Use a chipper club or not?

When I first learned the game, 30 years ago, I bought a chipper club. I stopped using it after a year as my friends considered it cheating. Tonight, on school of golf Martin suggested using the club. Since, that is the weakest part of my game, I am tempted to re-visit this. So, what do you think? Is it cheating or no different than using a large headed driver or urethane balls that spin? How do younger people feel about this? Cheers Tanner

Edit: Was he using this club? I caught the end of the segment.

http://pluggedingolf.com/cleveland-smart-sole-2-0-wedge-review/

I used a Cleveland Niblick (older version of the club in your link) when I first started and don't consider it to be cheating as they are legal to play. However, as I got better I found the club to one dimensional and learned to chip with numbered irons and wedges depending on the lie. I'll even chip with a hybrid if I'm on a tight lie and have some room for the ball to run.

I really like my Cleveland C-wedge. If I'm on a course that has really tight lies around a green, it's definitely going in the bag and the 3 wood is coming out. I've never had anyone say anything about it being cheating or a short cut.

I've experimented with some other shots with it too. The only other use for it on the course that I have found is choked down punch from about 75 yards where you cannot get ball up and over a tree but some loft and spin to hold the green.

One of my buddies is a very good golfer. Hits the ball miles, good overall game, but he cannot chip. He used a chipper for ages. He was taking lessons from the club pro. Every time he showed up to play, the pro would sneak up and take the club out of his bag! Don't think he uses it anymore.

My wife has a chipper, but doesn't use it anymore. Some days when my short game sucks, I am tempted to put it and her old Lovett wedge in the bag for a few rounds.

The wide sole is obviously meant to eliminate 'fat' shots ... so if you are constantly fatting it, the wide sole may be a good option for you. It's quite legal.

The wide sole is obviously meant to eliminate 'fat' shots ... so if you are constantly fatting it, the wide sole may be a good option for you. It's quite legal.

thx guys! Yes, morgan1819, fatting/chunking is the problem. Mainly, when I am 10-20 yards off the green is where I need it most. If I can take a 3/4 or full swing with a wedge, I don't have a problem. The Cleveland Wedge is $109.00. It must be a decent club.

I am looking on line and do not see any of the Cleveland Chippers being sold used. Must be lots of closest users holding onto these clubs, lol

I would use it as a bandaid while practicing your wedges. When you get a wedge down, they are quite beneficial. If I have an off day with my wedges, I'll bump a 7i to P depending on the approach, green condition, and run out. I would try bumping a 8i or PW before committing to another club in the bag.

I'm 20 so relatively young but I don't see anything wrong with this. My dad used to use one for awhile and he's thinking of going back. He has a Smart Sole sand wedge that he loves. If it helps then who cares? I'd take a 460cc driver head over an old 100 something cc head. Bottom line is, if it helps your game and helps you enjoy playing then by all means, do it.

My only problem with a chipper is they are pretty much single purpose clubs. Try taking an 8 iron, lifting the heel off the turf a little and chip with that. You might be surprised how easy it actually is!

The wide sole is obviously meant to eliminate 'fat' shots ... so if you are constantly fatting it, the wide sole may be a good option for you. It's quite legal.

 

thx guys! Yes, morgan1819, fatting/chunking is the problem. Mainly, when I am 10-20 yards off the green is where I need it most. If I can take a 3/4 or full swing with a wedge, I don't have a problem. The Cleveland Wedge is $109.00. It must be a decent club.

 

I am looking on line and do not see any of the Cleveland Chippers being sold used. Must be lots of closest users holding onto these clubs, lol

I haven't had much success trying to fly mine more than 10 yards. Ball comes in pretty hot if you get that much carry.

Sweet spot for me is 1 to 5 yards of carry distance, but that might depend on how you set up and strike the ball.

Second Swing had a few user ones the last time I looked. i have seen a women's model too. Seemed like something you could change the shaft on and be fine to use, and might be even cheaper than the men's version.

Not sure if serious, but it is not cheating. And maybe try using a hybrid, or try a 7 iron with a toe down putting stroke (Steve Stricker style) for chipping.

It is nice to have a go-to club for chip shots, but it's better if your go-to chipping club can do other things.

I bought a chipper on a lark about 9 years ago. I only used it a few

times from the fringe. It didn't last long cause I didn't want to take up

valuable space in the bag with it.

The one I had essentially looked like a high lofted putter.

It's not illegal if it has a round grip on it and one striking face. It does take up a valuable spot in the bag, though.

I found this old BeCu chipper on eBay for cheap that sits in the corner in my office. I replaced the old putter grip with a regular one and now it's street legal. Every once in a while I take it out to the course to give it some fresh air. It works pretty well, but I can use my 9i and get the same results.

It's not cheating... limiting, but not cheating.

It's a crutch. It's a substitute for something goofy happening with technique. It's built to MAKE THE GAME FUN!

What ever you need to use (within the rules) to make the game fun and for you to continue playing this stupid game, use it.

But, from a tactical standpoint, hand position work can do wonders.

THIS is what I think when I hear 'chipper'.

That chipper is spelt almost the same as chopper is no coincidence.

THIS is what I think when I hear 'chipper'.

 

 

Yeah. This one is considered illegal. Two-sided.

But to the OP: Try chipping with all your clubs in different ways. I use a 5 iron. A chipper is typically a 7i or 8i in loft. Some use a hybrid.

The USGA on chippers:

4-1/3

Status of a Chipper

Q.What Rules apply to "chippers"?

A.A "chipper" is an iron club designed primarily for use off the putting green, generally with a loft greater than ten degrees. As most players adopt a "putting stroke" when using a chipper, there can be a tendency to design the club as if it was a putter. To eliminate confusion, the Rules which apply to "chippers" include:

• The shaft must be attached to the clubhead at the heel (Appendix II, 2c);
  
• The grip must be circular in cross-section (Appendix II, 3(i)) and only one grip is permitted (Appendix II, 3(v));
  
• The clubhead must be generally plain in shape (Appendix II, 4a) and have only one striking face (Appendix II, 4d); and
  
• The face of the club must conform to specifications with regard to hardness, surface roughness, material and markings in the impact area (Appendix II, 5).
  

I thought it was mandatory to tee off from the seniors tee before you can bag a chipper.

A wedge is a pretty versatile club...whereas the chipper is kind of a one trick pony. you'd probably see better dividends if you learned how to get better contact with a wedge through lessons, practice, guidance etc.

The USGA on chippers:

 

 

4-1/3

 

 

Status of a Chipper

 

 

Q.What Rules apply to "chippers"?

 

A.A "chipper" is an iron club designed primarily for use off the putting green, generally with a loft greater than ten degrees. As most players adopt a "putting stroke" when using a chipper, there can be a tendency to design the club as if it was a putter. To eliminate confusion, the Rules which apply to "chippers" include:

• The shaft must be attached to the clubhead at the heel (Appendix II, 2c);
  
• The grip must be circular in cross-section (Appendix II, 3(i)) and only one grip is permitted (Appendix II, 3(v));
  
• The clubhead must be generally plain in shape (Appendix II, 4a) and have only one striking face (Appendix II, 4d); and
  
• The face of the club must conform to specifications with regard to hardness, surface roughness, material and markings in the impact area (Appendix II, 5).
  

Cool,basically it is legal aside from the "have only one striking face" rule. Not sure why you would need two faces. Great responses! Appreciate it. Will try the hand positions

and a toed 8 iron before I take the $100 plunge. thx Tanner

Edit: I qualify as I am on the senior tees, lol

The wide sole is obviously meant to eliminate 'fat' shots ... so if you are constantly fatting it, the wide sole may be a good option for you. It's quite legal.

 

thx guys! Yes, morgan1819, fatting/chunking is the problem. Mainly, when I am 10-20 yards off the green is where I need it most. If I can take a 3/4 or full swing with a wedge, I don't have a problem. The Cleveland Wedge is $109.00. It must be a decent club.

 

I am looking on line and do not see any of the Cleveland Chippers being sold used. Must be lots of closest users holding onto these clubs, lol

As a younger player (26) I fully endorse the chipper. I used a Cleveland C for quite some time before I finally broke down and really worked on my wedge game. Its simple and does its job, and if you have room in the bag (or simply dont care about a club limit), go for it.

I may still have mine... cant remember if I sold it or not. But if I do Ill pm and see if we can cut a deal

Saw a video on golf Chanel a while back with tom Watson using this technique. He used a putting stroke and picked a loft that gives just enough lift to clear the fringe

If a chipping club lowers your scores than you should use one.

1) Pull out hybrid...

2) Grip down on hybrid...

3) Use putting stroke on gripped down hybrid...

Basically the same thing as a "chipper" and you save yourself a club if you are playing tournaments and have to observe the 14 club limit.

It is a legal club, if it helps your game then put in the bag and play on.

It's definitely not cheating. If you have troubles chipping with a wedge and you can afford to eat up a slot in your bag with a club that isn't particularly versatile, by all means, keep the chipper in play.

I bought the X-Act chipper from Odyssey and used it for a while. Within a few yards of the green it worked pretty good, but I had trouble with it on bump and runs from 10 yards out. I decided to take it out of the bag and stick with my trusty 8 iron, which has worked very well. I never thought about using my hybrid but that doesn't seem to have enough loft to use as a chipper. I think the X-Act loft is about the same as an 8 iron. The loft of the X-Act is 37 degrees and my 8 iron is 34.5 degrees. There are some differences in length which favor the X-Act chipper, but choking up on the 8 iron eliminates this advantage.

My weakest area is chipping. I can chip, but not with authority. I tried a chipper once. Essentially a putter with loft. I LIKED IT A LOT. Actually shaved more than a few strokes from my GHIN.

Then the cat calls came in from my playing group. They laid it on pretty thick. So I gave it up. Pride got in the way.

But now ........hymmmmmm???? Maybe time to bring it back. It works really well.

Clearly if you're a very good chipper, you don't need a chipper club. Can you use an 8-iron as a chipper? Or a hybrid? Sure. The reason to do so is that you don't give up on of your 14 clubs to just chipping. For most folks who a chipper will truly benefit, there is a club or two in their bag they just don't use well (maybe a driver, 4-iron, or a LW?). Nothing wrong with using a chipper in place of a club you don't use. I think if the number of clubs was not limited, all players would carry some type of chipper club...

If it's legal and helps you score better, why not use one? Nothing one-dimensional about the 2011 Niblicks! Perhaps hybrid wedges are a more accurate term to use for these Niblicks!

Certainly not just for the short game, these 2011 Niblicks are deadly accurate on full-swing approach shots too.

Available in 42* PW, 49* DW, and 56* SW.