Use a chipper club or not?

[jomatty]

1 hour ago, erock9174 said:

That is one technique I have never gotten used to (using hybrid, fairway wood etc to chip with).  I had the Cleveland Altitude irons and Cobra Trail irons which you'd think both would be great at chipping the ball, with but felt with all of them, I would get some that just rocketed off the face and roll right through the green.  Much much better chipping with wedges for me.  But then again chipping I feel is a strong part of my game.  Probably average a hole out about every 3-4 rounds.   

I could see it not being right for everyone.  I basically only use it off of bad lies.  I’m a decent chipper though.  My wife, who would be more of a candidate for a chipper type club (let’s face it these are generally a high handicap club), has used the hybrid to chip with great success.  It has all but eliminated those really bad ones that skull over the green or lay sod over it and chunk short of the green.  The trick, I have found, is to think of it like a putt and not a chip.  At first I had a tendency to try to use it like a chip and then I found distance control really tough.  I use my putter grip a slightly more upright version of my putting stroke, and have taught my wife to do the same.  I only use it when I have a really bad lie or other specialty situation but she uses it almost every time she doesn’t have to go over a bunker/obstacle or is extremely short sided.  Ymmv

[Donn Rutkoff]

Since chipping is on todays forum on MGS, I thought I'd chip in here too.  I use a very vintage, old, Don Martin Up-n-In chipper.  It is either copper or bronze.  Some people here said they don't carry one because of the 14 club limit.  Given todays numerous well designed long clubs, I bet most golfer can delete something between driver and 5 iron to add a chipper and not miss it at all.