Golfers fed up with botched chips are snapping up chippers like the Ping ChipR Wedge and Odyssey Chipper, hoping for steadier hands and fewer wasted shots near the green.
Missed chips have wrecked plenty of rounds, but a new wave of chippers is giving frustrated golfers a way out. Ping's launch of the ChipR Wedge has put these clubs back in the spotlight, and players who dread short shots are taking notice.
The PING ChipR is available in both steel and graphite shaft versions, with retail prices typically ranging from £129-£159 depending on the configuration.
Odyssey's Chipper leans on alignment, with three white lines on a black head and a soft polymer insert. Its 37-degree loft and putter-style grip make it strong for bump and run shots, though it struggles in thick grass. Mazel's Golf Chipper covers more ground with lofts at 35 and 45 degrees, plus higher options at 55 and 60. That gives players a shot at different lies and distances. The design forgives mis-hits, but it can't match a wedge for pitch or bunker play.
Chippers still get side-eye from some golfers, a holdover from the days when hybrids drew snickers. But as more players see their short games tighten up, the mockery is fading. Confidence and forgiveness are winning out over old habits.
While the PING ChipR is available internationally, including in Japan where the Z-Z115 model is listed at around 30,800 yen, there is no independent evidence of a significant surge in chipper sales or market share. Most available data consists of product listings rather than official sales statistics or demand assessments.
Chippers are legal under USGA rules as long as they skip the putter grip. For golfers who flinch at chip and pitch shots, a chipper can change the game. Some stick with fairway woods or hybrids for bump and runs, but chippers are built for this job.
Retail listings show the Ping ChipR is still available as a customizable club. Golfers can pick right- or left-handed models and choose between steel and graphite shafts. The PING ALTA CB Slate shaft, with regular flex, 72 grams of mass, and a mid-high launch, has joined the lineup. FitMyGolfClubs specs confirm these options for players who want to dial in their setup.
