When playing a round of golf, short wedge shots that are taken from around the green can make or break your overall game. If you’re finding that these shots are causing your score to rise, it might be time to introduce a chipper to your bag.
Oftentimes, chippers are made to resemble a putter, the only difference? They have a higher lofted face. Chippers are made to allow for controlled chip shots that are taken from around 50 yards or so in, and the best golf chippers will make all types of fringe and collar shots easy as can be!
score average, just keep reading to discover the best chippers available to purchase today! Nowadays, it couldn’t be easier to get your hands on a high-quality chipper.
Plenty of manufacturers are creating chippers that have a wide variety of different features and styles, and we’re here to help you choose which one is right for you!
If you’re tired of making mis-hits so close to the hole, or you want to improve your overall
In a hurry? Check out our top pick:
If you want an expert recommendation that you can put your faith in, look no further than the Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Sole 3 Wedge C. Don’t have time to read the full review below? No problem. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s our winner:
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It features a three-tiered sole that offers better turf interaction
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Advanced technology such as Feel Balancing Technology will help get you closer to the hole by redistributing weight from the hosel to the toe
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Utilizes a 42 degrees loft, upright lie angle, and a shorter club length that optimizes the club for overall greater accuracy
OUR TOP PICK
Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Sole 3 Wedge C
EDITORS CHOICE
Autopilot Square Strike Chipping Wedge
BEST VALUE
OUR TOP PICK
Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Sole 3 Wedge C
Cleveland is one of the leading manufacturers in the golf industry, so it should come as no surprise that we’ve selected the Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Sole 3 Wedge C as our first pick.
If you’re no stranger to Cleveland wedges, then you’ll have noticed how the Smart Sole 3 is very similar to the standard regular wedge style. However, in order to optimize performance, the Smart Sole 3 features a much larger 3-Tiered Sole.
Thanks to the 3 Tiered Sole, the more refined sole design allows for much more efficient surf interaction. This results in cleaner and more precise contact with the ball in all types of turf interactions that will come in handy for shots taken on uneven, bumpy golf greens.
The Smart Sole 3 chipper also comes with integrated Feel Balancing Technology that has redistributed the weight closer to the toe of the club for a much more playable center of gravity.
Though the weight change is subtle, you’ll notice how you’re able to enjoy a more improved feel and tighter shot dispersion.
In addition to all of this, Cleveland has also created this chipper with an optimized loft and lie. The lie has been positioned at 42 degrees and is paired with a slight offset, which means that players of all levels will be able to enjoy great contact and successful launch angles.
Pros
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Great feel and easy to swing
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Optimized loft and lie
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A more refined sole design compared to older models that will provide more efficient surf interaction
Cons
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Expensive price point
EDITORS CHOICE
Autopilot Square Strike Chipping Wedge
Regardless of how experienced a golfer you are, we’re sure that you’ve heard about the Autopilot Square Strike Chipping Wedge, or saw it in multiple commercials.
Contrary to popular belief when it comes to marketing advertisements, the Square Strike Chipping Wedge really does all that it claims to, which is why it’s our runner up.
Featuring a unique square design, the Square Strike Wedge will allow you to hit better chip shots. Made of durable stainless steel, it features a ‘no-dig’ leading-edge that consists of a subtle slope that will prevent the chipper from digging into the ground.
The sole area of the club also features a unique geometry that will help to prevent the ball from jumping or ‘hopping’ on longer distance chips.
Plus, thanks to its shorter shaft, this chipping wedge is easier to control and will help to minimize overactive hands, which can all too often lead to a mis-hit.
Additionally, this Square Strike Wedge pitching wedge has an extra-wide sole to deliver extra forgiveness that will help to make all types of chipper shots playable.
Its heavier, solid feel is ideal for beginner to intermediate players as it will promote greater confidence at address, and will also lower the amount of rotation.
Our favorite feature of this wedge chipper is its anti-rotational weighting. Thanks to this, the Square Strike will not rotate around during your swing which will improve your contact and launch angle.
All in all, it’s a great choice for all players, particularly those at a beginner to intermediate level.
Pros
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Great for those wanting to try longer distance chipper shots
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Has been designed to help achieve greater swing speeds
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Feels similar to a putter
Cons
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As it’s so easy to swing, some find that it feels ‘whippy’
BEST VALUE
MAZEL Golf Chipper
Are you planning on playing some golf tournaments and want a chipper that’s legal for play? Look no further than the MAZEL Golf Chipper.
The MAZEL Golf Chipper conforms to the rules of golf and will allow you to have an advantageous edge without breaking any rules.
Why? Well, for starters it has been specifically created to help improve your short game and will be able to counteract thin and fat chip shots all around the course, including around the green and from the fringes.
It’s heavy clubhead and low center of gravity will see you achieving higher launch angles, which will make getting the ball up and airborne easy as pie.
Not only that, but thanks to its wide sole, sand shots will be easier to take than ever, especially as this chipper feels and swings just like a putter.
Another plus to this chipper is that the entire face is CNC milled, which is a premium feature that is often only found in the top of the range chippers.
This makes the MAZEL Golf Chipper excellent value for its price, as well as being suitable for use in a professional tournament.
Pros
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Easy to use
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Affordable and ideal for those on a budget
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Large, forgiving sole
Cons
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Some find it difficult to grip
RUNNER UP
Wilson Harmonized Chipper
If you’re on a budget, a great option that isn’t going to break the bank is the Wilson Harmonized Chipper. Let’s take a look at why it’s worthy of your consideration.
Wilson is a longstanding manufacturer of golf clubs and is particularly known for its affordability. The Harmonized Chipper boasts many of the same features more expensive chippers have and is ideal for those looking for a chipper that can take on tough spots across the green.
It features an all-new head design that has been specifically created to resemble a blade-style putter. Unlike older models, Wilson has created the sole of the club to be more rounded and slightly more extended in order to improve accuracy.
The thin and slightly offset hosel paired with the wider head shape will make it easier to line up putts and make more accurate shots.
However, as it’s been designed to resemble a putter, Wilson recommends taking an air of caution to not hit this chipper as hard you would taking a putting stroke in order to increase accuracy.
Additionally, three lines can be seen across the back of the sole that will help to increase proper alignment.
The lines will ensure that you achieve shot target consistency, while the 35-inch steel shaft and loft are similar to an eight iron, which will inspire confidence at address.
Pros
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Achieves a great launch angle
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Affordable price point
Cons
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Lacking in durability
Best Golf Chippers Buying Guide
Before going ahead with a purchase of a shiny new chipper, we recommend checking out our buying guide below to make sure you’re making the right choice for you:
Hand Orientation
It certainly goes without saying that players with different dominant hands swing in different directions.
Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you pick a chipper that is designed for swinging in the direction that you swing naturally.
Some chippers are built to be ambidextrous, although these are often designed for recreational use.
Loft
The next factor to think about is the loft. The loft is one of the most important parts of any chipper, and the ideal angle is around 35 degrees.
This is because, when you strike the ball in a putter like motion, this loft angle will cause it to jump up subtly into the air. If you go for a loft higher than 35 degrees, you might find that it’s harder to control where your ball is going to land on the green.
In contrast, if you select a chipper with too little a loft, you’re likely going to find that the ball speed is difficult to control. If you’re unsure of which loft is right for you, we recommend trying out a few at your local golf store to get a feel for which one might be right for you.
Offset
The next feature to consider is the offset.
A chipping iron that features a lot of offset is generally deemed to be a lot easier to control and use. Firstly, a larger offset will make it a lot easier for you to naturally be able to rotate the clubface through the ball without causing too much of a spin, which could lead to a slice.
A large offset will also make it a lot easier to strike the ball in an upwards motion. On the contrary, if you’re an experienced player or planning on playing in a tournament, you might find that a chipper with a smaller offset is better suited to you.
Shaft Length
Next up is the shaft length. You’ve probably already noticed, but the length of a chipper shaft is strikingly similar to that of a putter. Due to this, you’ll often find that the standard chipper shaft length is 35 inches, which will allow you to use the chipper in a similar way that you would a putter.
Believe it or not, some chippers even feature heads that have been strategically created to look just like a putter, which helps to inspire confidence while standing at address, as well as comfortability.
It’s important to be aware that if you select a chipper with a longer shaft, you might have difficulty controlling your shots, while smaller chipper shafts will likely cause you to struggle with speed.
Just like choosing the right loft, we recommend visiting your local golf store to try a few out before ordering one or even asking some golfing buddies for help selecting the shaft length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which club do chippers replace?
This all depends on you and your personal preferences!
Though chipping irons serve a similar purpose to that of a wedge or putter, there’s no set rule on which club it should be swapped out for.
We recommend choosing a club that you rarely use and replacing it with your brand new chipper.
Can my chipper be used for taking shots from the rough?
Yes and no. The answer greatly depends on the lie that you’ve found the ball located in, as well as your experience as a player.
Though your chipper can most certainly be used to take a shot from the rough, it’s worth noting that chipping irons are mainly intended to be used on the greens, and sometimes the fringe areas, too.
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