Chippers - Callaway X Act Tank Chipper

[viking 91]

Seems like a fantastic club. I have a chipper, not this model and I love it can play it around the green and up to 80 yards out, dead straight all the time. I think this model is the best. Why did Callaway stop making it because it is legal and works great for most golfers? Lots of good videos on the web on this from Callaway and many reviews form many publications. Anyone have one or used one?

 

https://au.callawaygolf.com/golf-clubs/odyssey-putters/x-act-tank-chippers/putters-2016-x-act-tank-chipper.html

 

[viking 91]

[viking 91]

[ZenGolfer 604]

Id say they probably stopped making it because they didnt sell very many of them.  Most golfers turn their nose at chippers.  I used to have a Callaway chipper and it was a nice little club.  I simply hate to carry a chipper and have a club that is kind of 1 trick pony when I could just do the same thing with a 7 or 8 iron and get the same result.

Some people like chippers though and thats cool.

[viking 91]

28 minutes ago, Retrogolfer36 said:

Id say they probably stopped making it because they didnt sell very many of them.  Most golfers turn their nose at chippers.  I used to have a Callaway chipper and it was a nice little club.  I simply hate to carry a chipper and have a club that is kind of 1 trick pony when I could just do the same thing with a 7 or 8 iron and get the same result.

Some people like chippers though and thats cool.

I use mine (won it in a golf tournament, not a Callawy) for many types of shots like I said from 80 yards out even on a par 3 tee plus just off the green, always goes perfectly straight. I know many golfers egos won't allow them to use it but for us average golfers this is perfect. Al the videos from Callaway's top designer was really good and he did many types of shots, this one is unique with the marksman on it.

[BigM 9]

I friend of mine has one of these clubs and he uses it to great success around the greens and even sometimes out of the bunker if there is not much lip to deal with. He is quite deadly with it some days and then other days not so much.

[tony@CIC 14,841]

Id say they probably stopped making it because they didnt sell very many of them.  Most golfers turn their nose at chippers.  I used to have a Callaway chipper and it was a nice little club.  I simply hate to carry a chipper and have a club that is kind of 1 trick pony when I could just do the same thing with a 7 or 8 iron and get the same result.
Some people like chippers though and thats cool.

A few years back I thought I needed a chipper and then I got really good with my 7 iron for bump and runs and my 60* for green side rough and bunkers. Having a chipper would have taken very valuable space in my bag.


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[ZenGolfer 604]

A few years back I thought I needed a chipper and then I got really good with my 7 iron for bump and runs and my 60* for green side rough and bunkers. Having a chipper would have taken very valuable space in my bag.


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That's my only issue with them. Why carry a chipper that's only go for very specific shots when I can do the same thing with a 7 or 8-iron? I like chippers, I really do but I hate wasting a spot in the bag for a special club when I could adapt to hitting the same shot with a club I'm already carrying. I find that I can take a fairway wood, hybrid, iron or wedge and do the same thing.
I like my fairway wood for chips out of the rough because the design of the head cuts through the grass. I like a 7-iron for chips that fly a short distance and roll for a bit. I like a wedge for a chip where I'm kind of short sided and want to kind of have the shot die shortly after the ball lands.
I do think that chipper can be good because it kind of pops the ball up in the air and it kind of dies after that and the wide sole and rounded leading edge makes it difficult to chunk it.

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[viking 91]

Anybody try one or see one in use on a course?

Anyone see them as new in a retail store?

Seems like it would be the top chipper. It was for a couple of years when i did a YouTube search of top chippers. I think this wold be even better than my chipper with the marksman markings and its wider design.

[AmishJason 307]

On 4/26/2020 at 3:08 PM, viking said:

I use mine (won it in a golf tournament, not a Callawy) for many types of shots like I said from 80 yards out even on a par 3 tee plus just off the green, always goes perfectly straight. I know many golfers egos won't allow them to use it but for us average golfers this is perfect. Al the videos from Callaway's top designer was really good and he did many types of shots, this one is unique with the marksman on it.

It's always all about finding what works best for you.  Though, the previously mentioned stigma towards chippers is very real.  Everyone I work with/golf with considers a chipper to be a "cheat club for old men."  The same is also applied to wedges with lofts higher than 60⁰.  If you can truly turn a club intended for short shots around the green into a club that works from even further out, then that's even better!  Forget what everyone else thinks, use what works for you.

[Green Sheep Productions 95]

The missus loves hers - She has an X-Tank. 

There isn't much point of her putting another long club in her bag, but the chipper gives her confidence and makes her happier on the course. 

Is it a crutch for someone who isn't very good? Sure. But we're not professionals.

I use it out on the course every now and again for the fun of it. And the are fun.

[ole gray 16,259]

I picked one of these up today as my chipping yips have returned with a vengeance.  I have the square strike wedge at 45 degrees however I wanted to try one with less loft and the Wilson has 37 degrees loft which is in the 7 iron range.  As for folks making fun with my "specialty club", they learned a lesson with the pocket picker aka square strike. 

 

Wilson Harmonized Chipper
 

 

[elvis14 43]

I use a Cleveland Smartsole 3 "C" wedge.  Between the big head with lots of bounce and the shorter more upright shaft, I hit that thing great. Some days I'll use it from 120 yards in. A good friend who had one previously and only used it to bump and run around the greens played with me one day and said "you need a whole bag of those". Ironically, the last month or so the one place I can't seem to use it well is around the greens (i.e. it's main purpose). I have been looking really hard at the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Irons, however, because they would be pretty close to having a bag full of chunky irons that fit my swing.

I understand the the "why would I carry and extra wedge when I can do the same thing with 7 or 8".  The thing is, I can't do the same thing, at least not consistently, with my other irons (TM M2's).

[russtopherb 4,739]

5 hours ago, elvis14 said:

I use a Cleveland Smartsole 3 "C" wedge.  Between the big head with lots of bounce and the shorter more upright shaft, I hit that thing great. Some days I'll use it from 120 yards in. A good friend who had one previously and only used it to bump and run around the greens played with me one day and said "you need a whole bag of those". Ironically, the last month or so the one place I can't seem to use it well is around the greens (i.e. it's main purpose). I have been looking really hard at the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Irons, however, because they would be pretty close to having a bag full of chunky irons that fit my swing.

I understand the the "why would I carry and extra wedge when I can do the same thing with 7 or 8".  The thing is, I can't do the same thing, at least not consistently, with my other irons (TM M2's).

I have the S wedge and I've used it occasionally around the greens to chip, however it's money out of the sand so it's keeping it's place in my bag (for now). I had a chipper when I started playing 4-5 years ago but I moved on from it pretty quickly. It just didn't do anything for me that a 7i or 8i could already do.

re: HB Turbo irons - those got a lot of love here for how amazingly forgiving they are.

[Shankdog 10]

I just bought the Cleveland smart sole 4 chipper and love it.  I originally was looking for someth8ng a little closer to the Callaway in your picture.  I agree there seems to be a stigma among a certain facet of the golf world.  I think for the average schmoes out there like me, it’s a club that will help lower scores.  More people should carry them.  

[ole gray 16,259]

I just bought the Cleveland smart sole 4 chipper and love it.  I originally was looking for someth8ng a little closer to the Callaway in your picture.  I agree there seems to be a stigma among a certain facet of the golf world.  I think for the average schmoes out there like me, it’s a club that will help lower scores.  More people should carry them.  

I carry one and not one bit embarrassed ‍️


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[elvis14 43]

3 hours ago, ole gray said:

 

I carry one and not one bit embarrassed ‍️


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Same here.  BTW, thanks for your review of Cleveland launcher HB irons.  Been reading that thread lately (it's 20 pages!) and really appreciate the work you and Wedgie put in to test those sticks.