Are Chippers legal on the PGA tour?

I don't think the ones you find at the local pro shops are. From what I've read, they have to fit into a certain criteria, which most of them don't (ie. alignment aid, putter grip). I have one, and I use it occasionally. It's useful mostly if you either don't have a hybrid for those "just off the green" putt-chips, or you aren't comfortable choking down on a long or mid- iron.

I golfed with a 13-year old kid last week who was deadly with one of those chippers. He had three 0-putts on a nine hole course because of it.

That said, to me, the easiest shot in the world is a chip shot. My pitches aren't nearly as good. I find that using a chipper not only seriously reduces one's options when playing from just off the green, but it also puts a club in my bag that duplicates what can be accomplished without it. With a chipper, you get one kind of shot. You get one kind of loft angle, and you are limited with what you can do. When I use my irons, I can shoot my 3 iron from the fringe instead of my putter. The thicker the grass is, and the more grass I have to shoot over, the higher I can go with my club. If I end up with too much grass and not enough green, I'll shoot a pitch shot instead.

I don't like to hear people compare chippers to hybrids. A chipper has one purpose. It's extremely limited in what it can do, and what it can do is duplicated by several other clubs in the bag. A hybrid, on the other hand, has several different purposes. I can shoot it from the fairway, from the deep rough, from the tee...I can even chip with it. My 4-hybrid replaced my 4-iron because it can do what I did with my 4-iron and more. With a chipper...any of the clubs I'd contemplate taking out of my bag to put a chipper in instead, I can alread do with that club what the chipper is for. And since chipping is the best shot I have in my arsenal already, I just don't see a purpose for a chipper.

That said, mjaber is right. Chippers are legal, but they have some prettys strict restrictions.

They are legal in the right configuration. A standard round grip must be used, you can't have a flattened putter grip. And they can only be one sided. Years ago there were chippers that could be hit either right or left handed and this is against the rules.

I have one and keep it in the bag all the time. Not just for chipping but it's a great rescue club coming our from underneath trees and shrubs when all you can do is punch back from the fairway. If the sand is hard in your trap it's also a nice out if the lip is not too steep.

Instead of a chipper, a driver or 3 wood can often be used for chipping too. Especially if you're in the low rough and the ball lies on top of it, they work great!

I bought an inexpensive one (Acuity .. from Dick's) last summer and used it for a little while. I stopped taking it with me because I stopped having room in my bag, and I learned how to chip better. Now I either use my sand wedge or sometimes my 24-degree hybrid for chipping.