I’ve bought a chipper. You can stop smirking now. I’m serious.
I’ve had the Ping ChipR for eight rounds and I’ve already chipped in more times than I’ve managed in the last five years. That’s three times for anyone who’s interested.
I’m convinced this could be a secret weapon for every club player who just wants to say the words ‘up and down’ more often.
And I’m sure it’s going to help me win a big club competition in 2024. Is this the desperate urging of an eternal optimist? Let’s take a look at it and you can make up your own minds.
First, some background. I’m a former single figure player who is hovering around 11 on the WHS index. I’m an average length hitter, even at 46, and I’m an OK putter.
I’m in and around par 4 greens in two shots. But where my potential pars frequently turn into bogeys is around those greens.
I just don’t chip well enough. From 30 yards and in, I need to get better. Just take lessons, I hear you cry! I’m doing it, but it’s going to take a bit more than proper technique to get me comfortable with a tight lie and a lofted wedge.
I used to mask this by hitting low running chip and runs into greens. Seven, eight, 9-iron, I’ve tried them all. When they work, it’s excellent.
But chunk one, or just as calamitous, hit it a bit firmly out of the centre of the clubface, and I might be right back where I started.
So I took a chance on the Ping ChipR – a club that doesn’t look anything like the huge-faced, massive back monstrosities we’ve seen from chippers in the past.
