What Club Should You Use For Chipping? 

Updated
golfer hitting a lob wedge shot at the pin

Golfers can never have too many tools to use around the greens. The more options you have to hit the ball close to the hole, the better your chance of going low. However, these tools do not need to just be golf clubs; they can be types of shots, such as chipping.

If you have wondered what club you should use for chipping or how to incorporate different chip shots into your game, you are in the right place. This guide can help you learn how to hit everything from a lob wedge to a hybrid to get the ball close. 

What is The Best Club For Chipping? 

The best club for chipping is the sand wedge. Most sand wedges have about 56 degrees of loft, can land softly on the green, have plenty of ball flight, and are generally quite versatile. However, sand wedges are not the only clubs golfers should use for chipping. 

Wedges often tend to be the best clubs for chipping because they help players generate a bit more spin and control. However, irons and even a hybrid can be used to help you get up and down. 

Different Clubs For Different Types of Chips

The wedges are certainly the most popular clubs for hitting chip shots; however, we use our irons as well, which can be beneficial in some situations. Here are the different clubs you should use for chipping and why each of them can be a good fit for your game.

Lob Wedge

The lob wedge has the highest loft of any club in the bag. High loft ends up bringing in plenty of spin and helping to create shots that stop on the green. With a lob wedge in hand, you can get the ball up quickly and have it stop just as quickly. 

We love the lob wedge shot when you are close to the pin and don’t have much green to work with. 

This is called short siding yourself, a mistake that amateur golfers often make. The lob wedge also has a good chance of spinning even out of the rough because of the high loft and significant grooves on the club. 

Many golfers are scared of a lob wedge, thinking that it is hard to hit, but this is entirely untrue. When you learn to work with a lob wedge, you will quickly learn it’s quite easy to hit and can save you strokes. 

Related: 7 Best Lob Wedges in 2022

Sand Wedge

If you don’t have a sand wedge that you love, go get one. This is the most important club in the bag for chipping, as it tends to be the most versatile. With a slightly larger swing, this is an excellent club from 75 yards and in. 

However, it is very easy to control and work with when you are up close to the green. 

The sand wedge has high levels of spin so expect the ball to stop quickly on the green when you chip with it. Even though it has less loft than the lob wedge, the ball flight is quite impressive with the sand wedge. 

If you are using this club out of the rough but not around the greens, start to change your strategy, and you will be pleasantly surprised. In addition, beginners who purchase a set without a sand wedge will want to add one. 

Related: 7 Best Sand Wedges in 2022

Pitching Wedge

The pitching wedge is a go-to club for the bump-and-run type shot around the greens. When you don’t need something incredibly high and you want to let the ball roll out to the pin, this is the club to choose. 

With a pitching wedge, expect to hit the ball about halfway to the hole and have it roll out the other half. If you have a flat area in front of you and the pin at the back of the green, this club is by far the best choice to use. 

When using a pitching wedge for this type of golf shot, the swing can be rather simple, almost like a putting stroke. 

Related: 6 Best Pitching Wedges in 2022

Gap Wedge

The gap wedge fills that gap between the sand wedge and the pitching wedge. Although this is a club that many golfers forget to take out of the bag for chipping, it has some essential features that can help you around the greens. 

With a gap wedge, expect the club to fly a little further than the sand wedge, so it’s a great choice when the pin is in the back, but you need a lofted club to get to it. Also, expect just a bit more roll from the gap wedge than you get with the sand. 

In addition, the gap wedge is one of our favorite choices for the longer greenside bunker shot. Don’t make things harder on yourself; simply take the gap wedge and take the same swing you normally do with your sand wedge. 

Related: 6 Best Gap Wedges in 2022

Irons (9-7)

We have seen golfers use almost any club in the bag to chip with. This includes four and five irons. However, those situations are less likely to present themselves, and most players will find that using the 9, 8, and 7 irons seems to be the best idea. 

The 9 iron will perform just like the pitching wedge with a bit more distance. When you move up to the 7 iron, expect to see a golf ball that rolls considerably. 

Sometimes a links-style golf course will have a long approach to a green. If the approach is long and the pin is in the back, use the 7 iron to make a smaller stroke and get the ball all the way back to the pin. 

The 7 iron chip will only go in the air for a short distance and roll the rest of the way. If you have short-sided yourself, this is not the club to use. 

Chipper

A chipper is a unique golf club that combines a wedge and a putter. For years Cleveland was the only company with a great chipper, but now even Ping has released one to the market. The chipper makes chipping effortless. 

Simply swing the chipper the same way you would swing a putter. The club is shorter, it can be perfect for a bump and run, and the chances of skulling or chunking a chip shot are slim. 

Hybrid

The hybrid golf club is a choice that some golfers like to use from the fringe when hitting a long bump and run type shot. This is almost used instead of a putter from the fringe. Players can sometimes control the ball from the fringe better with a hybrid than with a wedge. 

One thing to be aware of with a hybrid is that this is not the club to use when chipping out of the rough. There is simply not enough loft to get a good roll to the green. 

How do I Know What Club to Use When Chipping?

Now that you have more than seven different golf clubs that you can use for chipping, it’s time to determine which one you SHOULD use for chipping. There are a few simple ways to determine which club is best; however, we do recommend practicing from all different lies with a variety of clubs to make yourself a more versatile player. 

Distance To The Pin

The closer you are to the pin, the more loft you need in the wedge. A higher loft means that the ball will stop quickly on the green. 

When hitting an approach shot to a green that you know will come up short, make sure to leave yourself plenty of room to work with. The more room you have on the green, the easier it is to choose a variety of golf clubs. 

If you have a lot of green to work with, you should use something like a pitching wedge, chipper, or 7 iron to get the ball back to the pin. Hitting a lofted lob wedge or sand wedge creates more room for error. 

The Lie

The lie of your golf ball is another crucial factor in deciding which club to hit. 

When the ball is buried in the rough, you need loft. When it’s sitting up nicely in the fringe or on the approach of the green, you can use clubs like a hybrid or a 7 iron. 

The problem many players run into is trying to take something like a pitching wedge or a 9 iron and hit a chip shot out of the rough. There is simply not enough loft on this club to get the ball to stop on the green where you want it to. 

Learning to analyze a lie can take a bit of trial and error. We recommend going to a chipping green and trying several different lies. Stop propping the ball up in the grass, as this is not the lie you will get most of the time. 

Instead, drop down a bucket of golf balls and play each one as it lies; experiment with different clubs to see how the ball reacts. 

Your Strengths and Weaknesses

You will develop a favorite club around the greens. This is entirely acceptable and something that you should rely on. Having a favorite club helps ensure that you are confident. 

When you have a lite that could work for various golf clubs, choose the one you like the best. When you have confidence, your swing speed will usually be a little higher; you will have more control over where the golf ball goes. 

Green Speed

Fast greens do not hold bump-and-run shots all that well. Be smart about the speed of the greens and how they are going to impact the ball once it hits the ground. For the most part, when the green speed is fast, choose a higher lofted club. 

Spin 

Some golfers are better at generating spin than others. However, any player will struggle to produce spin without the proper lie and the right equipment. When choosing what club you should use for chipping, always consider how much spin you typically get with your shots. 

The highest levels of spin will be seen with a lob wedge. If you are having a hard time generating spin in your golf game, try switching to a golf ball that has a higher greenside spin. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about what club you should use for chipping. Remember that this process requires a bit of trial and error to make sure you are prepared for all situations. 

Who should use a golf chipper?

Golf chippers are designed for higher handicappers and beginners with a high dispersion rate in their chip shots. A golf chipper will help improve consistency and confidence for these players. 

Can you chip with your 7-9 iron?

Chipping with your 7-9 iron is a great option when you have plenty of green in front of you to work with. The club will offer plenty of roll, a compact and simple swing, and plenty of control. 

Is it better to chip with a 56 or 60-degree wedge?

Most golfers find the 56 is a better club to chip with from the majority of lies. The 60-degree is excellent when you have short-sided yourself, and there is no green to work with between you and the pin. 

Is a 52-degree wedge good for chipping?

The 52-degree wedge is great for longer chip shots where you still need a high ball flight, but you want roll as well. The 52-degree is an excellent club for long bunker shots as well. 

Should you chip with a 60-degree wedge?

Golfers that have practiced with the 60-degree and feel confident with it should use it from locations where there is very little green to work with. The 60-degree wedge is also a good option for getting up and down out of a rough lie. 

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you now feel like you just added more tools to your golf bag. Knowing what club you should use for chipping is essential to help you improve your short game. So many beginner golfers learn one chip shot with their pitching wedge, which is simply not enough. As your game improves and you become a more advanced player, continue to add different shots to your bag; it will pay off! 

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Joe Morelli

Joe Morelli is the founder of TopRankGolf, a passionate golfer with decades of experience playing this amazing sport. He's dedicated to helping golfers learn, improve and enjoy the game of golf.