Can the PING ChipR BEAT my Wedge? Will a chipper rescue your short game??

Can the PING ChipR BEAT my Wedge? Will a chipper rescue your short game??
The PING Chipr has impacted a lot of players games positively since it's launch so I was really interested to see just how easy it is to use and whether or not it could compete with my go to 60º wedge. A 9 hole challenge ensued and I honestly had no idea which way it would go..
Who wins? Chipr or S159 Wedge??

[@grahamwilcox4027]

Great to see you use the chipper against your wedge. For anyone who struggles with wedges the outcome could easily be different in favour of the chipper. I have one but it’s not in the bag very often, I do include it in Winter when the ground is extremely hard or frozen and the bounce from wedges becomes more unpredictable. 👍

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

I was as interested as anyone to see how it performed, I think it did pretty well!

[@grahamwilcox4027]

@@JamesRidyardGolf Chippers have a place, Ping should call theirs a short game iron. I have a Cleveland chipper and for low shots with a bit of practice it is easier to get consistently close than with a wedge. For lower shots it is worth comparing to an 8 or 9 iron. They can also be effective from further out and I’d rather use a chipper than a putter from the fringe or well off the green.

[@alexmaza6337]

So fun to watch, I can relate so much with those couple silent seconds after you unluckily hit the first flag on the penultimate shot hahaha, awesome James, thanks for the content

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Was always going to happen! Thanks for watching!

[@shawneepure]

We like those speedy greens at MP!

[@767driver]

Do you do an in-person short game clinic in the USA? I like the fact you tailor your instruction for the mere mortals the play this game😂.

[@dabdias]

As soon as you said “just right of that flag”, I thought if it was me I would hit the flag 😀

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Was never anywhere else!

[@tonyfeminis4232]

Really enjoy your videos. Would there be an easy answer to why a shortish pitch is double hit? thanks, tony

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Hi Tony, I'll add it to the list!

[@alisonburgess345]

I don't think it matters what you choose to use to chip, there's no getting around the amount of PRACTICE you have to do. These chippers are a brilliant marketing thing. I'd say they've made Ping and Cleveland millions!

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Hi Alison, maybe. I think we need to look at these more like ultra user friendly irons vs blades. One needs much more practice and ability while the other reduces these barriers.

[@davidbarnard2716]

very interesting, although a little unfair I suppose since you say you have never hit the chipr before and no doubt have had lots of practice chipping with your 60 degree. I have a graphite Ping chipr and a graphite 60 degree and for an average golfer I would suggest the chipr would win hands down in many cases as I find the 60 is way easier to chunk unless the lie is great.

[@TT-mg2gm]

agreed, probably had decades of practice with the wedge, and his 4th and 5th rounds out of the rough he just butchered those shot with the ChipR, he had a chance to correct his line when he hit wedge after, he should have went back and re hit the ChipR. i would have to agree on ChipR being a must have for any golfer whos played a 60 loft or lower and has continued to either skull, or miss hit/flat a chip around the green, I have never miss hit my ChipR once, i might have come short or long due to swing speed and miss reads, but i have never had a miss hit with ChipR, cant say the same with a wedge around the green.

[@KeithWhittingham]

It would be interesting to see a ChipR vs a 9i - my guess is the results are going to be much the same.

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

You might be right, main differences being the lie angle (more putter like) and the swing weight. Two keys to make this easier to use. Will test it out!

[@KeithWhittingham]

@@JamesRidyardGolf Thanks for the response James. Your videos are really useful, the most valuable for me being the one with your wife (gf?) which drove me to remodel my short game. Thanks!

[@rikclarke4881]

You need to try a chipping wedge like Cleveland 42,

[@warsawbobzaleski]

Old guys like me, 60, grew up chipping with 6, 7 and 8 irons, so a chipper isn't that exotic. Wedges were for more unpleasant situations.

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Yep, I grew up with a 7 iron as my most lofted club for quite a while. Main differences being the lie angle (more putter like) and the swing weight should make it easier than an iron of equivalent ball speed/trajectory which is longer and flatter lying.

[@warsawbobzaleski]

@@JamesRidyardGolf the more putteresque qualities of a chipper make it a club that a lot of people shouldn't laugh at.

[@shawneepure]

No slope on the 5th shot