SteelForce PGM Club

Chippers are completely legal under USGA rules and count as one of your 14 clubs. Some purists view them as crutch, but that's snobbery not rules. Tour players use wedges because they have skills to execute various shots. Recreational golfers often lack those skills. The question is: do you want to prove you can use traditional clubs poorly, or do you want to score lower? Chippers aren't magic—they make one specific shot (bump-and-run) easier through specialized design. If your short game costs you 5+ strokes per round and traditional wedges aren't working, chipper is smart practical choice. Golf is about score, not impressing purists. Use equipment that helps you score better.

The PGM excels at bump-and-run chips from tight lies, fringe, fairway, or short rough around greens when you have green to work with. It replaces: 8-iron or 9-iron bump-and-runs, putter from off green, standard pitch shots with predictable roll. It CANNOT replace: high flop shots over bunkers, shots from deep rough requiring height, long pitch shots needing carry, specialty shots around obstacles. This is specialized tool for specific common situation. If 70% of your chips are bump-and-run opportunities and you're inconsistent with wedges, this solves that problem. If you need versatility for various lies and trajectories, keep traditional wedges. Most recreational golfers face more bump-and-run situations than they realize and would score better with specialized tool.

For golfers who struggle with wedge consistency, chippers provide measurable improvement. The wider sole prevents digging (eliminates chunks), the mallet design keeps face square (eliminates sideways mishits), and the simple bump-and-run technique is easier to execute consistently than various wedge shots. Studies and user experiences show recreational golfers get up-and-down more frequently with chippers than traditional wedges around greens. The improvement comes from using club that matches your skill level rather than forcing club requiring skills you don't have. That said, if you're already proficient with wedges, chipper won't help. This is for golfers whose short game is costing strokes and traditional instruction hasn't fixed the problem.

Less than mastering traditional wedges. The technique is closer to putting than pitching: slight forward press, shoulders rock, minimal wrist action. Most golfers get comfortable within 10-20 practice chips. The simplicity is the point—easier technique you can execute under pressure. Traditional wedges require precise contact, proper weight shift, correct release, appropriate wrist hinge. Chippers eliminate most of that. You're essentially putting with 37° loft. If you can putt, you can learn this quickly. The limitation is you're learning one shot not versatile technique. But if that one shot appears frequently and you're currently failing at it, the specialized simplicity is advantage not limitation.

Primarily designed for mid-to-high handicappers (15+) who struggle with wedge consistency. Low handicappers typically have wedge skills making chipper unnecessary and actually limiting because it can't execute variety of shots skilled players need. That said, some lower handicappers use chippers for specific situations where simplicity and consistency matter more than versatility. The decision is whether you value consistent good results on common shot or versatile ability to handle any situation. For golfers whose short game weakness is costing 5+ strokes per round, chipper is smart tool regardless of handicap pride. But if you have solid wedge game, stick with traditional clubs that offer more shot variety.