Chipper
A chipper is a specialty golf club that combines the loft of a short iron with the length and stance of a putter, designed for low, running shots from just off the green. Most chippers have 30 to 38 degrees of loft and are used with a putting-style stroke.
What is a chipper?
In design, the chipper is a hybrid. The clubhead has the loft of an 8 or 9 iron, but the shaft length and lie angle match a putter. (Lie angle is the angle between the shaft and the ground when the club rests at address.) The result is a club that lets a player stand over the ball the same way they stand over a putt, then stroke it with a simple back-and-through motion.
Its job is narrow but specific. Chippers handle short shots from just off the green that are too far to putt cleanly but don’t need the height of a full wedge shot. The ball pops up briefly to clear the fringe or rough, then rolls toward the hole like a long putt. This shot is known as a “bump-and-run,” and the chipper is built to produce it consistently.
Most chippers end up in the bags of beginners and high-handicap players who find the wrist hinge and steeper swing of a traditional wedge difficult to repeat. Seniors often gravitate to them for the same reason. With those mechanical demands stripped out, mishits like chunked or thinned chips become much less common.
How a chipper works
The clubhead’s design is what makes the bump-and-run easier. A wide sole prevents the leading edge from digging into the turf, so even a slightly fat strike still slides through and makes contact. A steep lie angle, typically 68 to 70 degrees, sits the player upright and close to the ball. Wedges run flatter at around 63 degrees. The shaft, at about 35 inches, matches a putter.
These design choices encourage a pendulum motion driven by the shoulders rather than the wrists. The ball launches at a low trajectory, lands a short distance onto the green, and releases toward the target. Roll-out depends on loft. Lower-lofted models produce more roll, while higher-lofted ones pop the ball up slightly with less rollout.
Chipper vs. wedge
The most common confusion for new players is when to use a chipper rather than a wedge. The two clubs serve different purposes, and the difference comes down to ball flight and the stroke required.
A wedge launches the ball high and stops it quickly. A chipper launches the ball low and lets it roll out. A wedge has 46 to 60 degrees of loft and asks more of the player, including a wrist hinge and a steeper angle of attack. A chipper has 30 to 38 degrees of loft and uses essentially the same motion as a putt.
The two clubs are not interchangeable. A wedge is the right tool when there is a bunker, water, deep rough, or any other obstacle between the ball and the green. A chipper is the right tool when the path to the hole is open and a low rolling shot is the safer play.
| Feature | Chipper | Wedge |
|---|---|---|
| Loft | 30 to 38 degrees | 46 to 60 degrees |
| Lie angle | Around 68 to 70 degrees, putter-like | Around 63 to 64 degrees, iron-like |
| Stroke | Putting-style pendulum | Wrist hinge with weight shift |
| Ball flight | Low launch, long roll | High launch, short roll |
| Best for | Open path, short fringe shots | Carrying obstacles, soft landings |
| Forgiveness | High | Lower, technique-dependent |
Chipper vs. putter
When a chipper exists, why not just use a putter? The answer comes down to grass.
A putter is built for the smooth, short surface of the green, where its 3 to 4 degrees of loft gets the ball rolling immediately. Add longer grass like fringe, fairway, or rough, and the putter struggles. The lower face hits the back of the ball, and the surrounding grass grabs it before it can roll cleanly.
A chipper handles that problem. With 30 to 38 degrees of loft, it pops the ball into the air just enough to skip over the fringe and onto the green. After that, the low launch turns into a putt-like roll. The stroke remains the same as a putt, so the only adjustment is the club selection.
Are chippers legal in golf?
Yes, chippers are legal under the Rules of Golf, but they must conform to the same equipment rules as irons rather than putters. The USGA and R&A treat the chipper as an iron club because its loft exceeds 10 degrees, the maximum allowed for a putter.
To be legal, a chipper must have only one striking face, a traditional rounded grip rather than a flat-sided putter grip, a shaft attached at the heel of the clubhead, and a loft greater than 10 degrees.
There are also length restrictions specific to chipping clubs. Under R&A and USGA rules, a chipper with a loft between 37 and 40 degrees has a maximum allowable length of 38.5 inches. Lower-lofted chippers can be slightly longer, while higher-lofted ones must be shorter. The popular Ping ChipR sits at 35 inches with 38.5 degrees of loft, well within the rules.
Two-way chippers, designed to be played from either side of the ball, fail the single-face requirement and are not permitted in competition. They can still be used in casual play.
Related Golf Terms
- Chili dip — A mishit chip shot that barely advances the ball.
- Lie angle — The angle between the club’s shaft and the ground at address.
- Chip shot — A short, low-trajectory shot played near the green.
- Championship course — A course designed to host professional or major amateur tournaments.
- Cavity back — An iron design with a hollowed-out back for increased forgiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far does a chipper hit the ball?
Most golfers use a chipper for shots inside 40 yards, with the ideal range around 10 to 30 yards. The club is built for short-range control, not distance. Full swings produce inconsistent results because the short shaft and heavy head limit clubhead speed.
Do professional golfers use chippers?
No tour professionals currently carry a chipper. Pros prefer wedges because they offer more spin and trajectory control, and they already have the technique to chip cleanly with traditional clubs.
Can a chipper replace a wedge?
Not fully. A chipper handles only low, running shots from short range. Bunker play, full approach shots, and soft-landing pitches all require a wedge, and most golfers who carry a chipper still keep at least two wedges in the bag.
Who invented the chipper?
Ping released the original Chipo in the mid-1970s, designed by founder Karsten Solheim. The modern Ping ChipR, launched in 2022, brought the concept back into the mainstream and prompted other manufacturers to follow.
Sources
- USGA. “Equipment Rules: Part 2, Conformance of Clubs.” Accessed April 2026.
- The R&A. “Rules of Equipment: Part 2, Conformance of Clubs.” Accessed April 2026.
- Golf Digest. “What you need to know: Ping ChipR.” Accessed April 2026.
- Golf Digest. “Rules of Golf Review: My buddy still uses a ‘chipper’ club. Are they legal?” Accessed April 2026.
- Golf Monthly. “Best Golf Chippers 2026.” Accessed April 2026.
- MyGolfSpy. “Why You Need A Chipper.” Accessed April 2026.
- Ping. “ChipR Specifications.” Accessed April 2026.
