Are Golf Chippers Legal? The Official Rules Explained

Struggling with those tricky shots around the green? You’ve seen a chipper, that unique club that looks like a cross between a putter and a wedge, and wondered if it could be your secret weapon. But a nagging question holds you back: are golf chippers legal? You’re not alone in your confusion, as many golfers are unsure if this game-improvement club is allowed in regular play or if their golf buddies are right to call it “cheating.”

Yes, golf chippers are legal for both recreational and competitive play, provided they conform to the specific equipment rules for iron clubs set by the USGA and The R&A. The key is that a chipper is classified as an iron, not a putter, and must therefore meet all the design standards that apply to irons.

This guide will eliminate all confusion. We’ll break down the official rulings from golf’s governing bodies, provide a simple checklist to verify your club’s legality, and debunk the common myths surrounding these helpful clubs. You’ll learn exactly what makes a chipper legal and why you can confidently add one to your bag to improve your short game.

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Key Facts

Official Sanction: The legality of golf chippers is determined by the official Rules of Golf, which are governed globally by the USGA and The R&A.

Iron, Not Putter: A chipper is officially classified as an iron club. This is a critical distinction, as it means the club must adhere to all rules pertaining to iron design, not the separate rules for putters.

The #1 Illegal Feature: The most common reason a chipper is illegal is having two striking faces. These “two-way” chippers are explicitly banned from play, as rules state iron clubs can only have one face.

The Grip Rule: A chipper is illegal if it has a non-circular putter grip with a flat top. To be conforming, its grip must be round in cross-section, just like an iron or wedge.

Professional Use Reality: While a conforming chipper is perfectly legal for use on the PGA Tour, it is extremely rare to see a professional use one. Tour players possess the high-level skill to achieve superior versatility and control with traditional wedges.

Are Golf Chippers Legal? The Official Ruling from USGA & The R&A

Yes, golf chippers are legal for recreational and competitive play, provided they conform to the specific equipment rules for iron clubs set by the USGA and The R&A.

The core of the issue and the source of most confusion is a chipper’s classification. Despite often being used with a putting-style stroke, golf’s governing bodies—the USGA and The R&A—do not classify a chipper as a putter. Instead, it is defined as an iron club.

This means that for a chipper to be legal, it must meet all the same requirements as any other iron in your bag, from the grip and shaft to the clubhead design. The rules are in place to ensure no club provides an “artificial” advantage that reduces the need for player skill. So if your chipper conforms, it counts as one of your 14 clubs and is perfectly fine to use.

So if they’re legal, why is there so much confusion? The uncertainty stems from their unique design, which blends the loft of a mid-iron (typically 30-37 degrees) with the shorter length and upright lie angle of a putter, leading many to mistakenly assume they fall under putter rules or are in a gray area.

The Golfer’s Checklist: 5 Key Rules That Make a Chipper Legal

A legal chipper must have a single striking face, a round grip, a heel-attached shaft, a plain clubhead shape, and conform to length rules. To cut through the technical jargon, here is a simple checklist to determine if a chipper is legal for play. If your club meets these five criteria, you can use it with confidence.

It has only ONE striking face. The most common illegal feature is a double-sided or “two-way” face.
The grip is CIRCULAR in cross-section. It cannot have a flat top like many putter grips.
The shaft connects to the clubhead at the HEEL. It cannot be center-shafted like many putters.
The clubhead is “plain in shape.” It cannot have appendages or graphics specifically designed for aiming.
It conforms to standard loft and length rules. The loft is greater than 10 degrees, and the overall length does not exceed 48 inches.

Quick Check: Look at your chipper’s grip. If it’s flat on top like a putter grip, it’s not legal for play. This is one of the easiest and most common violations to spot.

1. Striking Face: The Single-Face Rule

Two-way or double-sided chippers are illegal because they have two striking faces; only single-faced chippers are permitted. This is arguably the most important rule to know. The Equipment Rules clearly state that an iron club must have only one striking face.

Legal: One striking face.
Illegal: Two striking faces (a “two-way chipper”).

You might be wondering about double-sided putters. There is a specific exception in the Rules of Golf for putters, which allows them to have two striking faces as long as the loft on each face is less than 10 degrees and they are identical and opposite each other. Since a chipper is an iron and has a loft much greater than 10 degrees, this exception does not apply.

2. The Grip: It Must Be Round

A chipper is illegal if it has a non-circular putter grip; it must have a round grip like other irons. Because a chipper encourages a putting-style stroke, many golfers assume a putter grip is allowed. This is a critical mistake. The rules are explicit:

A chipper’s grip must be circular in cross-section, just like an iron or wedge. It cannot have a flat top or any non-circular shape like a modern putter grip. If you put a grip with a flat front on your chipper, the club immediately becomes non-conforming and illegal for play in any round where the Rules of Golf are in effect.

3. Shaft, Loft, and Length Conformance

The shaft must attach at the heel, the loft must be over 10 degrees, and the length cannot exceed 48 inches. Beyond the face and grip, a chipper must meet a few other structural requirements that align it with the design of an iron, not a putter.

Feature	Rule	Why it Matters
Shaft Attachment	Must attach at the heel	Conforms to iron club design, not center-shafted putter design.
Loft Angle	Typically > 10 degrees	Distinguishes it from a putter, which has very low loft.
Club Length	Max 48 inches	Conforms to general rules for irons.

These rules collectively ensure that the chipper, while specialized, remains fundamentally an iron club, preventing designs that could blur the lines between club types and artificially reduce the skill required for a shot.

Why Are Chippers Frowned Upon? Debunking Common Myths

The perception of chippers as a “shortcut” is a common misconception; they are legal, conforming clubs designed to help golfers with their short game, similar to how hybrids help with long shots. If chippers are legal, why do they sometimes get a bad rap on the course? You may have heard them called “cheater clubs,” “training wheels,” or had a golf buddy tease you for pulling one out of the bag. This stigma is almost always based on myths and a misunderstanding of the rules.

Let’s debunk them.

Myth: Using a chipper is cheating because it’s too easy.

Fact: A chipper is a purpose-built tool. It is designed to be more forgiving for a very specific shot—the bump-and-run from just off the green. It simplifies one aspect of the game for golfers who struggle with chunked or bladed chips from tight lies. This isn’t cheating; it’s using equipment designed to make the game more enjoyable and accessible. Industry analysis often indicates that high-handicappers benefit most from such forgiving technology.

Myth: “Real” golfers don’t use chippers.

Fact: While it’s true that you won’t see professionals use them, that’s because they have spent tens of thousands of hours mastering the use of traditional wedges to play a wide variety of shots with incredible spin and trajectory control. For the amateur golfer, a chipper offers consistency on a shot that can cause a lot of frustration and ruin a scorecard.

Think of a chipper not as ‘cheating,’ but as using the right tool for the job—just like using a hybrid instead of a long iron. Not long ago, hybrids were also looked down upon, and now they are a standard club in nearly every amateur’s and most professional’s bags because they are easier to hit than long irons. A chipper serves the same purpose for the short game.

If you are looking to gain an edge in your short game and ensure consistency, investing in a top-quality, USGA-conforming chipper can be a game-changer. Here is a selection of the best-selling legal golf chippers available to help you find the perfect tool for your bag.

FAQs About Golf Chipper Legality

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the legality and use of golf chippers.

Are chippers allowed on the PGA Tour?

Yes, a chipper is allowed on the PGA Tour if it conforms to USGA rules, but professional golfers rarely use them due to their high skill level with traditional wedges. A conforming chipper is a legal club for any competition played under the Rules of Golf. However, professionals prefer the versatility of a wedge, which allows them to hit high, soft-landing shots, low-spinning runners, and everything in between from various lies. A chipper is a one-dimensional club that simply can’t offer that level of control.

Do any professional golfers use chippers?

It is extremely rare for professional golfers to use chippers in competition, as they prefer the versatility and control of traditional wedges for shots around the green. Their extensive practice and elite skill level mean they can execute the simple bump-and-run shot a chipper is designed for just as easily with an 8-iron or 9-iron, while still keeping a more versatile wedge in the bag for other situations. The choice is about maximizing options, not about the legality of the club.

Is a two-way chipper legal in golf?

No, a two-way or double-sided chipper is illegal for use in golf because the rules for irons state a club can only have one striking face. This is one of the most black-and-white rules regarding chipper design. Any club with two striking faces that has a loft greater than 10 degrees is non-conforming and cannot be used in a round of golf where the rules are being followed.

What is the difference between a chipper and a putter?

The main differences are loft and classification: a chipper has more loft (typically 30-37 degrees) and is classified as an iron, while a putter has very little loft (under 10 degrees) and has its own set of rules. This classification difference is what dictates the specific design rules for each club.

Loft: A chipper has the loft of a 7 or 8-iron to get the ball airborne briefly before it rolls. A putter has minimal loft (2-4 degrees) designed purely to get the ball rolling on the green.
Grip: A chipper must have a circular grip. A putter is allowed to have a non-circular grip with a flat top.
Classification: The chipper is an iron; the putter is its own unique class of club, which is why it has its own set of exceptions, like allowing a double-sided face in some cases.

Final Summary: Play Your Chipper with Confidence

So, are golf chippers legal? The answer is a definitive yes, as long as the club you’re using meets the specific construction criteria for an iron as laid out by the USGA and The R&A. The stigma against them is rooted in myth, not rules. A chipper is not a shortcut or a crutch; it is a specialized tool designed to help golfers find more consistency and enjoyment in a challenging part of the game.

By understanding the key rules, you can easily ensure your club is conforming and put an end to any on-course debates.

It’s an Iron: Remember, your chipper is governed by the rules for irons, not putters.
Check the Big Two: The most common illegal features are having two striking faces or a non-circular (putter-style) grip.
Play Better Golf: A legal chipper is a fantastic game-improvement tool that can build confidence and save you strokes around the green.

Now that you know the rules, if a legal chipper helps you enjoy the game more and lower your scores, put it in your bag and use it with confidence

Last update on 2025-07-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API