Why You’re Chunking Your Iron Shots—and How to Fix It

Chunking the ball - striking the grass before the ball - can ruin your confidence and your score. Let's uncover why chunking happens and share practical, proven tips to help you stop chunking for good.

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What's Causing the Chunk?

At the heart of chunked shots is excessive lateral movement during the swing:

• When golfers sway too far away from the target during the backswing, the lowest point of their swing arc (low point) moves behind the ball. That's why the grass gets struck first.

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What do Elite Players Do Differently?

Top golfers may exhibit a subtle sway during their backswing, but they counteract it almost immediately. As their arms reach parallel, they begin shifting weight smoothly toward the target. By impact, their hips are often a few inches closer to the intended line than they were at setup—moving the low point of the swing in front of the ball ensures consistently sharp, clean strikes.

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How to Fix It: The Re-Centering Drill

To eliminate chunking and elevate your ball-striking consistency, GOLFTEC coach Josh Troyer outlines a re-centering movement:

1. Backswing: Allow a slight sway away from the ball.
2. Transition/Downswing: Redirect your weight back toward the target.
3. Impact: Your hips should shift forward - finishing approximately 3 inches ahead of their original position at setup.

By maintaining your forward motion through impact—especially by shifting your weight onto your lead side and keeping your body moving toward the target—you naturally shift the swing’s low point ahead of the ball for crisp, clean contact.

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Ready to stop chunking your iron shots?

Book a GOLFTEC Swing Evaluation today!