Chipping golf clubs are uniquely designed to make greenside shots easier and prevent amateurs leaking short-game chip chips. This post will reveal the 7 best chippers in 2023 and how you can get closer to the pin.
Before I dive into the top seven golf chippers, I will briefly describe what a golf player is and what their pros and disadvantages are. Then, I’ll detail the features, benefits, and downsides of the top 7 golf chipping clubs.
After reading this guide, you’ll know whether this is the solution to your yips and shanks or if you need to keep searching.
Table of Contents
- What is a Golf Chipper?
- The pros and cons about golf chippers
- Top 7 Golf Chippers
What is a Golf Chipper?
A golf chipper combines a wedge with a putter and has between 32 and 42 degrees loft. The chipper design allows golfers the ability to use a putting stroke to hit the ball up to the cup.
A golf chipper usually has a high moment-of-inertia (MOI), which helps with mishits and keeps topspin and speed intact. This allows golfers with yips to have greater accuracy and distance control.
My golf buddies who have a golf chipper carry it from the fringe of the green. They find it easier than a wedge to control.
Pros and cons of Golf Chippers
Pros
- Forgiveness
- Keep your speed and topspin high on mishits to keep your ball in the cup
- This is a great option for golfers who have yips
- Enhances greenside management
- Low loft allows you to keep your ball down so you can get rolling
Cons
- Bunker play is not for the strong, lofted golf chippers
- This is useful for shots taken from the fringe or rough.
Top 7 Golf Chippers
1. Cleveland Smart Sole 4.0 – Best Overall
Cleveland Smart Sole Satin® 4.0 Wedge
The extra wide sole has a three-tiered design with a more leading-edge bounce. This allows for maximum forgiveness from the fairway and rough. The weight distribution from the sole allows for the center of gravity to be moved closer to the clubface, which gives you a better feel and more consistency in all shots.
Pros
- Forgiving wedge
- Stable and exceptional
- Available in lofts of 42, 50, or 58 degrees
- Pleasant feeling
- Consistent spin
Cons
- Some golfers might find the lofts too weak.
- Some golfers prefer a thicker grip to the stock size.
The Cleveland Smart Sole® 4.0 won the 2023 title by beating our best golf chippers. It felt great, it was easy to use, had forgiveness, and stability, and could select weaker lofts. It also produced clean turf interaction, which added an element of spin resistance and glare resistance.
For increased bounce, Cleveland engineers designed a three-tiered sole for the Smart Sole. This reduced the chance of me chaffing my shot, allowing for a consistent strike and roll from the spin.
The brand’s successful Feel Balancing Technology appeared and did wonders for feeling and forgiveness. It created the most comfortable golf chipper feel and increased stability by delivering a precise center gravity (CG).
The wedge balance helps me maintain my clubface stable at contact, which allows me to maintain spin and speed for consistent distance control. Finally, the Aggressive Milled Grooves ensured consistent spin across the face to improve consistency.
2. PowerBilt TPS Bump And Run – Best Budget
PowerBilt TPS Bump & Run Chipper
32° loft gets the ball up on the green and quickly rolls towards the hole.
Pros
- Entry level price
- Moderate forgiveness
- Clean turf interaction
- Consistent forward rolling
- Flange in red and black.
Cons
- Limited spin
- Chipper is not the most soft-smooth
The PowerBilt TPS Bump and Run golf chipper is one of the most affordable. It was affordable, but it provided excellent turf interaction, forgiveness, and roll.
The TPS is a strong lofted golf chipper, with a 32-degree loft. The TPS has a stronger loft profile that helps you keep your ball low and rolling forward, allowing for better distance control on the greenside shot.
Additionally, the club head’s diamond-flange design creates an enlarged sole to improve turf interaction. This improves your ability to hit the ball from any lie and makes it easier to strike the ball accurately. The clubface also features an intermittent groove that provides more surface for the ball to be hit and pinned.
The spin produced by TPS was, however, not very impressive. The TPS did not have an impact on my ball’s forward roll which allowed me to control my distance better. Finally, I liked the red/black flange design. This added an extra layer of style to a simple chipper.
3. Wilson Harmonized – Best For Seniors
Wilson Harmonized golf chipper
Chipper is the perfect tool for those tricky spots around the green. Alignment aid makes aligning put more accurate. No face insert.
Pros
- Affordable
- Forgiveness
- Wide sweet spot
- Enhanced alignment aid
- Clubface that is resistant to glare
Cons
- Not the greatest feeling
- Players who prefer a slightly higher launch may not like the lower loft.
The Wilson Harmonized Chipper was my late father’s favorite club. In his later years, he suffered from yips and the Harmonized chipper helped him to set up and stroke greenside shots. He was able to induce a putting stroke and the weighted head combined with the low loft helped the ball roll straight to the cup.
This is our best chipper for seniors. It has a thicker grip that reduces wrist action and hand pressure. This makes greenside shots easier as it allows you to control the clubhead and maintain a straight line.
The 35-degree loft produces a more controlled launch. It is supported by a stable clubhead that is forgiving and has a sweet spot. I get enough club on to roll if I catch the ball off-center.
The Harmonized alignment aid makes it easy for you to see the target of your putter. It allows seniors and beginners to deliver more precision from the side of the dance floor.
4. Autopilot Square Strike – Best For Yips
Square Strike Wedge pitching swedge has an extra-wide sole and beveled lead edge to prevent digging. No more chip shots and chunked pitches.
Pros
- No need to change your setup for greenside shots
- Anti-chunk sole prevents fat shots
- Anti-rotational faces promote a square contact position
- Maximum MOI to enhance stability
- Available in 3 weaker loft profiles
Cons
- For golfers looking for a higher rollover launch, the weaker loft may not be appealing.
- It is not the most comfortable wedge
I have always cautioned against Autopilot golf products in the past, at least with the Square Strike wedge. My playing partner was plagued by massive yips. Shanks, fluffs, and topped shots were all he could find 40 yards away from the dancefloor.
He started using the Square Strike a few years ago and has had greater consistency around greens. While it is not the Holy Grail, it helps him improve his control and get close to the cup on short shots.
The square face is the key to this benefit. My buddy found that he doesn’t need to change his setup for bump-and-run or chip shots. He takes a simple swing, aligns his target’s face with the ball, and addresses the ball.
The Square Strike is a simplified setup that also features superior MOI and precise CG. It also has an anti-rotational facial. These components combine to provide excellent contact stability, which helps maintain ball pace and topspin. The anti-chunk soled wedge can be crafted in a 45-, 55-, or 60-degree profile.
5. PowerBilt TPS – Best Two-Way Chipper
The two-way design allows you the freedom to chip with either your right or left hand. 36° loft.
Pros
- Two-way chipper design
- Entry-level price tag
- Works for right- and left-handed users
- Stable
- Helps you navigate obstacles
Cons
- Tournament play is prohibited for non-conforming clubs
- Not as forgiving as other golf-chipping clubs.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has banned two-way chippers, but they can be used in casual rounds. Although they may seem like a joke, they are very useful when you don’t have a standard swing. The PowerBilt TPS2-Way chipper from PowerBilt is versatile, affordable, and moderately forgiving.
The two-sided face can be used when obstacles are in your way, despite their effectiveness around the green. I tested the ball by placing it near a wall to eliminate any chance of a clean swing. I then tested the left-hand TPS side and was able to push my ball a little further.
Although it was not intended to escape the woods it does the trick. Additionally, the 36-degree TPS TPS two-way chipper provided enough stability at impact to allow for a consistent stroke.
Because of its design, the non-conforming two-way chipper does not have perimeter weighting like other chippers. I felt the club head was sufficient to provide enough stability for a consistent roll off the clubface.
6. Ping ChipR – Most Forgiving Chipper
Pros
- Forgiveness beyond compare
- Encourages constant contact
- Minimal turf interaction
- Hydropearl finish dries out moisture from the clubface
Cons
- Premium price tag
- Minor glare problem
For the past 12 months, the Ping ChipR has been the rage at our club. Seniors in my circle praise the ChipR’s forgiveness, spin levels, and turf interaction. The ChipR has a 70-degree lie angle, and 38.5-degree loft to ensure a controlled trajectory.
To achieve maximum stability at contact, ping engineers applied perimeter weighting on the club head. This allowed me to maintain speed on all strokes and provide distance control for short game shots.
Hydropearl was another favorite finish that I enjoyed. It worked well in morning dew. It helps to remove moisture from the clubface and optimize groove performance for greater friction, spin, speed, and velocity.
Cambered soles also allowed for minimal turf interaction with the fringe and rough. The ball’s forward roll was enhanced by its contact with the cambered sole and its partnership with the shallow face.
Link to purchase Global Golf
7. Intech EZ Roll Petite Ladies – Best Ladies Golf Chipping Club
This system is back-weighted and gives the ball more loft upon striking it. It also has excellent balance and an advanced alignment top mark.
Pros
- Super affordable
- The shaft is shorter and easier to control.
- Forgiveness
- Fashionable pink and white finishes
- Increases accuracy
Cons
- It could have been more positive feedback
- Some women may feel more upright due to the shorter shaft.
Our 2023 list ends with the best ladies’ chipping golf clubs. The Intech EZ Roll Petite was chosen for its affordability, fashionable design, forgiveness, and versatility. The groove structure of the Intech EZ Roll Petite improved friction and encouraged consistent contact for optimal launch and roll.
Intech’s lesser-known brand was seen playing out of their boots with EZ Roll. The club’s sole and flange are finished in a fashionable pink-white combination. The groove design gives the golf ball more topspin.
Intech selected a loft of 35 degrees to be akin to a lower lofted 8-iron. It also features a 32-inch shaft. The club was easy to control and maintain square according to my home club’s ladies.
The Intech EZ Roll Petite Ladies also included perimeter weighting around each clubface, which increased the sweet spot. This made it possible for testers to produce consistent results with sufficient pace and topspin for mishits.