There's nothing more frustrating than the thud of a pure, unadulterated chunk. You make a great practice swing that perfectly clips the grass, you step up to the ball feeling confident, and then... thump. The club digs into the ground a few inches behind the ball, sending a shockwave up your arms and a massive divot farther than your shot. This article will break down exactly why this happens and give you straightforward, actionable advice and drills to replace that dreaded chunk with a crisp, pure strike.
At its core, a chunked shot is simply a problem with where the bottom of your swing is. Think of your golf swing as a giant circle with the clubhead traveling on the circumference. The lowest point of that circle, or the "low point," must happen at or just after the golf ball for a clean strike with an iron. When you chunk it, your low point has occurred too early - behind the ball. Your club hits the ground first, loses a massive amount of speed, and then glances the ball, which travels a fraction of its intended distance. So, our entire mission is to get that low point back to where it belongs.
There are typically three main culprits that move this low point behind the ball. Let’s walk through each one and give you the tools to fix it.
This is probably the most common reason amateur golfers chunk the ball. A powerful and consistent golf swing involves a dynamic weight shift. As you swing back, you load into your trail side (your right side for a right-handed golfer). As you start the downswing, your weight must shift decisively forward onto your lead side (your left side). This forward shift is what pulls the bottom of your swing forward, getting it to the ball or just past it.
Many struggling golfers do the exact opposite. They lean toward the target during the backswing and then fall away from it during the downswing to try and "help" the ball into the air. This is often called a "reverse pivot." When you hang back on your trail foot, the lowest point of your swing will naturally be behind the golf ball, right where your center of mass is. It's almost physically impossible to hit the ball cleanly from this position without some last-second miracle move with your hands.
This is a fantastic drill for feeling proper momentum toward the target. It's simple but highly effective.
This drill makes it impossible to hang back on your trail foot.
Think about casting a fishing line. You flick your wrists to send the lure flying. In golf, "casting" is a similar un-hinging motion of the wrists, but it happens at the worst possible time: the very beginning of the downswing. During the backswing, you create an angle between your lead arm and the club shaft. This angle is a massive power source that you want to maintain for as long as possible on the downswing.
Casting is when you lose that angle immediately. Your hands and wrists throw the clubhead out and away from your body. This has two disastrous effects. First, you lose all your stored power and clubhead speed. Second, it dramatically widens your swing arc and moves the low point farther behind you. The club gets longer too soon, guaranteeing it will hit the ground before it reaches the ball, resulting in a fat or chunked shot.
This is a classic for teaching you how to maintain your wrist angles, often called "lag."
This drill gives you a really clear feeling of how the club should trail behind your hands.
Another major reason for chunked shots is a change in your height during the swing. When you set up to the ball, you establish a very specific "spine angle" - the amount you are tilted coward the ball from your hips. For a consistent swing, this is the angle you need to rotate around. Any significant vertical motion kills this consistency.
A common fault is "dipping" during the downswing. As a player tries to generate power, they instinctively squat down, lowering their entire body. While a small amount of "settling" is athletic, an excessive dip lowers the entire arc of the swing. The club is now on a path to plow into the ground well before the ball. You might successfully stand back up right at impact (a huge timing challenge), but more often than not, it results in a chunk.
This drill is an all-time great because it addresses so many issues at once, forcing a forward low point and a descending blow.
Dealing with the chunks comes down to understanding and controlling the low point of your golf swing. By focusing on a proper weight shift to your front foot, maintaining your wrist angles on the downswing, and keeping stable posture, you can move that low point forward and start making solid, compressed contact every time. Try practicing one or two of these drills in your next range session, and you’ll be on your way to replacing that frustrating "thud" with the beautiful "click" of a perfectly struck shot.
Ultimately, chunking happens when there's uncertainty in your swing, and that uncertainty can be amplified when you’re on the course facing a tricky lie in the rough or a tight fairway. For those moments when you feel stuck and the fear of a fat shot is creeping in, technology-driven tools can offer a boost of confidence. With Caddie AI, you can get instant guidance for any situation. Just snap a photo of your ball's lie, and our AI caddie will analyze the situation and suggest the smartest way to play the shot, helping you avoid devastating mistakes. By providing a clear, simple plan, Caddie AI helps remove the guesswork and fear, allowing you to trust your swing and commit to the shot with confidence.
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