I bought a Tour Edge Chipper just to see if it would make a difference in my short game. I tried it out today. The bottom line is that my chips shots were online and grouped close enough to one putt. I’ m thinking about putting it in the bag.
The Tour Edge HL 4 Chipper is their “Hot Launch” model. The club is unique. It’s a combination of things that make it so.
The loft is 37 degrees or the same a my 8 iron. The length is 35 inches or the same as my putter. The grip is fairly soft, a little larger than a regular grip and about two inches longer than a regular grip.
So it’s like putting with and 8 iron and has a longer grip so that you can choke down.
It may not be for everyone, but if you have limited time to practice chipping or are having a hard time chipping this should save you strokes.
The price was $70 for the club and head cover. There are $30 chippers without a head cover online.
I purchased this from an American company making high quality products in Batavia, Illinois. I received the club in one day via UPS Ground. Thanks Tour Edge!!! (We live about 2 hours from Tour Edge)
Would I recommend it? Yes. ★★★★
More photos at the end of the article.
On the practice green
What were the results from my practice today?
I went to the course with and open mind.
Initially, it took hitting 10 balls across the green twice for a total of 20 shots to figure it out. I was impressed.
I tried downhill chips, uphill chips, short, medium and long rough. It was still very wet out this morning.
I may put it in the bag. Here is why.
Once I got the hang of it, my shots were straighter and grouped much closer than normal.
8 out of 10 shots were within one putt range and the others were close to it.
My longest attempt was from about 15 feet off the green. I want to try it on the course before I put it in the bag.
I’ve seen people use them from 30 yards out and in the sand if there isn’t a big lip.
I’m thinking my max length shot with it would be from 15 yards.
Just from practice chipping, I think you would need to take a pretty big swing with it out past 10 or 15 yards.
The trajectory was just like chipping with an 8 iron. Obviously, uphill shots were a higher trajectory and downhill shots came out lower.
My grip and stroke were the same as I use with my putter.
My normal 3 foot putting stroke sent the ball flying about 3 feet and then rolled.
Then my 6 foot putting stroke made the ball fly about 6 feet and rolled.
You can see where I’m going with this. It’s not hard to judge the distance using a putting stroke and then just lengthening your back stroke to make the ball fly farther.
The really good news is the shots were very straight and rolled out to a similar distance. Very similar to putting.
The bottom line
Chippers have sort of a bad name. I don’t care.
My thought is that I will use clubs that allow me to shoot the lowest score. I don’t give a darn what people think I should be doing.
If this club let’s me shave 2 or 3 strokes a round off my score it’s going in the bag.
I guess the big question is what club comes out if I do that.
I have a 48 degree pitching wedge, 52 degree wedge, 56 degree sand wedge, 60 degree wedge and a 64 degree wedge.
Then there is this chipper.
I’ve already taken out the 64 as I only used it on really firm greens. I also took out the 3 wood. So adding this club means I need to remove one more.
My thoughts are taking on taking out the 60 because I hardly ever use it. I grew up using a sand wedge for lofted shots.
I would suggest that you continue practicing normal chip shots and pitch shots with the goal of taking the chipper back out.
