- Just Answer

Here is this question addressed, with regard to a TWO WAY CHIPPER. Clubs with two faces are not allowed:

"...Equipment > Two-way chipper clubs are not allowed

July 3, 2002

Question:

    A friend bought a two way chipper and then was told it was illegal in league play. According to USGA Rule 4-1d, a club with more than one striking face is illegal. She wrote PGA and was told the club is legal. Which is the correct answer? I had been told myself that a two way chipper is illegal. Would appreciate a definite answer to give to my friend.

    Rachel and Al Standen
    Pulaski, TN

Answer:

    Hello Rachel and Al,

    A two-way chipper (one with two striking surfaces) is not permitted under the rules of golf. Here is a quote from the rule book.

    "The clubhead shall have only one striking face, except that a putter may have two such faces if their characteristics are the same, and they are opposite each other."

    Thanks for visiting and best of luck with your game. MB ..."

Source: http://www.pgaprofessional.com/askthepro_archive_2002.html

BUT, what if your chipper club has only one striking face?

"...Golf chippers are a legal club for general and tournament play, if they conform to the Rules of Golf.

There have been many different models and styles built over the years, with some that conform to the rules and some that don't. I will lay out the rules and you will have to examine the club to determine if it conforms.

A chipper is considered an iron club, not a putter. Therefore it can have only one striking face. The duel-faced models do not conform to the Rules of Golf. All parts must be rigid, structural and functional. The club head may not have holes through it. It cannot have transparent material added for other than decorative or structural purposes. It cannot have any appendages (knobs, plates, rods or fins) that are used for alignment aids. It must have a round grip. It cannot have a putter-style grip. The chipper must also be the same approximate length of the clubs in your bag having a similar loft..."

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/0311cr-golfqampa0311Z12.html

"...Rules - John Crumbley, PGA Professional,
Rules Expert

* I have a Burke chipping iron that is 40 - 60 years old. I use it around the greens and it a great hybrid utility club. It is equally bevelled on both sides. meaning that u can hit it lefty or righty. If u r behind a tree u can hit it out lefty if u r a righty and vice versa.
The question: Is it legal? Someone told me that two-sided clubs were made illegal. You can use a regular club from the other side but not a two sided club. Rule? thanks Marc

Marc,
Appendix II 4-c of the USGA's Rules of Golf a golf club may only have one striking face except that a putter may have two striking faces as long as they have the same characteristics as each other. So your chipper, unless it could be considered a putter, is illegal for play by the rules..."

Source: http://www.pga.com/improve/features/asktheexperts/031207_expertanswers.cfm

Rules committees can sometimes make strange decisions. If you are playing in a tournament, they MIGHT not have the same interpretation as the above Rules expert. Ask to be safe even as you cite the rules!

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