Can't Stop Chunking Wedge Shots? These Tips Will Improve Your Short Game

Yahoo

15-05-2025

Envision this scenario: You've hit the fairway off the tee, navigated the hole with expert-level course management, and just missed a green-in-regulation, so all that's left for par is getting up-and-down.
As you grab a wedge and take your chip shot, the worst outcome happens — chunked.
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Outside of vulgarities and possible Patrick Reed-level frustration, you've got to quickly clear your mind and refocus on your next shot, hoping to correct any mistakes from your previous wedge shot from just a few seconds prior.
To be successful, you need to go back to your fundamentals and execute them to perfection — which can be easier said than done.
Thanks to some golf tips from top-ranked golf instructor Mike Malizia, you can dial in your wedge shots and avoid chunking ever again. The video below explains how.
3 Reasons Why You're Chunking Wedge Shots
'We're talking about the worst shot in golf, and that's when you chunk it,' Malizia says.
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But what's the root cause of chunking golf shots? The top golf instructor shares the three most common reasons why you're chunking — which most amateur players can identify with.
'The first mistake is driving with your knees. When you do that, it'll lower your trail shoulder [leading the club to dig] into the sand. The second reason for chunking is having the chest come down and get lower. That puts [the club] back down in the ground. The third thing I see for chronic chunkers is when they try to elevate the ball by falling back, causing your low point of the club to hit way behind the ball,' Malizia explains.
How to Stop Chunking Chip Shots
Now that you've got the common reasons for chunking golf shots, Malizia provides the necessary recipe to fix the problem.
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'If you want to hit clean, solid chip shots, here's what you have to do,' Malizia says. 'Setup correctly, using a narrow stance and putting your weight [forward]. I'm going to keep my knees and my chest the same height, and I'm going to make a nice tempo swing.'
How to Stop Chunking Bunker Shots
In addition to chunking shots from the rough, it's not uncommon for a player to struggle hitting out of a sand trap. Seriously, I can't tell you how many times I've taken three shots just to escape a greenside bunker — which makes me want to toss my club into a pond.
But Malizia says to avoid the bunker chunks, you've got to reimagine your technique.
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'[It's so old school] to just open the clubface and aim left,' Malizia says. 'Let's simplify this by taking the sand wedge and just slightly opening it. There's no need to open it so much that it's looking like you're going to shank it.'
Now that you've got more control of the clubface, Malizia suggests updating your aim.
'We're going to setup square [to the target],' he explains. 'If you watch the modern day PGA Tour player, they setup square.'
By just making those two easy adjustments, you'll be able to swing the club on its plane and utilize the bounce of the golf club from the bunker — helping you avoid chunking golf shots.
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Related: How To Hit a Knockdown Shot When Dealing With Windy Conditions
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Related: Try Nick Dunlap's Easy Practice Drill for Straighter Putts