How to Stop Chunking the Golf Ball

Chunking the golf ball is a common problem among golfers, especially beginners. It occurs when a golfer’s club strikes the ground behind the ball, resulting in a loss of distance and accuracy. To eliminate chunking and improve your overall golf game, follow these steps and practice diligently.

1. Proper stance and posture:

A stable and balanced stance is crucial for consistent ball striking. Ensure your feet are shoulder-width apart, with your weight distributed evenly on both feet. Slightly bend your knees and maintain a straight spine angle. Keep your arms hanging naturally from your shoulders as you grip the club.

2. Correct ball position:

Place the ball in the proper position relative to your stance. For short irons, the ball should be in the middle of your stance. As the club gets longer, progressively move the ball forward in your stance, reaching its farthest point with the driver.

3. Weight shift during the swing:

A proper weight shift is essential for solid contact. As you begin your backswing, transfer your weight to your back foot, allowing your body to coil. During the downswing, shift your weight towards your front foot while maintaining balance.

4. Shallow your swing:

A steep swing can lead to chunking. To create a shallower swing, focus on keeping your right elbow (for right-handed golfers) close to your body during the downswing. This action will help you maintain a consistent swing plane, reducing the likelihood of hitting the ground before the ball.

5. Maintain a steady head:

Keep your head steady throughout your swing to maintain a consistent spine angle. Avoid lifting or dipping your head, as these movements can lead to chunking. Focus on a spot on the back of the ball to help you maintain your head position.

6. Practice proper wrist hinge:

Hinging your wrists correctly helps create an efficient swing that promotes solid ball contact. As you take the club back, hinge your wrists upward, creating a 90-degree angle between the club shaft and your lead forearm. Maintain this angle during the downswing until you naturally release the club through impact.

7. Follow through:

An incomplete follow-through can lead to chunking. Ensure you finish your swing with your weight on your front foot, your hips rotated, and your chest facing the target. Your right shoulder (for right-handed golfers) should be closer to the target than your left shoulder.

8. Practice drills:

Drills can help you eliminate chunking from your game. Try the towel drill, where you place a towel behind the ball, about 4 inches away. Your goal is to hit the ball without disturbing the towel. This practice encourages a more shallow swing and better contact.

 

Common Causes of Chunking

Cause #	Swing Path Issue	Clubface Angle	Timing Problem	Weight Distribution	Mental Factor
1	Outside-in	Open	Early release	Weight too far back	Lack of focus
2	Inside-out	Closed	Late release	Weight too far forward	Overthinking
3	Steep downswing	Over-rotated	Rushed swing	Uneven weight distribution	Anxiety
4	Shallow downswing	Under-rotated	Slow swing	Poor balance	Tension
5	Over-the-top	Square	Hesitation	Leaning into the ball	Confidence
6	Under-the-plane	Hooded	Poor rhythm	Hanging back	Distractions
7	Over-the-plane	Toe-down	Inconsistent tempo	Swaying	Fatigue
8	Swaying	Heel-down	Chopping motion	Sliding	Nerves
9	Casting	Flipping	Collapsing arms	Improper footwork	Pressure
10	Scooping	Cupping	Decelerating	Weak lower body	Fear

 Setup Adjustments

Adjustment #	Ball Position	Stance Width	Posture	Grip	Alignment
1	Slightly back	Shoulder-width	Upright	Neutral	Square
2	Centered	Wider	Slight bend	Stronger	Parallel
3	Forward	Narrower	More bend	Weaker	Open
4	Consistent	Comfortable	Straight spine	Interlocking	Closed
5	Off the heel	Stable	Chin up	Overlapping	Aligned
6	Off the toe	Balanced	Relaxed arms	10-finger grip	Targeted
7	Middle	Adjusted	Athletic stance	Vardon grip	Proper
8	Slightly forward	Customized	Natural	Proper pressure	Aligned with target
9	Adjusted	Consistent	Good posture	Firm grip	Correct
10	Optimal	Personalized	Neutral	Secure grip	Consistent

Swing Adjustments

Adjustment #	Takeaway	Backswing	Transition	Downswing	Follow-through
1	Smooth	Full	Smooth	Accelerate	High
2	Low and slow	Compact	Tempo	Shallow	Extended
3	On-plane	Wide	Rhythm	On-plane	Balanced
4	Inside	3/4 length	Weight shift	Lag	Full
5	Connected	Shorter	Pause	Late release	Relaxed

Drills and Exercises

Drill/Exercise #	Drill Name	Focus Area	Purpose	Repetitions	Frequency
1	Divot drill	Impact	Improve contact with the ball	10-15	Daily
2	Towel drill	Downswing	Eliminate fat shots	10-15	Daily
3	Weight transfer drill	Weight shift	Improve balance and weight shift	10-15	Daily
4	Impact bag drill	Impact position	Improve clubface control	10-15	Daily
5	Half swing drill	Swing control	Develop better control	10-15	Daily
6	Tee drill	Ball striking	Improve ball striking consistency	10-15	Daily
7	Step drill	Timing	Improve swing timing	10-15	Daily
8	Split grip drill	Swing path	Improve swing path	10-15	Daily
9	Hinge-and-hold drill	Wrist hinge	Train proper wrist hinge	10-15	Daily
10	One-arm drill	Body rotation	Enhance body rotation in the swing	10-15	Daily

Tips for Consistent Results

Tip #	Pre-round Routine	Course Management	Mental Approach	Practice Routine	Equipment Check
1	Warm-up	Club selection	Visualization	Regular practice	Club fitting
2	Stretching	Course mapping	Breathing	Short game focus	Proper grips
3	Putting practice	Risk assessment	Positive self-talk	Swing drills	Correct lie angles
4	Chipping practice	Shot selection	Confidence	Mirror work	Shaft flex
5	Range session	Target focus	Relaxation	Quality over quantity	Ball type
6	Swing tempo	Play within yourself	Focus	Consistent setup	Club length
7	Mental rehearsal	Adapt to conditions	Patience	Feedback	Club condition
8	Goals setting	Strategy	Emotional control	Purposeful practice	Proper shoes
9	Nutrition	Playing percentages	Mindfulness	Challenge yourself	Comfortable clothing
10	Hydration	Smart decisions	Commitment to shots	Progress tracking	Golf glove fit

Conclusion:

Chunking the golf ball can be frustrating, but with the proper technique and practice, you can eliminate this issue from your game. Focus on your stance, ball position, weight shift, swing plane, head position, wrist hinge, and follow-through. By implementing these adjustments and practicing regularly, you will see improvements in your ball striking and overall golf game.