Many golfers, especially old-school ones, tend to shy away from using a chipper, deeming it cheating, somehow, but honestly, is it any different from oversized drivers or urethane balls? So, if you’re the type of player to chunk from some 20 yards off the green or in, then you just might use this type of club. Luckily for you, we decided to do the legwork (literally, on occasion) and made this short best golf chippers review of what we think are the seven best golf chippers on the market at the moment.
What is a Golf Chipper?
For those of you not familiar with the term, a golf chipper, aka approach putter (yeah, sounds weird, but it pretty much encapsulates what this is), aka putting wedge (again, weird, but to the point) is a special type of golf club that stands midway between a putter and a wedge. It’s a highly specialized (limited use) club, as you’ll likely use it on shots that are too long for your putter, but too short for a wedge.
This is, incidentally, why most golfers don’t like “wasting” a spot in their bag on a chipper, but, let’s be honest, how many of these specialized clubs do any of us have in our respective bags? The 3-wood is used on tight tees, which is once in a blue moon, and the distance for a 6-iron comes up rarely to never in a single round.
Similarly, how often have you come across a tucked pin some 10 yards away to warrant using the lob wedge? Bottom line is, you shouldn’t disparage the chipper just because it’s of limited use.
Now, if you’re worried about your baby being illegal, keep in mind that the USGA considers them legal, but only as long as they’re not two-sided, i. e. have two faces so that you can use them left or right handed. That said, you can take out your 7-iron (some prefer the 5-iron) and choke all the way down on it, and play it as you would your putter.
Best Golf Chippers Comparison Table
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Best Golf Chippers Review
So, if you decide to leave your 7-iron alone and get a chipper, have a look at our reviews of the 7 top rated chippers available on the market at the moment. Enjoy the read!
1. Wilson Harmonized Chipper
Our Rating:
The Wilson Harmonized Cheaper… pardon, Chipper is a great choice for the more traditionally minded players in need of a chipper (now, if you can pardon that pathetic excuse for a pun, we’ll get on with the review).
It has a loft that’s typical of a 7-iron, and works perfectly on tight lies. The grip on this puppy is rounded, much like what you see on irons, which allows it for some more versatility in your short game. More importantly, the chipper and its grips conform to the USGA/PGA regulations, so you can put it in your bag without worrying about being thrown out of the tournament.
All jokes aside, though, one of the most important, if not the most important feature of the Wilson Harmonized cheaper is its price tag, which makes it ideal for beginners or folks who are just experimenting with this type of club.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upCheap as dirt
- thumbs-o-upNice beginner’s club
- thumbs-o-upUseful alignment aids
Cons
- thumbs-o-downAvailable only in RH
2. Ray Cook M1 Chipper
Our Rating:
If you’re looking for a club to help you with chips from the fringe, then you might want to check out the Ray Cook M1 (the manufacturer also carries a ladies’ variant who’d like to avoid blading their shots).
The M1 comes with a 37-degree loft and 70-degree lie, which should go a long way to helping you get maximum loft on the ball with minimum swing. This is perfect for getting to the green off the rough or out of the greenside bunker.
If, however, you feel that 37 degrees is too much for your short approach game, you might want to check out the Silver Ray chipper, which features 32 degrees. The head shape is somewhat different, though, and the visual cues are more aggressive, but on the flipside, it’s also cheaper (whichever way you decide, you’ll need to make a trade-off).
Pros
- thumbs-o-upFairly cheap
- thumbs-o-upAvailable for ladies, as well
- thumbs-o-upComes in RH and LH
- thumbs-o-upFoolproof setup
Cons
- thumbs-o-downSomewhat on the heavy side
- thumbs-o-downThe grip feels too thin
3. Odyssey X-Act Tank Chipper
Our Rating:
If you tend to shank those shots just around the green, then the Odyssey X-Act Tank Chipper might just be the thing for you. Short of going with a chipper, you might try taking out a putter and smashing it through the fringe or choking down on an iron.
The X-Act Tank comes with a cambered sole, which lets you take the shot off tight lies. Due to this, it looks just like a particularly high-lofted mallet (37 degrees, in case anyone’s wondering).
Another great thing about the X-Act is the fact it comes with a somewhat tweaked White Hot insert with grooves that help create just enough check to stop it on a dime if you hit it forcefully enough. Moreover, the insert softens up the feel considerably, which makes it ideal for golfers who prefer playing with firmer balls.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upComes in ladies’ variant, as well
- thumbs-o-upReasonably priced
- thumbs-o-upComes with Odyssey’s White Hot insert
Cons
- thumbs-o-downSome might prefer a lighter head
- thumbs-o-downThe visual cues feel too busy
4. Pinemeadow Hybrid Chipper
Our Rating:
The Pinemeadow Hybrid Chipper is one of the most budget-friendly golf chippers on the market at the moment. Much like intended, the chipper plays beautifully on shots from 20 yards and in.
The chipper comes with a 37-degree loft, which you’ll typically see on a 7-iron. This helps it get the ball aloft for a nice little chip-and-run into the tap-in zone. Granted, using the club takes a little bit of getting used to, especially if you’re a novice, but it might just pay off for some.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upCheap as chips (no pun intended)
- thumbs-o-upExcellent for beginners
- thumbs-o-upSurprisingly accurate, given the price tag
- thumbs-o-upGreat customer service
Cons
- thumbs-o-downSome golfers might wish it was a bit lighter
5. Tour Edge Golf Hot Launch 2 Chipper
Our Rating:
The Hot Launch 2 from Tour Edge is a nice option if you’re looking for a club to help you with shots neither your putter nor 5-iron can quite cover.
As you might have already guessed, the chipper comes with a loft typical of a 7-iron (in this case – 37 degrees), which makes it fairly versatile in terms of distance. Another great feature is the extended grip, which further adds to the versatility by allowing you to choke down on it.
The Hot Launch comes with a somewhat heavier head, which helps get more speed with less force, but the club feels quite lightweight when you hold it. This makes it perfect for slower greens and playing from tall grass. On that note, the weighty head, coupled with the extra-wide sole, allows you to cut through the rough without a hitch.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upFairly lightweight overall, great for slow greens
- thumbs-o-upGreat distance control
- thumbs-o-upExtra-long grip allows for a versatile play
- thumbs-o-upCuts through the rough like it’s not there
- thumbs-o-upVery reasonable price tag
Cons
- thumbs-o-downDistance control has a bit of a learning curve
6. Paragon Sports Chipper
Our Rating:
Truth be told, if you’re a low capper, you probably will never need a chipper, but if you’re a mid to high capper or a beginner, then the Chipper from Paragon Sports might just be the thing for you.
Sure enough, choking on an iron for a chip-and-run is always an option, but some golfers never quite conquer chipping – cue in this bad boy.
The Paragon Chipper features a full-offset hosel, pretty much like the majority of chippers out there, the idea being to put your hands ahead of the head, increasing forgiveness and making the stroke more forceful with less effort (great for pulling out of the greenside bunker or through the rough).
Pros
- thumbs-o-upAffordable, very much so
- thumbs-o-upPlays great from the fringe, as intended
- thumbs-o-upGood balance
- thumbs-o-upAvailable in RH and LH
- thumbs-o-upComes with two shaft options (34 and 35 inches)
Cons
- thumbs-o-downSome might prefer a lighter club
- thumbs-o-downNot everyone will like the looks
7. Hireko Acer XK Chipper
Our Rating:
The Hireko Acer XK Chipper is a great choice for beginners or even seasoned golfers struggling to chip around the green. Plus, it’s more than affordable, making it hardly an investment (to be honest, you’ll have a tougher time deciding which club to throw out of the bag to make room for this one than you’ll be deciding to spend the money for it).
The XK comes with a 37-degree, which is standard for 7-irons, and a 70-degree lie that’s characteristic of putters (both pretty much the standard for chippers). Combined with the wide sole, this makes for the perfect tool for chipping around the green.
If you feel that the XK has too little loft for your needs, make sure to check out the Acer XK Flipper, which features a 46-degree loft (but otherwise it’s a perfect copy of the vanilla XK). The idea behind this design is to allow you to take a shot that’s somewhere between a chip and a flop, though that’s probably too specialized to warrant a place in the bag.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upInexpensive
- thumbs-o-upComes in RH and LH
- thumbs-o-upNice, clean looks, with good visual cues
- thumbs-o-upFairly forgiving
Cons
- thumbs-o-downTakes some getting used to
The Takeaway
In conclusion, not every golfer will have a use for a chipper, but they do have a place in the bag. They’re certainly useful for younger golfers who are only getting started, as it lets them have fun and keeps them coming back to the course.
Alternatively, if a seasoned golfer just can’t make the shot choking down on a 7-iron, they might do it with a chipper. Bottom line of any choice when it comes to golf, chippers included, is to use whatever works for you. As cheesy as it sounds, if it feels right, it can’t be wrong, no matter what others say. Fairways and greens!
