Why Most Golfers Chunk or Blade Short Pitch Shots (And How to Fix It)

There’s nothing more frustrating than hitting a beautiful drive and approach, only to chunk or blade a short pitch and throw away your chance at par.

These pitch shots—from 20 to 60 yards—should be your scoring bread and butter. But for many golfers, they’re a constant source of stress.

The good news? If you’re chunking or blading these shots, it’s almost always a setup or swing flaw—and it can be fixed with the right adjustments.

The Difference Between a Chunk and a Blade

Before you fix the problem, you need to know what went wrong. A chunked pitch means you hit the ground before the ball, often causing it to go just a few yards—or not at all.

A bladed pitch happens when you catch the ball thin with the leading edge, sending it screaming across the green with no control.

Both mistakes stem from a common issue: poor contact and an inconsistent low point in your swing. And both can be solved by improving your fundamentals and trusting your technique.

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Common Causes of Chunked Pitch Shots

Chunking a pitch shot usually means you struck the turf before the ball. This often happens because your setup or swing moves the low point too far behind the ball.

Here are the most common causes:

• Weight too far back at address or during the swing
• Ball positioned too far forward in your stance
• Flipping the wrists at impact, trying to scoop the ball
• Decelerating into the shot instead of swinging through

Each of these creates a downward motion that bottoms out too early, digging into the turf instead of clipping the ball cleanly.

Common Causes of Bladed Pitch Shots

Blading the ball is the opposite problem—but it’s just as frustrating. Instead of hitting behind the ball, you strike it too high on the face or with the leading edge.

That usually comes from trying to lift the ball into the air. But the more you try to help it up, the more likely you are to hit it thin.

Blades also come from:

• Standing up out of your posture during the swing
• Overactive hands or wrists at the bottom of the swing
• Lack of rotation, causing your arms to swing past a stalled body

Clean pitch shots require a shallow, gliding motion—not a jab or a flick.

Fix #1: Improve Your Setup

Most contact problems start before you even swing. A clean setup puts your body in the right position to deliver the club correctly.

Keep your stance narrow—about hip-width apart—and slightly open to the target. This promotes a more natural rotation through the shot.

Play the ball slightly back of center or directly in the middle. Too far forward leads to fat shots, especially with shorter clubs.

Set your weight 60–70% on your front foot and keep it there throughout the swing. This encourages a descending strike and consistent low point.

Lean the shaft forward just slightly so your hands are ahead of the ball. This creates a better angle for compression and turf interaction.

Get setup right, and the rest of the motion becomes much easier.

Fix #2: Let the Club Glide, Not Dig

Good pitch shots don’t dig—they glide through the turf using the bounce of the wedge. When you lean the shaft too far forward or swing too steep, the leading edge digs instead.

To fix this, focus on keeping your angle of attack shallow. Let the clubhead travel low and wide through the ball, not up and down like an iron.

Keep your chest rotating through the shot, which helps the club stay low to the ground. And avoid stabbing at the ball—just let the wedge slide under it.

Bounce is your friend. Use it.

Fix #3: Control Swing Length and Tempo

Most chunked and bladed shots come from poor control of the swing—not just contact issues. When your swing is too long or too slow, things break down at impact.

Pick a short, controlled backswing—something like a 9:00 or 10:00 position on the clock system. Then match your follow-through to that length.

Don’t decelerate as you approach the ball. A smooth, committed tempo keeps the club moving through impact and allows the wedge to do its job.

Think of it as a brush, not a hit. Your goal is to clip the ball cleanly with the same speed back and through.

Fix #4: Stay Down Through the Strike

Lifting up during the swing is a killer, especially with wedges. If you stand out of posture, the club rises too, and you catch the ball thin.

Stay in your posture and let your rotation pull the club through the shot. Your body should stay stable while your chest and hips turn through impact.

Also, avoid excessive hand action. The more your wrists take over, the more likely you are to flip or jab at the ball.

Quiet the hands, trust your rotation, and keep your eyes down just a moment longer.

Practice Drills to Eliminate Chunks and Blades

You don’t fix contact issues just by reading—you fix them by training your feel. These drills are simple, but incredibly effective.

Towel Drill: Place a towel 2–3 inches behind your ball. If you hit the towel before the ball, you’re chunking. The goal is to miss the towel and clip the ball cleanly.

Line Drill: Draw a chalk line or use alignment sticks on the ground. Set up with the ball just ahead of the line and try to make contact in front of it every time.

One-Handed Pitch Drill: Use your lead hand only to make short swings. This removes tension and teaches proper rotation and balance through the strike.

Bounce Drill: Open the face slightly and hit off soft turf or a mat. Feel the bounce sliding under the ball instead of digging in.

Do these regularly and your contact will become automatic.

Conclusion + Call-to-Action

Chunked and bladed pitch shots don’t have to be your norm. With better setup, smoother tempo, and a shallow strike, you’ll start hitting crisp pitches that land soft and check up.

You don’t need perfect technique—just reliable, repeatable contact. Focus on setup, tempo, and letting the bounce do the work.

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Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor