How to Stop Chunking and Blading Chip Shots: Master Your Short Game with Precision Tools
Chunking and blading chip shots are among the most frustrating mishits in golf, often due to improper setup, poor weight distribution, or incorrect clubface angle. By following targeted techniques and incorporating tools like FinalPutt’s Connection Band, Impact Stick, and Unity Ball, you can transform your chipping game. Let’s dive deep into how to achieve consistent, clean contact every time.
1. Achieving Proper Weight Distribution for Solid Contact
One of the core elements of good chipping technique is weight distribution. Placing around 60-70% of your weight on your front foot helps maintain a stable low point in your swing, allowing for a descending strike that hits the ball first, followed by the turf.
- Technique: Start with a narrow stance and position the ball slightly back in your stance, maintaining your weight forward. This setup encourages a downward strike.
- Product Recommendation: The Connection Band from FinalPutt is ideal for reinforcing proper body and arm connection, helping keep your weight forward. By preventing your arms from separating during the swing, it ensures a stable low point for consistent ball-first contact.
Drill: Practice with the Connection Band by taking slow, controlled chip shots while focusing on keeping your weight on the lead leg. This will help ingrain the feel of a connected, forward-weighted chip shot, reducing the risk of chunking.
2. Narrow Stance and Compact Swing for Precision
A stance that’s too wide can cause unnecessary movement, making it harder to control shorter shots. A narrow stance gives you better control and a more compact swing, both crucial for chipping accuracy.
- Technique: Keep your feet close together, almost touching, and aim for a shorter, controlled backswing.
- Practice with the Unity Ball: The Unity Ball helps create a compact swing by keeping your arms working together. This device reinforces a connected arm position, which minimizes wrist breakdowns and helps achieve more consistent contact.
Drill: Practice hitting short chips with the Unity Ball between your arms to encourage an integrated swing motion. The tool reinforces a steady, repeatable path, minimizing the risk of both chunking and blading.
3. Using the Bounce on Your Wedge
One of the most overlooked aspects of chipping is utilizing the bounce on your wedge. The bounce allows the club to slide along the turf rather than dig into it, which is essential for avoiding chunked shots.
- Technique: Picture a sweeping motion where the club glides over the ground as it makes contact with the ball.
- Training Drill: Place a tee just in front of the ball and focus on hitting both the ball and tee. This drill promotes a descending but controlled strike that engages the bounce, resulting in smoother contact with the turf.
Impact Stick Tip: Use the Impact Stick to help you stay focused on using the club’s bounce. By keeping the shaft angled slightly forward and maintaining control through the Impact Stick’s feedback, you’ll better engage the bounce for more consistent results.
4. Smooth Tempo and Complete Follow-Through
A key to avoiding chunking or blading is a steady, smooth tempo with a full follow-through. Abrupt stops or deceleration can cause inconsistencies in your shot, while a controlled finish helps you maintain rhythm and accuracy.
- Technique: Focus on accelerating through the shot, with the club finishing toward your target. This reduces the likelihood of stopping short, a common cause of chunked shots.
- Impact Stick for Feedback: The Impact Stick offers tactile feedback, encouraging correct hand positioning and an accelerated follow-through. Its design prevents flipping or halting, allowing for a smooth, controlled finish.
Drill: Practice chipping with the Impact Stick, focusing on a complete follow-through. Start with shorter shots to build confidence and then extend to longer chips, concentrating on maintaining consistent tempo
5. Visualization for Consistency and Confidence
Visualization can be a powerful tool in golf. Before each shot, take a moment to imagine the ideal result—see the ball landing softly on the green, rolling toward the hole, and stopping close. This visualization helps build confidence and control, essential when transitioning from practice to the course.
- Routine Integration: Include a quick visualization in your pre-shot routine. Visualize hitting the ball with the right amount of loft and backspin, landing softly and rolling smoothly to your target.
Pro Tip: Before each shot, visualize a successful outcome, reinforcing good mechanics and a confident mindset. This can help you translate these practice sessions to the course, boosting consistency.
6. Practice Consistently with the Short Game Bundle
The Short Game Bundle from FinalPutt is a comprehensive set that includes the Connection Band and Impact Stick, among other essentials. This bundle allows you to work on every key aspect of your chipping, from setup to follow-through.
- Bundle Benefits: Use the Connection Band for weight distribution and arm connection, the Impact Stick for correct hand positioning and swing path, and the Unity Ball to keep your arms working together for smooth, consistent swings. The tools in this bundle reinforce all the fundamental skills needed for precision chipping.
Routine: Dedicate a few minutes to each tool in the bundle during every practice session. Rotating through these aids ensures balanced practice, covering every fundamental of the chipping process.
7. Building a Routine and Tracking Progress
To build a reliable short game, it’s essential to establish a pre-shot routine. A consistent routine helps maintain focus, relaxes nerves, and encourages a repeatable motion under pressure.
- Routine Tips: Begin each shot by aligning yourself, visualizing the desired result, and taking a few practice swings with the Impact Stick or Unity Ball. Once you’re set, commit fully to your swing and follow through.
Tracking Drill: Create a chipping challenge where you aim to chip close to the hole 8 out of 10 times from varying distances. Track your success rate to monitor improvement over time and identify areas needing focus.
Final Thoughts
Using these targeted techniques and FinalPutt products like the Connection Band, Impact Stick, Unity Ball, and the Short Game Bundle will bring consistency and control to your chipping game. By practicing regularly and focusing on each of these elements, you’ll reduce the risk of chunking and blading, leaving you with more confidence around the greens.
Incorporate these tools and methods into your practice, and watch your scores drop as your short game becomes a strength.
Ready to Transform Your Short Game?
Now that you’ve got the strategies and tools to overcome chunking and blading, it’s time to put them into action. With the Connection Band, Impact Stick, Unity Ball, and the comprehensive Short Game Bundle from FinalPutt, you’ll be able to master these essential techniques from the comfort of your own practice space. Whether you're aiming to lower your score or gain more confidence around the greens, these tools will make every practice session count.
Visit FinalPutt.com and explore the Short Game Bundle today to see real improvement in your chipping consistency and accuracy. Start mastering your short game now and make every round your best yet!
