bag and it always seemed to me that an iron would suffice.  But, if chipping is a problem for someone and a chipper really helps, they should play it and find out what club to replace.  It's all about getting the ball in the hole in as few as possible.

[9wood]

26 minutes ago, vangator said:

  It's all about getting the ball in the hole in as few as possible.

I'm not buying that. Actually it's all about getting the best value for your money. Let me explain. Lets say the two of us pay $40 to play a round of 18 holes. You score a 74 and I score a 94 which means you paid 54 cents per shot whereas I only paid 43 cents per shot. You see, I got a better deal than you.

Edited March 6, 2016 by 9wood

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, vangator said:

I bet there is an ego thing with quite a few.  I have no ego when it comes to golf.  I use Single Length irons which gets a few raised eyebrows (until I beat their a$$ ). 

My issue with a chipper is that it takes another club out of my bag and it always seemed to me that an iron would suffice.  But, if chipping is a problem for someone and a chipper really helps, they should play it and find out what club to replace.  It's all about getting the ball in the hole in as few as possible.

In my experience, long irons are not very useful. I pull them out because I have them. I can't really hit anything above a 7 iron anyway. My hybrid sees more play than my 6i to 3i combined. If I can hit 3i it would go 200 or more yards, but I can't and I can choke up on my hybrid.

So, I can get three chippers and instantly improve my short game. So, I'll keep my wedges to attempt to flop over bunkers, but for easy chips I'll just make them easier with a chipper.

[vangator]

4 hours ago, 9wood said:

I'm not buying that. Actually it's all about getting the best value for your money. Let me explain. Lets say the two of us pay $40 to play a round of 18 holes. You score a 74 and I score a 94 which means you paid 54 cents per shot whereas I only paid 43 cents per shot. You see, I got a better deal than you.

You can't beat that logic!

I've had it all wrong for all these years!

[TimS65]

I tried to find more distance at the top end of my bag but without success. So I go from 3 wood (mainly off the tee for 200 - 210 yards) down to a 4 hybrid which gives 180 - 190 yards total distance. This means I only have 13 clubs currently, so I may go back to a chipper. I'm fine from 30 - 80 yard pitches, it's the shorter chips I struggle judging. Especially from light rough near the green. At my local range it's difficult to practise this type of shot as they don't have a short game practise area, and the range is off mats. So I'm not confident chipping with say a 7 iron - particularly with distance control. A chipper with its putter like stance makes it easier to judge

[Club Rat]

Surprisingly, there are many guys who struggle with chipping and pitch shots.

The good old fashion "Texas Wedge" is a popular club used around greens.

[9wood]

1 hour ago, TimS65 said:

 I'm not confident chipping with say a 7 iron - particularly with distance control. A chipper with its putter like stance makes it easier to judge

You can go into a putting stance with your 7 iron. Just bring the ball in closer to your feet like you do with your putter, then choke down on your 7 iron grip and use a putting swing motion. It works very nicely. Watch pro golfer Jim Furyk show you what I mean