Chipping and Handling

When Odyssey released its first chipping-only club – the X-Act Tank Chipper – in 2014, it must have known it was taking a risk. Using a chipping-only club is an admission that you’re not very good around the greens and it can only be used for a very specific type of shot from a certain type of lie.

Odyssey was dropping R&D money into a club that would come with a stigma and wouldn’t exactly fly off the shelves (of course, as a part of Callaway, Odyssey can do that sort of thing, and it’s not as if it invested similar money to what it spent on the Elyte or Paradym drivers).

Sure enough, the X-Act Tank didn’t change the world, and it took a while for its successors to be accepted, too. And many golfers still wouldn’t dream of putting a chipping-specific club in their bag. Though, as a race, we’ve learned to survive in a world where chippers exist, and though the stigma is significantly smaller than what it has been, it certainly still exists. There would be knowing smiles in a foursome if one of its members pulled a chipper from their bag after coming up short of the 1st green.

But there is a section of golfers who couldn’t care less what their playing partners think and who have enough trouble with the basic chip shot to justify replacing a wood or wedge with a chipper that will save them several shots every round. For those of you who chunk or blade chip shots with any regularity, a chipper will probably save you a lot of embarrassment and frustration, and could be a very welcome addition to your arsenal.

Odyssey’s new Chipper has a more-rounded head than its predecessors, putting you in mind of a hybrid, which might make you feel more comfortable before you even swing/stroke it. The Step Sole reduces interaction with the turf, reducing the likelihood of hitting the shot fat, and a white polymer insert improves feel and contrasts with the black of the head to frame the ball. A longer grip than those of previous models allows you to grip up or down depending on the lie and accommodates whatever putting grip you prefer (using your putting grip is recommended).

The club has 37 degrees of loft (similar to an 8 or 9-iron) and sits at an angle of 66 degrees to the ground. At 35.5 inches long (the women’s version is 34.4”), it is slightly longer than a standard putter.

While some golfers dread bunkers, others feel very uncomfortable chipping from the fringe or any tight lie. The skip and stop shot that pros play with ease is not something that comes naturally to many, and if that’s you, Odyssey’s Chipper might be a solution.

$180
Right and left-hand
Available in stores and online 6/27
odysseygolf.com