How many times have you stood over a short wedge shot with one thought running through your head, “Don’t chunk this.”
Those three words can trigger a chain reaction. Your confidence disappears, your fundamentals vanish and suddenly you’re overthinking what should be a simple shot.
The frustrating part is that chunked wedges usually aren’t random. Most stem from a few common swing faults. Once you identify what’s causing your poor contact, you can make the necessary adjustments to start making crisp, consistent contact every time.
Are you steep or shallow?
According to Krista Dunton, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, most chunked wedge shots come from one of two swing patterns:
- Getting too steep into impact
- Getting too shallow into impact
An easy way to diagnose your miss is to pay attention to how the shot feels.
If the leading edge digs sharply into the turf — producing fat shots, deep divots or even the occasional skull — you’re likely getting too steep at impact.
If it feels like the bounce of the club hits the ground first and skips into the ball — leading to a weak, dribbly shot — you’re probably too shallow at impact.
Too steep? Think: neutral hands, less hinge
If you tend to get steep, start with your setup. Dunton explains that many amateurs address the ball with their hands too far forward. This setup adjustment unintentionally shuts the clubface and steepens your angle into the ball.
Instead, she says to aim for a more neutral setup. The first step is to check that your clubface is square. You can do this by holding the club out in front of you, like you would for a stand-up grip. Next, position the butt of your grip so it’s in line with your belly button. This will set your hands in a neutral position that will shallow your angle into the ball.
Another common issue is getting too vertical with the takeaway.
“If you tend to pick the club up pretty abruptly, you’re creating another really steep downward angle into the ball,” Dunton says.
To fix this, make a few practice swings with quieter wrists. The takeaway should feel more connected and around your body rather than the club moving straight up.
“It should feel like a sweepier, inside motion,” Dunton says. “That position will allow you to let the club slide under the ball.”
Too shallow? Think: head forward, turn through
Players who get too shallow often make one critical mistake: hanging back through impact.
Tilting backwards as the club enters impact causes it to bottom out too early, making clean contact difficult. One reason this happens is a poor setup.
Dunton explains that many golfers set up with their nose too far behind the ball, which encourages them to hang back through impact. Instead, start with your nose in a more centered position. A simple checkpoint is to keep it in line with the buttons on your shirt, ensuring it doesn’t drift backward.
Another key to avoid hanging back is maintaining pressure on your lead side. A simple way to achieve this, Dunton says, is to feel your head move slightly forward in your backswing.
“All good short game players on tour, their head actually moves slightly forward as the club goes back,” Dunton says. “That will keep the weight on that front side.”
Lastly, make sure your swing doesn’t stop at impact. Many players who chunk wedges quit rotating through the shot, causing them to stall and hit the turf early. To know if you’re turning completely through the shot, check that your chest and hips finish at the target.
Once you can identify where your miss is coming from, the fix becomes much simpler. Crisp wedge shots are usually the product of solid fundamentals — neutral setup, weight forward and committed rotation through impact. Get those basics dialed, and contact becomes more consistent, even under pressure.
