Chunk
Also known as: fat shot, hitting it fat, heavy shot
A chunk (fat shot) is when the club strikes the ground before the ball — too early a low point — sending a short, low shot that often loses most of its distance.
The energy the club should deliver to the ball goes into the ground instead, and a thick divot appears behind the ball's position. Chunks usually come from the low point being too far back in the stance, caused by hanging back on the trail foot, reverse pivot, early release, or scooping. In wet conditions they produce spectacular clumps of turf and almost no ball flight. The fix requires moving the low point forward — better weight transfer, more forward shaft lean, and correct sequencing.
Example
A player hits behind the ball by two inches and the ball trickles 50 yards with the divot landing ahead of it — the textbook chunk.
Related terms
- Low PointLow point is where the clubhead reaches the bottom of its arc through impact. Controlling it — keeping it at or just ahead of the ball with irons — is the basis of pure contact.
- Weight TransferWeight transfer is the movement of the body's center of pressure from the trail side (backswing) to the lead side (downswing). A complete transfer through impact is a fundamental source of power and consistency.
- ScoopingScooping is the instinct to "help the ball up" by flipping the wrists upward at impact — it adds loft, reduces compression, and produces weak, high, short contact.
- Attack AngleAttack angle is the vertical direction the clubhead is moving at impact. Negative means hitting down on the ball; positive means hitting up.
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