A golf chipper may be the secret weapon you're missing for saving strokes around the green, but its degree and purpose can be puzzling. This unique club is built for one specific shot: the simple bump-and-run from just off the putting surface. This article will break down the typical loft of a chipper, explain how it differs from a wedge or putter, and provide a clear, step-by-step guide on how to use it effectively.
Think of a chipper as the ultimate hybrid club, blending the best features of a putter and an iron. It’s designed to eliminate the anxiety and technical difficulty that often come with chipping using a traditional wedge. For many golfers, especially high-handicappers or those who struggle with thin or fat shots around the green, the chipper is a game-changer.
Visually, it has a few distinct characteristics:
The entire design screams one thing: simplicity. It’s meant to be swung like a putter to produce a shot that gets the ball airborne for a short distance before it lands on the green and rolls out to the hole like a putt.
There is no single, universally standard loft for a golf chipper. The exact degree varies between manufacturers and specific models. However, most chippers have a loft between 30 and 45 degrees.
This loft range places it squarely in the territory of a mid-to-short iron. To give you some context, here's how a typical chipper's loft compares to other clubs in your bag:
As you can see, a chipper often has the loft of an 8-iron or 9-iron. This is by design. The 30+ degrees of loft are just enough to help the ball pop up easily from the fringe or light rough, clearing the taller grass, before landing on the green. Once it lands, the relatively low trajectory (compared to a sand wedge) ensures it will have plenty of energy to roll smoothly towards the cup.
The goal isn't to hit a high-flying, spinning shot, it's to create a predictable and repeatable "bump and run." By giving you the loft of an iron but the feel and setup of a putter, it removes many of the variables that can lead to errors.
Choosing the right tool for the job around the green is what separates good scores from bad ones. It helps to understand exactly where the chipper fits in your arsenal compared to your wedges and putter.
This is the most important comparison, as the chipper is a direct alternative to using a wedge for greenside shots.
While the motion is similar, the purpose of these clubs is entirely different.
The beauty of the chipper is its simplicity. If you can make a putting stroke, you can use a chipper. Here’s a step-by-step guide to hitting the perfect, reliable bump and run.
Your setup should feel almost identical to your putting setup, with a few small tweaks.
Grip down on the shaft for maximum control. You don't need a full-length golf grip for this short, delicate shot. A lower grip transforms the club from feeling like an iron into feeling like an extension of your hands, just like a putter.
This is where the magic happens. Do not try to swing a chipper like a wedge.
Just like with putting, distance control is determined by the length of your backswing. Spend some time on a practice green to calibrate. Hit shots with a short backswing, a medium backswing, and a slightly longer one to see how far the ball flies and, more importantly, how far it rolls out. You’ll quickly get a feel for the "6-inch backswing," the "12-inch backswing," etc., and the total distance each produces.
While any golfer can benefit from its simplicity, the chipper is particularly effective for certain types of players:
Essentially, if you fear chipping because you frequently hit it fat (hitting the ground first) or thin (hitting the middle of the ball and an sending it screaming across the green), a chipper can immediately make the game more enjoyable.
A golf chipper, with its typical loft of 30-45 degrees, offers a straightforward solution to one of golf's trickiest challenges: the short greenside shot. By combining the posture and simple stroke of a putter with the loft of an iron, it is designed to help you execute a consistent and reliable bump-and-run, taking the fear out of your short game.
Deciding when to use a chipper versus a wedge often comes down to confidence in the moment. We built Caddie AI for situations just like this. If you’re standing over a tricky lie by the green and feel stuck between clubs, I can help you think it through. You can describe the shot - or even take a photo of your ball's lie - and get an instant, smart recommendation on the best play. The goal is to remove indecision, so you can stand over the ball, commit to your shot, and play with more freedom.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
