Chippers
Chipping can be problematic for some golfers. I’m not here to judge. I get it. Chippers exist for a reason. You’re close to the green, you want to get the ball close to the hole, then you pull out your trusty 60° wedge, take three or four perfect practice swings, and then you chunk the shot like you forgot how to play. Thankfully, chippers are all around you and can assist. I do have some specific information before I tally the feather into the chipper’s cap though. Let’s check the specs.
The particular ChipR belongs to Ping. I enjoy Ping, have nothing against Ping. This club’s loft is :38.5° with a lie of 70° and a bounce of 8° at 35″ in length and a head weight of 325 grams. Interestingly enough, the Ping G425 irons, specifically the 9-iron, has a loft of 39.5°, lie of 63.5°, and a bounce of 11° at 36″ in length. With the exception of the lie and length, the clubs are similarly matched. You take the 9-iron, choke down an inch, stand about 1″ to 1 1/2″ closer to the ball, and have some forward press and I think you have the makings of a chipper.
So, why do chippers exist if you can take your irons and manipulate them to act the same? Easy…CONFIDENCE. Any club manufacturer understands your chipping woes and designed a club specifically for you. If you want a higher chip-finish your follow through higher. If you want a lower chip-finish the follow through lower. It’s so simple, there should be no reason why everyone doesn’t have a chipper in their bag, right? Not so fast, there’s more to it than that.
Although, single faced chippers are legal in play, most tour players opt for a varying selection of wedges, because of the versatility that they have with them. To have 48°, 50°, 52°, 56°, 60° literally puts 20 swing options into your bag when you know how to open and close the face, change the swing path, and use wrist action. With the chipper, you have one swing, straight back and through, with a square face. It has its limitations.
However, you probably aren’t on tour, and it takes hours upon hours for you to learn how to use all the wedges to your advantage. If you are not willing to put forth the effort, then the right answer is between PW-LW, which could be as many as 5 clubs, one can be replaced with a chipper. Personally, if the PW is 48°, and the Gap Wedge is 50°, I would opt for the 52° to be replaced.
Confidence says the 56° is the beloved Sand Wedge, and some people cannot breathe without it, and the 58° or the 60° are so required for the one flop shot per round, again, golfers have to have them in the bag for some reason. You can close the 60 to make it 58 and you can open the 58 to make it 60, so those Lob Wedges have versatility, just not so much for chipping.
If you decide to make the change, and you fear that you’ve created a gap, no worries. If you typically play the ball for the sand wedge in the center or one ball back of center, just move the ball a 1/2 ball back. This will provide more forward leaning shaft and I am willing to guess you’ll deloft the club the 4 degrees needed at impact for your 52° club. Alternatively, a Gap Wedge choked down 1 1/2″ will also equate to the distance of the 52, although it will have a lower launch, so be mindful.
My vote-if getting around the greens makes you panic-get the Chipper and replace a wedge, only long enough until you’ve figured out how to chip with every club from 4-iron to Lob Wedge from inside of 35 yards. Watch Lee Trevino tell you something about chipping right here.
-David