Though chipping is a short, low-trajectory shot, it’s still a challenging (and essential) technique to master. Luckily, choosing the right club for this often crucial shot can make a world of difference when it comes to its success rate. So, what club do pros usually chip with?
Some of the most common clubs pros chip with include the sand wedge, the pitching wedge, the lob wedge, or even the putter. As you can see, there’s no one right club to use for chipping, as the ideal choice will depend on a golfer’s preferences and the circumstances in which a shot is made.
Even though there’s no one-size-fits-all answer regarding which specific club pros chip with, you can get a better idea of how they choose their equipment depending on the circumstances by exploring some of the most important features they look for in a chipping club. So, let’s explore these features below.
What Do Pros Look for in a Chipping Club
There’s no single club all pros use to chip, as the right equipment choice will depend on several circumstances. For example, if there are any obstacles, most golfers will want to rely on a sand wedge. On the other hand, if the ball is just off the green, most will opt for a pitching wedge instead.
So, if you’re wondering how to choose a chipping club, here are all the features pros look for in a chipping club (and you should as well):
- Loft. Most chipping clubs need a relatively high loft, as they need to get the ball in the air quickly while also creating a backspin. Sand wedges, pitching wedges, and lob wedges have loft angles that hover around the late 50s, so they make for excellent club choices.
- Feel. This is an essential factor to consider when choosing any type of club, not just chipping ones. Broadly speaking, pros prefer firmer clubs, while less experienced players tend to favor softer ones; however, that’s just a generalization.
- Spin. The amount of spin that a club creates controls the direction and distance of a shot, both of which are essential when chipping. In this case, you’ll want to opt for clubs that maximize spin.
- Bounce. When talking about chipping clubs, bounce refers to the angle between the trailing edge and the leading edge of the sole. If you want a clean, crisp shot, opt for a club that creates less bounce. The opposite is true for those who want the ball to slide through the turf more seamlessly.
Conclusion
By keeping the features outlined above in mind when choosing a chipping club, pros are sure to choose the right equipment for the shot. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to finding the best chipping club, you should also try this approach.
So, consider the general setup, distance, and your priorities when choosing the right equipment; that way, you can rest assured that your shot will have the highest possible success rate.