Why You Keep Chunking Your Chip Shots
If you've ever stood over a simple chip shot — 15, 20 feet from the pin — and buried the club two inches behind the ball, you know the feeling. It's not just frustrating. It's demoralizing. You were right there, and somehow the result was worse than if you'd been 150 yards out.
Here's what most golfers get wrong: they blame their hands, their wrists, or their "deceleration." But in 20+ years of coaching, I've seen the same root cause over and over again — poor low point control.
What Is Low Point?
Your golf swing travels on an arc. The club moves around your body, up and down through space. The lowest point of that arc is your low point. For chip shots, your low point needs to be ahead of the golf ball — not behind it, not on top of it.
When your low point drifts behind the ball, the club hits the ground first. That's your chunk. When your body compensates by lifting up, the leading edge catches the equator of the ball. That's your skull across the green. Two symptoms, same root cause.
The Real Culprit
The number one reason low point moves behind the ball is that your weight shifts backward during the downswing. Your head falls back — a natural instinct to "help" the ball up. Or your body dips down, trying to get closer to the ground. Or your trail shoulder drops behind you instead of rotating through.
I use a simple visual with my students: imagine a gold chain hanging from your neck with a charm at the bottom. Where that charm points is roughly where your low point will be. If you lean back, the charm points behind the ball. Stay centered or slightly forward, and you're golden.
The One-Foot Drill
This is the drill that changes everything. Set up to a chip shot, then lift your trail foot almost entirely off the ground. All your weight should be on your lead foot.
Now make swings. One-handed at first — this helps you feel the weight of the club and the tempo you need. You'll notice immediately that you can't fall back — there's nowhere to go. The club naturally bottoms out forward, ahead of the ball, and contact becomes crisp. Ball-first, turf-second, every time.
Start with 10 one-handed swings, then move to two hands. Hit 20 chips this way before every practice session and watch your up-and-down percentage transform.
Ball Position Matters
I demonstrate three ball positions for different shots around the green. Back of stance — inside your trail heel — gives you a lower trajectory with more roll. The handle sits slightly forward for a de-lofted chip that runs out. Middle of stance is your standard chip or pitch, with a neutral handle and slight forward lean. Front of stance — near the lead heel — is for higher trajectory and more spin, face slightly open for lob-style pitches.
For each position, the fundamentals stay the same: weight forward, sternum ahead of the ball, trail shoulder rotating through — not falling back.
The "Load and Post" Feel
My favorite swing thought for short game is what I call "Load and Post." On the backswing, I want you to feel the club move back with your body rotation while your weight stays on the front foot — that's the load. Then through impact, tuck the butt under the hips, finishing in a tall, stacked position on the lead leg — that's the post.
When you "post" correctly, you'll hear the bounce of the wedge thump into the ground. That's the sound of clean contact. That's the sound of a golfer who controls their low point.
Using Your Wedge Bounce
Not all wedges are created equal, and understanding how the sole interacts with the turf is one of the most underrated skills in golf. When you push the handle forward with a square face, the leading edge sits low — great for picking the ball off tight lies. When you keep the handle neutral with the face slightly open, you expose the bounce, which is better for softer lies and higher shots. And on really tight lies, try pointing the toe down and hitting off that section of the sole. The grind is thinnest there, so the club knifes through cleanly.
Learn your wedge. Spend time experimenting with face angles and handle positions. It'll pay off more than any new club purchase.
The Bottom Line
Low point control isn't sexy. It's not a new driver or a swing tip you saw on Instagram. But it is the single most impactful fundamental for your short game — and it transfers directly to your full swing iron play.
Master this, and you'll stop chunking chips. You'll start getting up and down. And you'll finally feel confident standing over those 20-yard pitches that used to terrify you.
Watch the full 12-minute lesson above to see every drill in action.
