Odyssey X-ACT Tank Chipper

[J_Tizzle]

I wish it had a bit more loft so it could be a wedgeish replacement. I don't have a need for one, but my dad could really see a benefit of something like it. He uses an old "Sand Slider" wedge thats kinda the same thing I think, really up right and thick soled that you can't take a full swing with and hit 50 yards and he can be deadly with it.

 

My pops suffers from the same things others are talking about, he knows to hit down on chip shots with wedges, but something just clicks wrong sometimes and he flips at it or stabs it into the ground and flubs shots all day with wedges. Just why I wish this was more like in the 50* area so he could use it as more a full utility club from inside 50 yards rather than a strict chipper, because he'll just putt where he might use a 37* club.

[dekez]

I have a 37 degree X-Act chipper (no Tank). You can laugh, but it helped me develop much more confidence and a much better chipping stroke such that I don't use it much anymore. It's pretty versatile.

[baudi]

If the rules would allow 15 clubs to play I would bag a chipper every single round. The versatility and accuracy is enormous.

 

Chippers commonly come with the pejorative that are these are meant for players who are new to the game or those who can't chip very well.

That is downward stupid and short reasoning. Probably based on inaccurate heuristics or lack of knowledge at all.

 

I practice the short game a lot with both classic wedges as well as with a chipper. Over the years I collected 5 models. They're all pretty different in usage.

The one i like most is the Hindsight and comes from Dynacraft.

 

So the chipper is for fun. But in the course it proves its natural accuracy for low running shots. Much better than any sort of chipputt with any club.

It is dead accurate. However, it is not 'simple' to play. It really takes time to understand its qualities and limitations to deal with it well.

 

 

So, because it is a "chipper", it can hit better chip shots than my 9 iron, more accurate?

 

Silly!

 

And now, I have to "learn" the club and it's characteristics, and shortcomings?

 

I think I will stick with "normal" golf clubs

 

If your 9 iron works like Seve's magic 3 iron: nothing will beat that combination.

Sticking to normal makes perfect sense.

 

However, I do believe the physics of the chipper have certain characteristics that will outperform any other club for a certain type of shot.

Like you say in post #8 (and as some others do). It is very helpful to learn to understand the check and run of low shots.

I set up the contest with myself many times around the green: I can chip/pitch/chipputt pretty close but the chipper always wins in consistency.

 

Will it gain strokes in the field for better players? Hardly if none at all.

Although a specific situation comes at mind.

Remember Phils putt from the Rough on 18 at the Fedex St Judes? It smothered in the rough and stopped on the fringe.

He finished with a great putt from about 15ft. But with his skills I and a chipper (like the X-ACT) I imagine he could have holed it in one shot.

[mothman65]

If you have had or have the chipping yips you will try ANYTHING to improve around the green include Ng any type of voodoo magic.

 

Don't tell me to choke down on a 9 Iron or hit a hybrid or that chipping is easy. I know it is and on the practice green I can hit any kind of short game shot but put me in a real game and....... kabang a fuse goes off in my head and the stabbing, chunking, blading begins. I can putt well though so I reckon this club could be a lifesaver. At least for a while until my brain can rewire itself and I can approach theses simple short game shots with something other than terror and irrational thoughts.

 

It could easily save half a dozen strokes or more a round for some of us - easy enough to make room in the bag, just get rid of the 60deg that probably does more harm than good and reassess the gaps at the short end.

[That Bob Guy]

You can actually put a good swing on it from about 50-60 yards.

 

I can just see it now... Someone trying to full swing a superstroke gripped lofted putter.

 

I've seen players put a superstroke putting grip on a 7 or 8 iron just to dedicate it to a chipper.

Can you do that under the rules?

[Wall-E]

You can actually put a good swing on it from about 50-60 yards.

 

I can just see it now... Someone trying to full swing a superstroke gripped lofted putter.

 

I've seen players put a superstroke putting grip on a 7 or 8 iron just to dedicate it to a chipper.

Can you do that under the rules?

 

No idea. It is round grip but I would rather have a good time with randoms rather than bickering about whether it's legal cause that would make for a long, long day.

[Wall-E]

If you have had or have the chipping yips you will try ANYTHING to improve around the green include Ng any type of voodoo magic.

 

Don't tell me to choke down on a 9 Iron or hit a hybrid or that chipping is easy. I know it is and on the practice green I can hit any kind of short game shot but put me in a real game and....... kabang a fuse goes off in my head and the stabbing, chunking, blading begins. I can putt well though so I reckon this club could be a lifesaver. At least for a while until my brain can rewire itself and I can approach theses simple short game shots with something other than terror and irrational thoughts.

 

It could easily save half a dozen strokes or more a round for some of us - easy enough to make room in the bag, just get rid of the 60deg that probably does more harm than good and reassess the gaps at the short end.

 

Well said and I agree 100% especially your second paragraph.

[That Bob Guy]

You can actually put a good swing on it from about 50-60 yards.

 

I can just see it now... Someone trying to full swing a superstroke gripped lofted putter.

 

I've seen players put a superstroke putting grip on a 7 or 8 iron just to dedicate it to a chipper.

Can you do that under the rules?

 

No idea. It is round grip but I would rather have a good time with randoms rather than bickering about whether it's legal cause that would make for a long, long day.

 

If it is round, there shouldn't be a problem. For some reason, I thought it had a flat top.

[erock9174]

I wish it had a bit more loft so it could be a wedgeish replacement. I don't have a need for one, but my dad could really see a benefit of something like it. He uses an old "Sand Slider" wedge thats kinda the same thing I think, really up right and thick soled that you can't take a full swing with and hit 50 yards and he can be deadly with it.

 

My pops suffers from the same things others are talking about, he knows to hit down on chip shots with wedges, but something just clicks wrong sometimes and he flips at it or stabs it into the ground and flubs shots all day with wedges. Just why I wish this was more like in the 50* area so he could use it as more a full utility club from inside 50 yards rather than a strict chipper, because he'll just putt where he might use a 37* club.

 

Get him a Cleveland Niblick 49*. Problem solved. Very good full and partial shot Gap Wedge too. I got one in my basement I gamed for a few months. Only reason I took it out of the back was because my set DW gaps better on full shots.

[JohnKHawk]

I will most likely give this club a try. I like the way it looks & there is no shame in gaming a chipper. I use a Cleveland smart sole chipper currently. I may only use it a few times a round but it comes in handy when I miss the green & have lots of green to chip into. You just have to know when & when not to use it. I get tempted to use more than I should just because of past successes with it.

[Stillboard]

You can actually put a good swing on it from about 50-60 yards.

 

I can just see it now... Someone trying to full swing a superstroke gripped lofted putter.

 

I've seen players put a superstroke putting grip on a 7 or 8 iron just to dedicate it to a chipper.

Can you do that under the rules?

 

 

Superstroke putting grips aren't round, they have a flat spot. If you're a stickler for the rules look at the Jumbomax grips like Bryson uses or something similar. If you're not playing tournament golf and just having fun throw on a Superstroke and don't worry about it.

[BlackM00Nlight]

You can actually put a good swing on it from about 50-60 yards.

 

I can just see it now... Someone trying to full swing a superstroke gripped lofted putter.

 

I've seen players put a superstroke putting grip on a 7 or 8 iron just to dedicate it to a chipper.

Can you do that under the rules?

 

 

Superstroke putting grips aren't round, they have a flat spot. If you're a stickler for the rules look at the Jumbomax grips like Bryson uses or something similar. If you're not playing tournament golf and just having fun throw on a Superstroke and don't worry about it.

 

No.. I had a fatso 5.0 and it was round

[hef63303]

I had heard these are illegal on tour. Any truth to that?

 

The double sided chippers are illegal under USGA rules. I'm pretty sure the Superstroke grip may be also. Aside from those two a chipper is legal.

 

 

well there goes q school!

 

Superstroke is fine if it's a round grip. Only flat-sided grips on chippers are illegal.

You have to love a knowledgeable post.

[Warrick]

If the rules would allow 15 clubs to play I would bag a chipper every single round. The versatility and accuracy is enormous.

 

Chippers commonly come with the pejorative that are these are meant for players who are new to the game or those who can't chip very well.

That is downward stupid and short reasoning. Probably based on inaccurate heuristics or lack of knowledge at all.

 

I practice the short game a lot with both classic wedges as well as with a chipper. Over the years I collected 5 models. They're all pretty different in usage.

The one i like most is the Hindsight and comes from Dynacraft.

 

So the chipper is for fun. But in the course it proves its natural accuracy for low running shots. Much better than any sort of chipputt with any club.

It is dead accurate. However, it is not 'simple' to play. It really takes time to understand its qualities and limitations to deal with it well.

 

 

So, because it is a "chipper", it can hit better chip shots than my 9 iron, more accurate?

 

Silly!

 

And now, I have to "learn" the club and it's characteristics, and shortcomings?

 

I think I will stick with "normal" golf clubs

 

If your 9 iron works like Seve's magic 3 iron: nothing will beat that combination.

Sticking to normal makes perfect sense.

 

However, I do believe the physics of the chipper have certain characteristics that will outperform any other club for a certain type of shot.

Like you say in post #8 (and as some others do). It is very helpful to learn to understand the check and run of low shots.

I set up the contest with myself many times around the green: I can chip/pitch/chipputt pretty close but the chipper always wins in consistency.

 

Will it gain strokes in the field for better players? Hardly if none at all.

Although a specific situation comes at mind.

Remember Phils putt from the Rough on 18 at the Fedex St Judes? It smothered in the rough and stopped on the fringe.

He finished with a great putt from about 15ft. But with his skills I and a chipper (like the X-ACT) I imagine he could have holed it in one shot.

 

I started playing golf because of Seve, no dreams big enough to imagine that short game. My biggest issue is it taking up a spot in the bag. I chip with everything from my 7iron to my 54, to my 3 Hybrid, so to take a spot in the bag for a specified chipper that would not be used for "every" chip just makes no sense for my game.

[Stillboard]

 

I can just see it now... Someone trying to full swing a superstroke gripped lofted putter.

 

I've seen players put a superstroke putting grip on a 7 or 8 iron just to dedicate it to a chipper.

Can you do that under the rules?

 

 

Superstroke putting grips aren't round, they have a flat spot. If you're a stickler for the rules look at the Jumbomax grips like Bryson uses or something similar. If you're not playing tournament golf and just having fun throw on a Superstroke and don't worry about it.

 

No.. I had a fatso 5.0 and it was round

 

Mostly round***

 

The Ultra, Mid-Slim, Mid, and Fatso are all mostly round. The flat side isn't as pronounced as it is on the Flatso grips but there's a small flat spot for your thumbs to rest.

[6thFairway]

 

 

Mostly round***

 

The Ultra, Mid-Slim, Mid, and Fatso are all mostly round. The flat side isn't as pronounced as it is on the Flatso grips but there's a small flat spot for your thumbs to rest.

 

Unfortunately, there's no category for mostly legal but only a little bit illegal.

Chipper grips have to be round.

[GolfiNut]

In this thread lots of people get to brag about being good at chipping

 

Meanwhile there are some of us who aren't

Chipping is tough. I have a buddy who played the Niblicks for a long time. No shame in a chipper.

 

Here's a tip though, use your putter grip and stroke on most chips and just let the loft of the club do the work, it will take your dominant hand out of the stroke and chipping will be much easier. If I'm feeling yippy I will even do it with my lob wedge. It comes out dead and trickles to the hole.

 

I'm 47 years old - there isn't anything I haven't tried

 

The truth is I can putt from 20 yards away as well as most can chip it - not sure why but it's true. My issue is the right hand just fires at impact on chips and a number of things (none of them good) can happen. It's 100% brain wiring as some wrx members who are my regular foursome can attest.

 

There isn't going to be a fix to my issue (short of brain trauma of some sort) - mitigating it by putting or perhaps even something like this is my best bet

 

I've never read a post that so closely reflects what happens when my chipping goes from time to time. Im close to your age (50) and I feel the same thing (right hand just fires at impact). Just yesterday I could not get anything close to the hole due to this causing way too much "hit" in my short-game. The minute I adjust and let up...The ball travels 1/2 the distance to the hole. Its is so frustrating that at times I feel embarrassed and just want the round to end so I can wake up to a new day and maybe some touch within 20' of the hole. The thing is, I still play to a solid 12 HC. If my short game were better and I hit chips closer I have no doubt I would be a easy 8 or even lower. This all leads to my point...Why would I be shy about placing any legal club in my bag if it would help my game? Speaking of legal, Do any of you really think Callaway would mass manufacture and market a knowingly illegal club of any kind? If so why would they worry about driver faces being too hot,shafts being too long or any other rule in golf equipment when it comes to their clubs? Odyssey & Callaway have a reputation to uphold and making non conforming clubs is never a feather in the cap for major club producers. I have one of these on the way and like another post said short of Voodoo I will try anything to take pressure off these shots. Removing the 60 deg wedge was a very easy decision because that thing just looks like a nightmare waiting to happen as I stare down on it, I have not pulled it to use on the course in a month.

 

To all the others who posted here and are not "naturals" on the fringe ...I wish you the best. Its actually refreshing to see Im not alone out there by a long shot. It just often feels that way...

 

Peace

[ccorrada]

In this thread lots of people get to brag about being good at chipping

 

Meanwhile there are some of us who aren't

Chipping is tough. I have a buddy who played the Niblicks for a long time. No shame in a chipper.

 

Here's a tip though, use your putter grip and stroke on most chips and just let the loft of the club do the work, it will take your dominant hand out of the stroke and chipping will be much easier. If I'm feeling yippy I will even do it with my lob wedge. It comes out dead and trickles to the hole.

 

I'm 47 years old - there isn't anything I haven't tried

 

The truth is I can putt from 20 yards away as well as most can chip it - not sure why but it's true. My issue is the right hand just fires at impact on chips and a number of things (none of them good) can happen. It's 100% brain wiring as some wrx members who are my regular foursome can attest.

 

There isn't going to be a fix to my issue (short of brain trauma of some sort) - mitigating it by putting or perhaps even something like this is my best bet

 

I've never read a post that so closely reflects what happens when my chipping goes from time to time. Im close to your age (50) and I feel the same thing (right hand just fires at impact). Just yesterday I could not get anything close to the hole due to this causing way too much "hit" in my short-game. The minute I adjust and let up...The ball travels 1/2 the distance to the hole. Its is so frustrating that at times I feel embarrassed and just want the round to end so I can wake up to a new day and maybe some touch within 20' of the hole. The thing is, I still play to a solid 12 HC. If my short game were better and I hit chips closer I have no doubt I would be a easy 8 or even lower. This all leads to my point...Why would I be shy about placing any legal club in my bag if it would help my game? Speaking of legal, Do any of you really think Callaway would mass manufacture and market a knowingly illegal club of any kind? If so why would they worry about driver faces being too hot,shafts being too long or any other rule in golf equipment when it comes to their clubs? Odyssey & Callaway have a reputation to uphold and making non conforming clubs is never a feather in the cap for major club producers. I have one of these on the way and like another post said short of Voodoo I will try anything to take pressure off these shots. Removing the 60 deg wedge was a very easy decision because that thing just looks like a nightmare waiting to happen as I stare down on it, I have not pulled it to use on the course in a month.

 

To all the others who posted here and are not "naturals" on the fringe ...I wish you the best. Its actually refreshing to see Im not alone out there by a long shot. It just often feels that way...

 

Peace

Good luck with it! I think this thing looks great.

[King_Slender]

Don't knock chippers. A couple of our members are lethal with them around the green. Both senior citizens and comfortably breaking 80 gross. If it works use it :taunt:

 

Yeah, I have a buddy that would benefit greatly from it (he will putt anything within 10 feet of the green, even out of rough) but he's too proud.

[That Bob Guy]

In this thread lots of people get to brag about being good at chipping

 

Meanwhile there are some of us who aren't

Chipping is tough. I have a buddy who played the Niblicks for a long time. No shame in a chipper.

 

Here's a tip though, use your putter grip and stroke on most chips and just let the loft of the club do the work, it will take your dominant hand out of the stroke and chipping will be much easier. If I'm feeling yippy I will even do it with my lob wedge. It comes out dead and trickles to the hole.

 

I'm 47 years old - there isn't anything I haven't tried

 

The truth is I can putt from 20 yards away as well as most can chip it - not sure why but it's true. My issue is the right hand just fires at impact on chips and a number of things (none of them good) can happen. It's 100% brain wiring as some wrx members who are my regular foursome can attest.

 

There isn't going to be a fix to my issue (short of brain trauma of some sort) - mitigating it by putting or perhaps even something like this is my best bet

 

I've never read a post that so closely reflects what happens when my chipping goes from time to time. Im close to your age (50) and I feel the same thing (right hand just fires at impact). Just yesterday I could not get anything close to the hole due to this causing way too much "hit" in my short-game. The minute I adjust and let up...The ball travels 1/2 the distance to the hole. Its is so frustrating that at times I feel embarrassed and just want the round to end so I can wake up to a new day and maybe some touch within 20' of the hole. The thing is, I still play to a solid 12 HC. If my short game were better and I hit chips closer I have no doubt I would be a easy 8 or even lower. This all leads to my point...Why would I be shy about placing any legal club in my bag if it would help my game? Speaking of legal, Do any of you really think Callaway would mass manufacture and market a knowingly illegal club of any kind? If so why would they worry about driver faces being too hot,shafts being too long or any other rule in golf equipment when it comes to their clubs? Odyssey & Callaway have a reputation to uphold and making non conforming clubs is never a feather in the cap for major club producers. I have one of these on the way and like another post said short of Voodoo I will try anything to take pressure off these shots. Removing the 60 deg wedge was a very easy decision because that thing just looks like a nightmare waiting to happen as I stare down on it, I have not pulled it to use on the course in a month.

 

To all the others who posted here and are not "naturals" on the fringe ...I wish you the best. Its actually refreshing to see Im not alone out there by a long shot. It just often feels that way...

 

Peace

Callaway, in fact. did bring to market around 20 years ago, a non-conforming driver. If I remember correctly, it was the ERC. And again, I think it was a contributing factor in getting Peter Kessler fired from the Golf Channel.

[Scooterboy59]

Was at a club the other day and the pro had brought in 5. He said he would have no problem selling them.

[GolfiNut]

In this thread lots of people get to brag about being good at chipping

 

Meanwhile there are some of us who aren't

Chipping is tough. I have a buddy who played the Niblicks for a long time. No shame in a chipper.

 

Here's a tip though, use your putter grip and stroke on most chips and just let the loft of the club do the work, it will take your dominant hand out of the stroke and chipping will be much easier. If I'm feeling yippy I will even do it with my lob wedge. It comes out dead and trickles to the hole.

 

I'm 47 years old - there isn't anything I haven't tried

 

The truth is I can putt from 20 yards away as well as most can chip it - not sure why but it's true. My issue is the right hand just fires at impact on chips and a number of things (none of them good) can happen. It's 100% brain wiring as some wrx members who are my regular foursome can attest.

 

There isn't going to be a fix to my issue (short of brain trauma of some sort) - mitigating it by putting or perhaps even something like this is my best bet

 

I've never read a post that so closely reflects what happens when my chipping goes from time to time. Im close to your age (50) and I feel the same thing (right hand just fires at impact). Just yesterday I could not get anything close to the hole due to this causing way too much "hit" in my short-game. The minute I adjust and let up...The ball travels 1/2 the distance to the hole. Its is so frustrating that at times I feel embarrassed and just want the round to end so I can wake up to a new day and maybe some touch within 20' of the hole. The thing is, I still play to a solid 12 HC. If my short game were better and I hit chips closer I have no doubt I would be a easy 8 or even lower. This all leads to my point...Why would I be shy about placing any legal club in my bag if it would help my game? Speaking of legal, Do any of you really think Callaway would mass manufacture and market a knowingly illegal club of any kind? If so why would they worry about driver faces being too hot,shafts being too long or any other rule in golf equipment when it comes to their clubs? Odyssey & Callaway have a reputation to uphold and making non conforming clubs is never a feather in the cap for major club producers. I have one of these on the way and like another post said short of Voodoo I will try anything to take pressure off these shots. Removing the 60 deg wedge was a very easy decision because that thing just looks like a nightmare waiting to happen as I stare down on it, I have not pulled it to use on the course in a month.

 

To all the others who posted here and are not "naturals" on the fringe ...I wish you the best. Its actually refreshing to see Im not alone out there by a long shot. It just often feels that way...

 

Peace

Callaway, in fact. did bring to market around 20 years ago, a non-conforming driver. If I remember correctly, it was the ERC. And again, I think it was a contributing factor in getting Peter Kessler fired from the Golf Channel.

 

Maybe so...but knowingly? And even if so 20 years ago they would have surely learned their lesson. I see nothing that indicates this club is illegal to use under any circumstances. There is no * by them on the Callaway website that says its illegal. Sure...Tour Pros will not game it and why would they? They can chip with anything you put in their hands but a 12-25 Hc who struggles around the fringe might find these useful.

[hef63303]

It conforms in every way.

[sg1]

The articles all say there was going to be a 46 degree and a 37 degree. The web site only was showing the 37. Does anyone know if the higher degree will be offered soon?

[Stillboard]

It conforms in every way.

 

Does anyone know if the grip is round, not just sorta round? For the target audience this tiny slip into nonconformity wouldn't matter.

[spartanglfr]

This thread reminded me of my Niblick in the basement. I played it a couple days ago and it's money around the green! Can also use it from 75 yards in. Ill use it for a while--no shame for me if it helps my game.

[hef63303]

It conforms in every way.

 

Does anyone know if the grip is round, not just sorta round? For the target audience this tiny slip into nonconformity wouldn't matter.

It is round. It is a new grip by SuperStroke made specifically for the chipper. It is round, longer than a normal grip and has no taper.

 

The articles all say there was going to be a 46 degree and a 37 degree. The web site only was showing the 37. Does anyone know if the higher degree will be offered soon?

Available only in the 37.

[GolfiNut]

This thread reminded me of my Niblick in the basement. I played it a couple days ago and it's money around the green! Can also use it from 75 yards in. Ill use it for a while--no shame for me if it helps my game.

 

Speaking of shame...No doubt back in the day when the sand wedge was first introduced there were those who snubbed it,criticized it and even claimed it was "illegal" but guess what? Over time it became a staple of the bag mostly due to its greater effectiveness than anything else available. Those metal drivers? Same thing...traditionalist cringed then brought one when they got out-drove consistently. Will these chippers eventually become as popular and be widely used by the majority? If the technology is there and they help make the game easier for more golfers I can see it BUT they must be effective and work. The chippers of the past were not up to the standard necessary for them to catch on mainstream.

[6thFairway]

It conforms in every way.

 

Does anyone know if the grip is round, not just sorta round? For the target audience this tiny slip into nonconformity wouldn't matter.

 

The grip is round. The chipper is legal. I have held it in the store. The whole back and forth about whether this club is legal or not is ridiculous. Can we stop or do we need a few more pages of people asking whether it's really legal?

[ccorrada]

It conforms in every way.

 

Does anyone know if the grip is round, not just sorta round? For the target audience this tiny slip into nonconformity wouldn't matter.

 

The grip is round. The chipper is legal. I have held it in the store. The whole back and forth about whether this club is legal or not is ridiculous. Can we stop or do we need a few more pages of people asking whether it's really legal?

I just heard the earth is flat so who knows what this grip is.