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.

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.