What Club To Use For Chipping: Complete Analysis
Do you want to get closer to the pin with a chip shot? Are you unsure which club will give the best contact? Here is the answer.
Choosing the right club for your chipping is critical for improving your short game.
Since deciding which is best for you can be challenging, here is a complete analysis of which club is best to chip a golf ball.
What club to use for chipping?
When it comes to chipping, wedges are the ideal clubs as they help players produce a higher spin and better control.
Most golfers believe a 52-56 degrees wedge is the best fit to perform a basic chip shot. This is because a higher-lofted golf club is required for shorter distances.
To be specific, the best club used for chipping is the sand wedge. However, for an average golfer, a gap wedge and a pitching wedge work the best.
However, a few other clubs are used in different kinds of chip shots around the green.
Best clubs for hitting chip shots
Wedges often make the best clubs for chipping shots. However, irons and a hybrid can be used to help you get up and down.
Given below are the clubs used while chipping:
1. The sand wedge
A sand wedge is one of the best wedges for chipping. The ideal sand wedge loft ranges from 54 to 58 degrees for optimal performance.
However, most sand wedges have a 56- degree loft that allows the ball to land softly, has plenty of ball flight, and is quite versatile.
With the sand wedge, you can launch the ball into the air and have it land closer to your desired target – be that a flagstick or otherwise.
When hitting a sand wedge shot, expect the ball to travel a few feet away from the hole.
This club type is also perfect for players to get the golf balls out of the bunkers, rough, sand, and grass divots.
2. The pitching wedge
The pitching wedge is a lower lofted club than the sand wedge. It usually has a loft between 46 and 50 degrees.
It is mostly used for full-swing approach shots, which could be on the edge of the green or 10-20 yards off the green.
For pin-point accuracy on the green, the pitching wedge is your most dependable club when tackling small bumps.
Using any other chipping club with too much loft will result in sliding under the ball and having shots that end up short. Moreover, it is not only useful for a full-swing shot but also a run-type shot when close to the green.
However, expect the ball to roll a little further when it lands.
A chip shot is best achieved with a pitching wedge when sitting in the rough. For an everyday golfer, it gives the most consistent and reliable results.
3. The gap wedge
A gap wedge is one of the golf clubs with a loft between 50 and 54 degrees. It is called a gap wedge, as it is one club that fills the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
Moreover, it is also known as the utility wedge or the approach wedge. Most golfers use this wedge to get out of the bunker further from the green.
However, it is most efficient when used within the green and for full shots.
An average golfer can produce their most consistent shots with this club when the ball is sitting down on the grass.
Lastly, the gap wedge’s loft is such that it can help pick the ball out of the grass while providing the most control.
4. The lob wedge
The lob wedge is typically lofted between 58-64 degrees. The low wedge is used when hitting on the greenside bunkers when the flagstick is not too far. Most experienced golfers use the lob wedge for chipping.
However, the lob wedge can often spin out of the rough because of its high loft and significant groves.
The lob wedge is useful for high and sharp chips around the green and has a short ball roll out and good control.
5. Irons (9-7)
Irons (9-7) are considered great for chipping as they perform similarly to a pitching wedge. However, with a 7-iron, the golf ball could be able to roll considerably.
It is advised to use a 7-iron if the approach is long and the pin is in the back. This will help make a smaller stroke and get the ball back to the pin.
Remember that this club is not the best if you have short-sided yourself.
6. Chipper
The chipper is a unique club, as it looks like a putter but with more loft. It is a short club that makes sculling or chunking a chip shot close to minimal. These golf clubs make chipping effortless.
To chip a golf ball with a chipper, swing it the same way you would with a putter.
7. Hybrid
Golfers prefer a hybrid golf club to a putter when hitting a long bump-and-run shot from the fringe.
A hybrid may sometimes work better than a wedge in terms of control when hitting from the fringe.
However, a hybrid is not the club for chipping out of the rough, as it doesn’t have enough loft to get a good roll to the green.
How to determine the right club for chipping
Here are some varying factors that need to be considered before choosing a golf club for a particular shot:
- The lie of the ball: The ball position impacts the lie angle. Thus, you need a lofted club if the ball is deep into the rough. However, when the ball is sitting on the fringe or the green approach, a hybrid or 7- iron is one of the best choices. It is best to go to the golf course and try out different types of lies.
- The amount of spin: If you struggle with spin when there isn’t a proper lie, it is recommended to use a lob wedge to help generate more spin. Moreover, choosing a ball with a greater greenside spin will also work in your favor.
- The distance from the green: A lob or a sand wedge works best when you have to chip short distances from the green. Higher lofted clubs provide fast swing with ample spin. Moreover, a 7-iron might help you consistently chip to cover the 10-15 yards on the green.
- The impact of green speed: Remember to keep the green speed in mind, as if you are on a fast green, it might not hold bump-and-run shots very well. A higher lofted club is suitable for a fast green speed.
- The type of shot you need to play: If you need to tackle your ball out of ditches, trees, and hazards, a sand or a lob wedge is the most suitable.
Conclusion
Chipping is a vital part of golf; Each golf club has its advantages, so it is best to be aware of each club’s purpose to leverage them correctly on the golf course. Choosing the right club for chipping can make all the difference to your game.
