Golf Chippers
Golf Chippers Frequently Asked Questions
We stock a range of golf chippers as part of our main [golf clubs](/golf-clubs/) collection for players to finetune their bump-and-run. Find [men's chippers](/golf-clubs/chippers/shop-by/gender/mens/) and [ladies' golf chippers](/golf-clubs/chippers/shop-by/gender/ladies/) in store and online with American Golf.
What is a chipper golf club?
A chipper golf club is a very forgiving golf club that is affectionately referred to as the beginner’s wedge. Golfers who are just starting out and are building up their confidence will benefit from golf chippers because they can be used around the fairway and green. They provide height and distance, though not necessarily precision, for a beginner golfer’s game. Golf chippers resemble a putter, but they have the loft of a 7 iron due to the added weight on the bottom that prohibits too much flight and lift. The ball will roll quite a bit when you use a chipper, so this is something to consider. Lower handicap players can achieve the same shot with a 7 or 8 iron.
Are chippers legal in golf?
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has stated that golf chippers are legal during tournaments if they haven’t been modified with an adopted putter grip, and they cannot be two-sided. Many professional golfers and seasoned players who partake in tournaments don’t tend to use chippers because they are better suited to higher handicapped players, but newer or more casual players typically find them a good substitute for a [wedge.](/golf-clubs/wedges)
The chipper was invented to remove all possible problems that a wedge can have when attempting to bump and run the ball destined for the pin. The chipper is designed as a combination of both [a putter](/golf-clubs/putters/) and [a wedge](/golf-clubs/wedges/) in order to easily allow a player to perform a simple putting stroke with the lofted putting style/wedge head. This is enough to cleanly lift the ball off the turf and encourage it towards the pin in a bump and run motion, especially down the green or when extracting from the light rough. Chippers are perfectly legal in golf and competitive play provided they have only one hitting face and are considered akin to [irons](/golf-clubs/irons/). Typically, they're recommended for high handicappers and beginner golfers, so if you're just starting out you may want to [learn how to chip](https://blog.americangolf.co.uk/how-to-chip/).
