Few things are more frustrating in golf than chunking a chip shot. You know exactly what I’m talking about: the club digs into the ground, the ball goes nowhere, and what should have been an easy up-and-down turns into another wasted stroke.
I’ve struggled with this myself, especially when I get too focused on mechanics instead of simply making a good athletic motion. The good news is that chunked chip shots usually come from a handful of common mistakes that are relatively easy to fix.
If you’re tired of leaving shots short around the green, these are the first things I would check.
Why Golfers Chunk Chip Shots
Most chunked chip shots happen because the bottom of the swing occurs behind the golf ball. Instead of making clean contact with the ball first, the club strikes the turf first.
While there can be several causes, I see three common mistakes among mid-handicap golfers:
Too Much Weight on Your Back Foot
One of the biggest causes of chunked chips is hanging back during the swing.
When your weight stays on your trail foot, the low point of the swing moves behind the ball. The club enters the ground early and the result is a chunked shot.
A simple fix is to start with approximately 60% to 70% of your weight on your lead foot and keep it there throughout the swing.
Trying to Help the Ball Into the Air
Many golfers instinctively try to scoop chip shots into the air. Unfortunately, this usually causes the wrists to flip through impact.
The loft on your wedge is designed to get the ball airborne. Trust the club and focus on making solid contact instead of lifting the ball.
Decelerating Through Impact
A chip shot requires commitment. When golfers become afraid of hitting the ball too far, they often slow down at impact.
This deceleration changes the bottom of the swing and often causes poor contact.
Choose a smaller swing and maintain a steady pace through the ball.
3 Simple Fixes That Work
These are the adjustments that have helped me the most when my chipping starts to fall apart.
Fix #1: Keep Your Weight Forward
Set up with your weight slightly favoring your lead foot and keep it there throughout the swing.
This encourages the club to strike the ball before the turf and dramatically improves consistency.
Fix #2: Use a Putting-Like Motion
For basic chip shots, think of the motion as a longer putting stroke.
Keep your wrists quiet and allow your shoulders to control the movement.
This helps eliminate unnecessary moving parts.
Fix #3: Practice Landing Spots
Instead of focusing on the hole, pick a landing spot on the green.
This improves distance control and helps you develop a better feel for how the ball will roll out after landing.
Build a Better Short Game Plan
Fixing chunked chip shots is only one piece of lowering your scores.
Once your contact improves, the next step is developing a consistent practice routine and understanding where you’re losing strokes during a round.
Read next: The Best Golf Practice Plan for Busy Golfers
Also read: Why You Can’t Break 90
What Helped Me Most
The biggest breakthrough for me wasn’t a complicated drill. It was learning to keep my weight forward and commit to the shot.
When I start chunking chips, I usually find that I’ve become tentative or I’m trying to help the ball into the air.
Getting back to the basics almost always fixes the problem.
Final Thoughts
Chunking chip shots can be incredibly frustrating, but the cause is usually simpler than most golfers think.
Focus on keeping your weight forward, trust the loft of the club, and maintain a steady motion through impact.
Do those three things consistently and you’ll immediately give yourself a better chance to save strokes around the green.