How Far Do Wedges Go?
| Club | PGA Tour Average | Men’s Average |
Ladies Average
|
| Pitching Wedge | 140 yards | 110 yards | 90 yards |
| Gap Wedge | 130 yards | 100 yards | 80 yards |
| Sand Wedge | 115 yards | 90 yards | 70 yards |
| Lob Wedge | 100 yards | 75 yards | 60 yards |
As you can see, the guys on the PGA Tour hit their wedges from an impressive distance. However, accuracy is essential with wedges, so don’t get hung up on length. These clubs are all about consistency.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A CHIPPER WEDGE?
With the length, lie angle, and grip of a putter with the loft of a medium iron, the chipper is designed to make chipping as easy as possible.
Looking at some of the best pros, Thomas Pieters is a good example. They set up chipping with the iron at a straight angle to mimic putting.
Think of it as a way to reduce the variables of your chipping by recreating a putt. The iron also has the super-wide sole of a putter helping the club glide over the surface at impact. A chipper wedge is an excellent tool for those who can’t get their chipping to work.
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT?
Use it for shots close to the green or off the green and too far for a putt.
It’s the ideal club to use instead of playing a chip and run shot, the type of shot made famous by links golf.
These shots can help you keep the momentum of your course.
WHO SHOULD USE A CHIPPER WEDGE?
Many golfers struggle to get good consistency in their chip shots. This club can help them greatly.
If you have long grass just before the green, the chipper can help you get through it easily while getting the ball as close to the hole as a putt.
HOW TO HIT A CHIPPER?
The beauty of this club is that if you already know how to set up a putt, you already know how to hit the chipper wedge.
The ball should be directly in front of you, a relatively narrow stance with your weight 60/40 on your front leg. Then swing your shoulders like a pendulum, like below:
HOW FAR SHOULD YOU HIT A CHIPPER WEDGE?
The chipper wedge is for anything at about 30 yards and closer.
Sometimes on real golf courses, you can use it farther away, but it should be right next to the edge of the green.
1-SIDED CHIPPING VS. 2-SIDED CHIPPING
The rules of golf make this decision reasonably easy. Two-sided chippers are not allowed by the rules of golf. You are only allowed “one-sided chipping”.
Therefore, a one-sided chipper is your option here. Two-sided chippers are horrible anyway.
ARE CHIPPERS LEGAL?
The point above about two-sided chippers raises this question, and while they are illegal, the one-sided chipper is a legitimate club for you to carry.
But frankly, they won’t earn you any club points.
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL LOFT OF CHIPPER WEDGES?
The classic chip and run shot should be played with a 7 iron, which has a typical loft of about 34 degrees.
So it makes sense that the chipper wedge would have a loft between 30 and 37 degrees, which is perfect for helping you hit that low shot to the pin.
CHIPPER WEDGE VS. PITCHING WEDGE
While the 7-iron or chipper wedge works well on challenging courses, if you’re playing a parkland course, sometimes you’ll need a little more loft for chip and run shots.
In this case, the pitching wedge can be your friend. Both can and will often be used for that shot during the same round.
SHOULD EVERY GOLFER HAVE A CHIPPER WEDGE?
I don’t think so. The chipper is there to make it easier for you to play a shot that can be played with a medium or even a short iron.
I can see that some beginner golfers, or those who struggle to chip, might use one, but for most golfers, it’s best to use one of your irons.
Do the pros use chippers?
I’ve never seen a pro use a chipper, I checked with Google, and I don’t see anything about it.
As I said above, many other clubs in the bag can do the job of a chipper, so carrying one can be pretty limiting.
Hard work practicing around the greens can be a better bet.
THE BEST CHIPPERS TO CONSIDER
‘If you think this is a club that can transform your game and bring you success in 2021, then great. ‘
Let’s look at some of the best clubs on the market so you can make a more informed decision on which one to add to your bag for the upcoming season.
Wilson Harmonised Chipper
The beauty of the Wilson Harmonised Chipper lies in its simplicity.
The design is also beautiful with a black top line that helps you feel confident at the address because it is visible behind the club. The back of the putter is a lovely metallic gray color, which creates a great contrast.
The sightlines are perfect for helping you line up, and the black face is so beautiful behind the ball. The club has a lovely soft feel at impact and is very easy to use.
The price is also great, at around $50. If you are hesitant to buy a chipper, this one is not too expensive.
PINEMEADOW GOLF EXCEL EGI CHIPPER
The Pinemeadow EGI chipper is an interesting club, which is very different from the Wilson club described above.
The Wilson looks like a putter. This Pinemeadow seems more like an iron that will appeal to many. With 37 degrees of loft, you can get some height on the ball.
The extra-wide sole is designed to help you keep the club square at impact and have better contact with the ball. This feature works and will benefit many.
It’s also heavier than many clubs to help you swing it like a putter and make better contact. A well-designed club for sure.
ORLIMAR ESCAPE CHIPPER
This chipper is similar to Wilson. But this one has a mallet-style putter.
Many golfers prefer the look of a mallet putter, and this one also has an even wider sole that can help those who have trouble hitting.
The club’s top line frames the ball very well to help you line up. One of the most notable features is the club’s hosel, which is shank-proof!
Many golfers struggle with shanks around the green: the Orlimar will remedy that and take that horrible worry out of your game.
ODYSSEY X-ACT TANK GRINDER
This is the most expensive wedge chipper on the list, but the Odyssey X-ACT Tank has gotten a lot of good reviews, so I thought it was worth adding.
This club has all the pros of the Orlimar, plus the incredibly soft face of the Odyssey White Hot.
Unlike the Orlimar, this chipper has a putter grip to make the game more like putting. This grip will help stabilize your hands when using the club at 37 degrees.
CONCLUSION
The chipper wedge is not a club for everyone, but it has its place for many golfers.
If you struggle with yips, shanks, thinning, or chunking around the greens and feel like there is no hope, this could be the ray of light your golf game needs.
When looking to buy a chipper, take a look at both iron and putter-type clubs. You must practice which club configuration feels best in your hands.
From there, try a few, and you’ll soon find your new chipper and be able to get back to enjoying the up and down.