How to Use a Chipper in Golf

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• A golf chipper is a specialized club for shots around the green, blending putter and iron features for a simpler approach to chipping.
• It’s designed for delicate chip shots, offering more loft than a putter but less than a typical wedge, making it easier to get the ball airborne and rolling towards the pin.
• The key to using a chipper effectively is to employ a putting-like stroke with a slightly open stance, focusing on a pendulum motion rather than a traditional swing.

Who This Is For

• Beginner golfers who find traditional chipping techniques intimidating or inconsistent. If you’re tired of topping or chunking shots, a chipper can be a game-changer.
• Intermediate golfers seeking a more reliable and less frustrating option for shots around the green, especially when accuracy and control are paramount. It can help shave strokes off your score with minimal fuss.

What to Check First When Using a Golf Chipper

Before you even step onto the course with your new chipper, a few checks will set you up for success. Don’t just grab it and go; a little prep work goes a long way.

• Loft Matters: Verify the loft of the chipper. Most chippers have lofts similar to a strong pitching wedge or a gap wedge, typically in the 37-40 degree range [2]. This loft is designed to get the ball airborne just enough to clear fringe hazards and start rolling, but not so high that it becomes difficult to control. If you’re used to very high-lofted wedges, you might need to adjust your expectations and stroke slightly.
• Lie Angle Alignment: Check the lie angle of the chipper. This refers to the angle between the shaft and the ground when the sole of the club is flat on the turf. A proper lie angle ensures the club sits correctly for your stance and swing. If it’s too upright or too flat for you, it can lead to inconsistent contact. Most chippers are designed with a lie angle that suits an upright putting stance, but it’s worth checking if it feels natural.
• Grip Condition and Feel: Ensure the club grip is in good condition. A worn or slippery grip will hinder your ability to control the club, regardless of your technique. You want a firm but not overly tight hold. The grip should feel comfortable and allow for a smooth, repeatable stroke.
• Club Weight and Balance: Feel the weight and balance of the chipper. It should feel substantial enough for a controlled stroke but not so heavy that it feels cumbersome. Many chippers are designed with a bit more weight in the head, similar to a putter, to help with stability and a pendulum-like motion. If it feels too light, you might be tempted to add wrist action, which defeats the purpose.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Use a Golf Chipper Effectively

Mastering the golf chipper is all about simplifying your approach. Think of it as a slightly more lofted putter for those tricky shots just off the green. Here’s how to get it done.

1. Select the Right Chipper for Your Game:

• Action: Choose a chipper that feels balanced and suits your physical build.
• What to look for: You want a club that feels like an extension of your hands, not a burden. The weight should feel natural, allowing for a smooth pendulum swing. Many chippers have a slightly heavier head to promote this motion.
• Mistake to avoid: Using a chipper that is significantly too light or too heavy for your preference. A club that’s too light might encourage wrist flicking, while one that’s too heavy can feel awkward and lead to a jerky motion. It’s worth trying a few different models if possible.

2. Grip the Club Like a Putter:

• Action: Hold the chipper with a putting-style grip, keeping your hands relaxed.
• What to look for: A firm but not tense grip is key. Your hands should feel connected to the clubhead, but not so tight that they restrict movement. Many golfers find success with their thumbs pointing straight down the top of the grip. This grip promotes a unified arm and shoulder movement.
• Mistake to avoid: Gripping too tightly. This is a common tendency when trying to “help” the ball up, but it actually hinders the smooth, controlled stroke needed for a chipper. It can lead to tension in your arms and wrists, resulting in a less consistent strike.

3. Set Up Your Stance for Stability:

• Action: Stand with your feet slightly closer together than you would for a full swing, with the ball positioned slightly back of center in your stance.
• What to look for: Your weight should be balanced, perhaps favoring your lead foot slightly (around 55-60%). This setup helps ensure you hit down and through the ball, rather than trying to scoop it. The ball position slightly back encourages a descending blow.
• Mistake to avoid: Standing too wide or too narrow. A stance that’s too wide can restrict hip rotation, while one that’s too narrow can lead to instability. Experiment to find a width that feels secure and balanced. Placing the ball too far forward can cause you to hit the hosel or top the ball, while placing it too far back can lead to digging the leading edge.

4. Address the Ball with Purpose:

• Action: Position the ball slightly back of your stance’s center, typically in line with your lead heel or slightly closer to your trail heel.
• What to look for: A consistent ball position is crucial for repeatable results. Your eyes should be over the ball or slightly inside the ball. This ensures you’re hitting down on the ball, which is essential for the chipper’s loft to do its work.
• Mistake to avoid: Placing the ball too far forward or too far back. As mentioned, this can lead to mis-hits. If the ball is too far forward, you might hit it on the upswing, causing it to fly too high or thin. If it’s too far back, you risk digging the leading edge into the turf.

5. Make a Putting Stroke with Your Shoulders:

• Action: Use a pendulum-like motion with your shoulders, keeping your wrists firm but not locked.
• What to look for: The movement should originate from your shoulders, rocking back and forth like a pendulum on a clock. Your arms should hang naturally from your shoulders, and your lower body should remain relatively still. The goal is a smooth, controlled stroke that moves the clubhead back and through the ball with consistent speed.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to “scoop” or lift the ball with your wrists. This is the most common error. The chipper is designed with enough loft to get the ball airborne; you don’t need to add wrist action. Trying to scoop will lead to inconsistent contact, often resulting in topping the ball or hitting it fat.

6. Follow Through Towards Your Target:

• Action: Continue the pendulum stroke naturally towards your target after impact.
• What to look for: The clubface should remain square to your intended line through impact, and the stroke should naturally extend towards the target. A good follow-through indicates you’ve maintained your tempo and haven’t decelerated. Think about finishing the stroke in a balanced position.
• Mistake to avoid: Decelerating through the shot or stopping the clubhead immediately after impact. This is often a sign of fear or doubt. A smooth, accelerating stroke through the ball is essential for good distance control and a solid strike.

7. Practice with Purpose on the Green:

• Action: Spend dedicated time on the practice green with your chipper, hitting various distances and lies.
• What to look for: Pay attention to how the ball reacts. Are you getting the desired roll? Is the height consistent? Focus on repeating the feeling of the smooth pendulum stroke. Practice from different lies – fairway, fringe, even a little bit of rough – to understand the chipper’s versatility.
• Mistake to avoid: Only practicing when you’re on the course and feeling rushed. Building confidence and consistency with a chipper requires repetition. Don’t just use it when you’re in trouble; integrate it into your practice routine.

How to Use a Golf Chipper Effectively

Understanding the mechanics is one thing, but applying them on the course is where the magic happens. A chipper can be a fantastic tool for simplifying your short game, but it requires a specific mindset and technique. It’s not just about the club itself, but how you approach the shot.

Many golfers struggle with the delicate chip and pitch shots around the green. Traditional wedges require a specific swing that involves wrist action, proper weight shift, and precise clubface control. For beginners, or even intermediate players who have developed an inconsistent chipping habit, this can be a constant source of frustration. This is precisely where the golf chipper shines. It’s engineered to make these shots more accessible and repeatable [1].

The fundamental difference lies in the stroke. While a wedge chip often involves a mini-swing, the chipper is designed to be used with a putting stroke. This means the movement comes primarily from your shoulders, with your wrists staying relatively firm. Think of it as a longer putt. You’re not trying to “hit” the ball; you’re trying to “roll” it with a controlled pendulum motion. This drastically reduces the variables that can lead to mishitting the ball.

When you’re standing over the ball with a chipper, visualize that smooth, consistent putting stroke. Your stance should be slightly narrower than your putting stance, with the ball positioned just back of center. This setup promotes a slight descending blow, allowing the loft of the club to do its job without you having to actively try and lift the ball. The weight of the chipper head helps carry the club through the impact zone, ensuring a solid strike.

Consider the types of shots where a chipper excels. It’s ideal for those shots just off the green where you want the ball to land softly and then roll out like a putt. If you have a clear path to the green and the pin isn’t too far away, a chipper can be a much safer and more predictable option than a lofted wedge. It’s particularly useful on firmer fairways where a wedge might bounce too much or dig into the turf.

However, it’s important to understand the limitations. A chipper is not designed for high flop shots over bunkers or for getting out of thick rough. For those situations, you’ll still need your wedges. The chipper’s strength lies in its ability to provide a consistent, low-to-medium trajectory shot that rolls out. By focusing on the putting stroke and a solid setup, you can unlock a new level of confidence around the greens.

Common Mistakes When Using a Golf Chipper

Even with a club designed for simplicity, golfers can still fall into bad habits. Avoiding these common pitfalls will help you get the most out of your chipper.

• Using a Full Swing Motion
• Why it matters: This is the most common mistake. People often revert to a fuller swing, thinking they need more power or loft. This negates the chipper’s advantage of a simple, controlled stroke and often leads to mis-hits.
• Fix: Consciously commit to a putting stroke. Focus on a pendulum motion with your shoulders and keep your wrists quiet. Imagine you’re making a three-foot putt.

• Gripping Too Tightly
• Why it matters: A death grip restricts wrist and forearm movement, which is crucial for a smooth, consistent stroke, even a putting-like one. It introduces tension and reduces feel.
• Fix: Relax your grip. Imagine holding a baby bird – firm enough that it won’t fly away, but gentle enough not to hurt it. Your hands should feel connected but supple.

• Poor Stance Alignment
• Why it matters: If your feet, hips, or shoulders aren’t square to your target, your body will naturally try to compensate during the swing, leading to inaccurate shots.
• Fix: Ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned parallel to your target line. A slightly open stance (leading foot pulled back a touch) is often beneficial, but ensure the clubface is square to the target.

• Trying to Scoop or Lift the Ball
• Why it matters: The chipper has sufficient loft to get the ball airborne. Trying to scoop it with your hands or wrists leads to inconsistent contact, often resulting in topping the ball (hitting it thin) or chunking it (hitting the ground too far behind the ball).
• Fix: Trust the loft of the club. Focus on hitting down and through the ball with your pendulum stroke. Let the club’s design do the work of lifting the ball.

• Decelerating Through Impact
• Why it matters: Slowing down your swing speed just before or at impact is a natural reaction when you’re nervous or unsure. This leads to a loss of power and control, and the ball won’t travel the intended distance.
• Fix: Maintain a consistent tempo throughout your swing, from backswing to follow-through. Think about accelerating through the ball, not stopping at it.

• Not Practicing Enough on Different Lies
• Why it matters: You won’t build confidence or develop a feel for how the chipper performs from various situations around the green. Relying on it only when you’re in trouble won’t make you proficient.
• Fix: Spend dedicated time on the practice green. Practice from the fringe, light rough, and even slightly longer grass. Experiment with different swing lengths to control distance.

• Using the Chipper for Inappropriate Shots
• Why it matters: While versatile, a chipper isn’t a miracle club for every situation. Trying to use it out of thick rough or for high flop shots will lead to poor results and frustration.
• Fix: Understand the chipper’s strengths. It excels on the fringe and short fairway lies where you want the ball to roll. For shots requiring significant airtime or escape from difficult lies, reach for your wedges.

FAQ

• What exactly is a golf chipper?

A golf chipper is a specialized golf club designed for shots around the green. It combines features of both a putter and an iron. It typically has more loft than a standard putter (often in the 37-40 degree range) but less loft than a typical wedge (which can be 45-60 degrees). This unique loft profile, combined with a design that encourages a putting stroke, makes it an easier-to-use alternative for chipping. [1]

• When should I use a golf chipper on the course?

You should use a golf chipper for delicate chip shots when you are just off the green and want a more consistent and less intimidating option than a traditional wedge chip. It’s particularly effective for shots where you need the ball to land on the fringe or short grass and then roll out towards the pin like a putt. It’s a great choice when you have a clear path to the green and don’t need to carry the ball very high. [2]

• How is a golf chipper different from a wedge?

The primary differences lie in loft and intended swing. A chipper generally has less loft than a wedge, making it easier to control trajectory and get the ball rolling. Crucially, a chipper is designed to be used with a putting stroke (pendulum motion from the shoulders), while a wedge is typically swung with a more traditional, albeit shorter, golf swing that involves more wrist action and a steeper angle of attack.

• Can any golfer use a golf chipper, or is it just for beginners?

Absolutely, any golfer can benefit from using a chipper. While they are often marketed towards beginners or players who struggle with their short game consistency, experienced golfers can also find value in a chipper for specific shots. It can be a reliable tool for maintaining accuracy and reducing anxiety on those critical approaches to the green, even for pros looking for a simple solution.

• Do I need to use a special grip for a golf chipper?

No, you typically use a putting-style grip. This means holding the club with relaxed hands, often with your thumbs pointing straight down the top of the grip. The goal is to promote a smooth, pendulum-like stroke originating from your shoulders, minimizing wrist action. The grip should feel secure but not tense, allowing for a controlled backswing and follow-through.

• What kind of trajectory does a golf chipper produce?

A golf chipper produces a low-to-medium trajectory shot. The loft is designed to get the ball airborne just enough to clear the fringe or short grass, allowing it to land softly and then roll out significantly towards the target. It’s not meant for high, soaring shots like those produced by a lob wedge.

• Will a golf chipper help me improve my overall short game?

Yes, a golf chipper can significantly help improve your overall short game, especially if your current chipping is inconsistent. By simplifying the stroke and reducing the margin for error, it helps build confidence and allows you to focus on distance control and reading the greens. As you become more comfortable with the chipper, you’ll likely see a reduction in mishits and an increase in the number of shots that finish close to the pin.

Sources:

• How to Use a Golf Chipper Effectively
• Golf Chipper Clubs: When and How to Use Them