Does Anyone Else Here Use a Chipper?

[TRUCKER]

On 2/27/2019 at 7:51 AM, iacas said:

So… you've given up on learning how to hit bunker shots the proper way.

Look, that's not a judgment. And I imagine it helps your score and your game. But you're conning yourself a bit, IMO, if you think you haven't given up. You have - at least for now - on actually becoming a better golfer. You might shoot better scores but you've given up on being a better golfer.

Now, if you're legitimately not giving anything up - I taught a woman years ago who carried four clubs, because all of her irons or fairway woods went about the same distance (she carried a high lofted driver, six-iron, wedge, and a putter) - that's another thing entirely. I've joked that I'm going to give my daughter a left-handed 7-iron because she legitimately has only 13 clubs. Entirely different thing.

But if you're replacing a club with a limited use club… you're giving up at least temporarily.

Yes. You're using a much less versatile club because you can't figure out how to hit a bunker shot, or don't want to.

Exactly: one type of shot.

So, with your Cleveland Alien-Like Wedge, and your chipper, you now have two clubs for roughly two shots around the green, rather than being able to each of your other clubs for multiple (10+) types of shots.

---

Ultimately, please remember I don't really care what anyone does for their own game. If you like using a chipper, and you feel it helps, good for you. I'm glad you are able to enjoy the game. It's not a judgment of any kind, it's just an opinion that I think, if a chipper is replacing some other club in your bag, you're limiting yourself needlessly. You're doing yourself a disservice.

I stand corrected on this topic. A couple months ago we had my son fitted for new wedges, so I ended up trying out the ones we replaced. A Vokey 58* and Cleveland 50* wedges. I was amazed how good the feel is. I, (just like you said), ended up with only 13 clubs. I replaced (2) square strikes, and a C31 wedge. The (2) clubs I use now have so many more options than the (3) I replaced. Also the spin with these is much more than the SS. Bunker shots land and stop or rollout very little now compared to the C31. Bump and runs I just use anything from a PW-7I depending on the situation. For those that choose to use the SS type clubs, I agree with Iacas, in that, you will hit a plateau. Where with traditional wedges the sky is the limit, so to speak.

[tehuti]

My 50* Gap wedge is my "chipper". 

[ChetlovesMer]

52 minutes ago, TRUCKER said:

I stand corrected on this topic. A couple months ago we had my son fitted for new wedges, so I ended up trying out the ones we replaced. A Vokey 58* and Cleveland 50* wedges. I was amazed how good the feel is. I, (just like you said), ended up with only 13 clubs. I replaced (2) square strikes, and a C31 wedge. The (2) clubs I use now have so many more options than the (3) I replaced. Also the spin with these is much more than the SS. Bunker shots land and stop or rollout very little now compared to the C31. Bump and runs I just use anything from a PW-7I depending on the situation. For those that choose to use the SS type clubs, I agree with Iacas, in that, you will hit a plateau. Where with traditional wedges the sky is the limit, so to speak.

I agree with you. I've also been known to occasionally choke way down on my hybrid and use it as a "chipper". 

[Billy Z]

I guess if a chipper is the best club for the situation you would see the pros using them, but they don't. A chipper is sort of a crutch for golfers who lack the skillset of using a more appropriate club for chipping. I bought a chipper about 8 years ago and never could really adjust to it in terms of direction and especially distance. I thought why remove a club from my bag with a chipper that doesn't work for me, when I should be improving my game with the proper skill of chipping? Phil Mickelson has a great video on the short game with chipping technique involved. So I honed my skills based on his instruction and I have never chipped, pitched, lobbed better. Also, sand shots are a snap for me, with the proper sw and technique, to me, it is one of the easier shots in golf. I carry a 4,5,6, &7 hybrid, because I don't have the strength to hit the lower irons, and I am ok with that, but you don't see the pros carrying these types of hybrids, it's the same principle. If I had the strength I would definitely go the iron route, but lack the strength in my medicare years. Chipping doesn't involve strength, but proper technique and practice, and would never take a club out of the bag to put a chipper in it's place when I can perform chipping with a little instruction and practice.

[ChetlovesMer]

Oh my Goodness!
Here's a brand new one. 

golfknack.com

My favorite part is the quote where the guy says: "I've been in the business for over 30 years, with Ping and other big companies and I've never seen a club like this..." Ah... excuse me... its a chipper. 

 

[Guy In Lyon]

On 12/30/2020 at 9:52 PM, Billy Z said:

I guess if a chipper is the best club for the situation you would see the pros using them, but they don't. A chipper is sort of a crutch for golfers who lack the skillset of using a more appropriate club for chipping.

Much like the hybrid club, given your logic, as you don't see a lot of pros using them.

Pretty much the same with any game improvement irons.

And if someone insists on using a chipper for chipping them lets deride anyone using a putter for putting.

Be a man! Use yer darn cleek for that putt!

[Morgan Mullins]

On 12/30/2020 at 12:52 PM, Billy Z said:

I guess if a chipper is the best club for the situation you would see the pros using them, but they don't. A chipper is sort of a crutch for golfers who lack the skillset of using a more appropriate club for chipping. I bought a chipper about 8 years ago and never could really adjust to it in terms of direction and especially distance. I thought why remove a club from my bag with a chipper that doesn't work for me, 

I’m not sure that the pros would be a good model here; situations that would would cause us to choose a chipper might not occur as much for the pros. Their distances are so dialed in that each of the 14 available club slots needs careful evaluation and a chipper probably wouldn’t be selected. For those of us less skilled.... I don’t take a club out to carry a chipper; even with it I only carry 10 clubs. It’s a choice, one that I practice with and I’m comfortable pulling out of my bag. I find specialty clubs useful, especially around the green.

[boogielicious]

A chipper is also a uni-tasker. I like my wedges to be able to do multiple things.

[onthehunt526]

On 2/23/2019 at 7:21 AM, billchao said:

I didn't realize choppers help you get more GIRs.

I've yet to meet anyone at me skill level who is being held back because they don't carry a chipper 🙂

It’s for all those par-5s they can reach in two, and par-fours that they’re next to the green. With a chipper they could add two to three GIR a round.

I’ve never had one in the bag or used one, but thought about it. Maybe in my left-handed bag, or maybe re-do my wedge set up and throw one in, well it might help me hit a couple more GIRs. 

[Billy Z]

I'm not sure chippers should even be legal, it they happen to be, they shouldn't be! I've never seen a golfer with a 10 cap or better use a chipper, in fact, a golfer with a chipper in the bag = high hc golfer. This coming from a guy with 4 hybrids in the bag.

Edited January 1, 2021 by Billy Z

[Guy In Lyon]

14 hours ago, boogielicious said:

A chipper is also a uni-tasker.

So's your putter, and your driver.

[ChetlovesMer]

1 hour ago, Guy In Lyon said:

So's your putter, and your driver.

Your point is well taken. I see what you are saying and I'm a guy who has made room in his bag for a mini-driver on occasion. If you want to talk about a uni-tasker the mini-driver is the ultimate one-trick-pony. 

Having said that I still think its crazy to carry a chipper. For the simple reason that chipping with other clubs in your bag just isn't that difficult. I'm probably the least coordinated golfer on this forum and I can chip just fine with a half dozen different clubs in my bag. 

Now, maybe that's just me. If for some reason you have the "chip-yips" and you simply cannot chip any other way, then absolutely get a chipper.

The other two reasons to carry a chipper are first, if you have room in your bag. Maybe you are a less than 14 club person, in that case there's really no downside to carrying a chipper. Lastly maybe you are like my dad and carry like 20 clubs or more. Then what the hell? throw a chipper in your bag. Why not? 

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, Guy In Lyon said:

So's your putter, and your driver.

I don’t want a bag full of uni-talkers and driver and putter are used the most of all the clubs. Besides, I can hit punch shots with my driver. I can use the backside of my putter to hit lefty out of trouble shots. Maybe I could do that with a chipper, but the ones I have seen don’t seem to have that profile. 

If you like chippers, great. I’m just not a fan.

[Billy Z]

https://amzn.to/3pKEDmL

I purchase this particular chipper about 15 years ago but it just didn't work out.  It felt too heavy and I could never get the distance right. I could chip much better with one of my irons that was already in the bag, hands down. With some instruction and practice, chipping is not that difficult.

[onthehunt526]

Why don’t guys take a lofted hybrid or 7-iron grip down a couple inches, use your putting stroke and grip for when you’re going to use a chipper and call it good. It’s the same damn thing. There you go you all have a chipper in your bags. With the iron you might wanna lift the heel off the ground, to make the club more upright. But it’s pretty simple.

[Billy Z]

17 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

Why don’t guys take a lofted hybrid or 7-iron grip down a couple inches, use your putting stroke and grip for when you’re going to use a chipper and call it good. It’s the same damn thing. There you go you all have a chipper in your bags. With the iron you might wanna lift the heel off the ground, to make the club more upright. But it’s pretty simple.

Probably because a chipper for some sounds easier, and may be? I never could get the feel for a chipper, and do better with various irons in the bag. 

[Guy In Lyon]

On 1/1/2021 at 4:34 PM, boogielicious said:

I can use the backside of my putter to hit lefty out of trouble shots.

That's be tough to do with my Ping Craz-E... 🙃