Chunking iron shots can be a frustrating experience for many golfers. In a recent video posted by Cameron McCormick, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and Jordan Spieth’s instructor, he identified the cause of chunking as an overly active trail hand in the swing. This leads to fat contact and high launching shots. The solution McCormick offers is to use a “pencil grip” on practice swings, which helps to quiet the right hand’s involvement and improve the launch angle of the ball, providing more distance.
In an article published by GOLF.com, Top 100 Teacher Kellie Stenzel provides 10 ways to stop chunking your iron shots. These include checking your posture to ensure you have enough room between your body and the club, setting your club properly to prevent the leading edge from digging into the ground, and minimizing shaft lean to avoid steep shots. Stenzel also recommends proper ball position, pivoting into your divot after impact, and focusing on a circular backswing to prevent digging before impact.
Stenzel suggests swinging to your point of flexibility to avoid overswinging and potential injury. She also emphasizes the importance of stance width, recommending a hip-width stance for irons and slightly wider for driver shots. Additionally, she advises golfers to consider using hybrids instead of low-to-mid irons to help prevent chunking. Lofted wedges with bounce are also recommended to avoid digging into the ground when hitting shots.
Experimenting with these tips and making quick adjustments after hitting a fat shot can help improve your contact and confidence on the golf course. By following the advice of experienced instructors like McCormick and Stenzel, golfers can work towards eliminating chunking from their iron shots and achieving more consistent and successful swings on the course. So next time you’re struggling with chunking iron shots, try implementing these techniques to see improvement in your game.
