50 Words or Less
The Vertical Groove Golf Vipper chipping iron provides amazing consistency around the green. Surprising versatility. Much more nimble than your average chipper.
Save 15% with code PLUG when you shop HERE
Introduction
When I was asked by Vertical Groove Golf to review The Vipper, I hesitated. While it’s the goal of Plugged In Golf to cover the entire game, my inner golf snob sneered at a speciality wedge. After testing it, I’m glad I quieted that part of myself. The Vipper may be my biggest surprise of the year and is making a legitimate push to spend time in my bag.
Looks
When I unboxed the Vipper, the first thing I noticed is how conventional it looks. If you glanced at this club in someone’s bag, you would think it’s any other cavity back iron. This is in stark contrast to most chippers, which have exaggerated cavities, soles, or flanges that stick out beyond the top line like the Cleveland Smart Sole [review HERE].
Putting it into the address position, the company’s namesake feature – the vertical grooves – catch your eye. While they’re unusual, I didn’t find them distracting or off-putting. The face is shaped like a traditional iron, and there’s a bit of offset. The other standout feature is more subtle – the black line across the top line. VGG states that this works in concert with the vertical grooves to improve alignment.
Sound & Feel
On center, the Vipper produces a quiet “tap” at impact with a premium golf ball. The accompanying feel is crisp and pleasant.
Given the low speed at impact, I was surprised by how much feedback I got from the VGG Vipper. Off center strikes are louder, a bit brusque. The feel is firmer and clearly communicates where the ball met the face. This level of feedback is good, I’d even say essential, because the results are so consistent.
Performance
Let’s start with the specs on the Vipper. It has 39 degrees of loft, which puts it somewhere between an 8I and a PW, depending on your iron set. The 67 degree lie angle is more upright than a wedge (typically 63 or 64 degrees) but flatter than a putter (usually 70 or 71 degrees). This lie angle helps golfers make a putting-like motion. Finally, the “Ground Control Sole” has 8 degrees of bounce, similar to many scoring irons. All in all, you wouldn’t be entirely incorrect to say that this a sole-heavy, extremely upright 9I.
I started my testing of the Vipper in the short game area at my neighborhood course. This practice green has a lot of tightly mowed spaces, which was ideal for this test. I dropped three balls twenty feet from the cup, several feet off the green. Without a single perfect strike, I got all three balls within four feet. I shrugged, thinking that was good but not too unusual. The same pattern repeated several times, though I mixed in some quality strikes which put the ball next to the hole.
When I switched to the other clubs I brought – a putter, a 9I, and a lob wedge – I started to appreciate the consistency of the Vipper. I’m a frequent user of the Texas Wedge, so my results with the putter were good except when they caught an unexpected chunk of grass. My 9I was good, but the thin strikes took off like a rocket. The lob wedge – which, admittedly, is not the best choice for a basic chip – was a mess, with a huge gap between the thin strikes and the ones that ran up the face and landed softly.
As I continued testing the Vipper, my notes filled up with comments like, “Big misses don’t exist,” “This is like cheating,” and “The bad shots are so good.” What powers this consistency is the combination of the sole and the weighting. Most chips go badly because of A) early contact with the ground or B) a thin strike. The Vertical Groove Golf Vipper has a sole that skates across the turf easily, and it lifts thin strikes up to a similar trajectory as pure hits.
Another thing that impressed me about the Vipper is how it performs in tough situations. I threw some balls into tall rough just a few feet from the pin. Normally, you’d have to think about a high lofted wedge which brings a lot of problems into play. With the Vipper’s tall face, you can make a gentle putting motion and plop the ball gently onto the green. If you’re not short sided, the same shot can work by adding a little more force.
Having passed the basic tests with flying colors, I challenged the versatility of the Vipper and found a lot to like. From half to full swings, this club produces low launch, low spin shots that can stretch out to my full pitching wedge distance. This can give players a nearly-automatic running shot for windy days or tree escapes. The upright lie does make the Vipper more draw biased, but I was able to hit it straight without too much effort.
Finally, I want to touch on the vertical grooves. In VGG’s materials, they say the grooves and “strong topline” work to “start the ball on the optimal line,” but they don’t say how. There is a nod to alignment help, and that may be all they are promoting with regard to vertical grooves on the Vipper.
Conclusion
If you struggle with consistency around the green – or you simply want to reduce your short game stress – the Vipper deserves serious consideration. This club is impressively consistent, but it doesn’t have the bulky looks and limited versatility of other chippers.
Buy The Vipper HERE
Save 15% with code PLUG
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
- Secrets of a Master Club Builder - October 10, 2024
- Mustard Golf App Review - October 9, 2024
- Podcast Episode 228 – In Depth with Titleist on the New GT Line - October 9, 2024
10 Comments
Chipping irons work when the hole is far enough away for the call to roll to it. If it’s closer, it’s difficult to get the call close. I’d rather use different clubs and be consistently closer to the hole – one putt.
Interesting review, Matt. I impulse bought a PING Chipper last year. While I liked it….it was hard to decide “what comes out of the bag”? I do think these types of clubs may be easier to hit through a stretch of tightly mowed bent or bermuda grass around a green than a hybrid — even though there are plenty of teaching pros showing us how easy using a hybrid is from off the green. Hmm, really? Anyhow, good food for thought as always on this site!
Color me intrigued! Never bagged a specific chipping type of club before but this seems to offer multiple uses from short to near full swing. I just visited their web site and the price is extremely friendly. Great review, Matt!
So, Matt, did you use a putter stroke for all distances or switch to a different stroke for longer shots? Also, do you play this club in middle of stance? As always, a good review!
Joe,
Thank you!
I got the best results from a slightly forward ball position, but I played around with a lot things.
Regarding the stroke, I went all the way to making full swings with The Vipper. It can feel a bit unusual, but it produced some really fun results.
Best,
Matt
Was wondering if you had any experience with the Ping Chippr. I have used that club and found it very helpful around the greens. How does this club compare?
Jason,
I have not tested the PING Chipper.
Best,
Matt
Not available in LH. I read the whole post, got a little excited about a chipper that allows full swings, went to the website to check pricing and as is too often the case, only available in RH. :(
Is it legal for tournaments?
Doug,
VGG’s driver is used on The Champions Tour, and I can’t think of any aspect of The Vipper that isn’t compliant with the rules, but I can’t 100% confirm that it is tournament legal.
Best,
Matt