Avoiding Chunking and Blading in Chip Shots with the Lever Swing
In the lever swing method, chipping demands the same rhythmic feel and precise timing that powers your full swings. Chunking—hitting the turf well behind the ball for a fat contact—and blading, or thinning the shot by striking too high on the ball, stem from disruptions in tempo and release. These mishits rob distance and control, but with a sweeping arm release and stable pivot, you can achieve crisp, effortless contact every time. Focus on brushing the grass through impact, maintaining spine angle, and letting the clubhead fall naturally into the slot.
Understanding the Common Causes
- Chunking (Fat Shots): Often from early release, dipping the body, or hanging back on the trail foot, causing the club to strike turf first. This leaves the ball short, as seen when a player chunks a tee shot into water.
- Blading (Thin Shots): Results from lifting the body, flipping the wrists, or rushing the downswing, hitting the ball too high and sending it low with minimal carry.
- Timing Disruptions: In feel players, poor sequencing rushes the arms or stalls the release, amplifying both misses in this timing-dependent swing.
Essential Setup for Lever Chipping
Position promotes a shallow, sweeping path. Ball slightly forward of center allows full arm extension through impact.
- Stance and Ball Position: Narrow stance, feet close together for arm dominance. Play the ball forward in your stance, off the inside of your lead heel for wedges.
- Weight Distribution: 60-70% on lead side to prevent hanging back. Choke down on the shaft for control, especially with wedges like a sand or pitching wedge.
- Hands and Spine: Hands ahead of the ball, shaft leaning forward. Maintain spine angle—pivot stability prevents dipping or lifting.
- Grip Pressure: Light and connected, promoting feel over force.
Smooth Lever Swing Technique for Chips
Emphasize a long, sweeping backswing with coordinated arm-wrist release. Power flows from effortless timing, not body torque.
- Backswing Rhythm: Take a long, smooth arc, feeling arms and wrists load like a pendulum. Avoid rushing—let tempo build naturally.
- Transition and Release: Feel the club falling into the slot; release fully through impact by "throwing" the clubhead at the ball. Visualize brushing the grass post-ball for clean contact.
- Shot-Specific Adjustments:
- Chip and Run: Low trajectory, ball spends more time rolling—use less loft, sweep low.
- Half or Flip Shots: Scale backswing length for distance control; maintain release timing.
- Flop Shots: Open face, accelerate through with wrist hinge for soft landing.
- Tempo Focus: Count "one-two" for backswing-downswing to groove rhythm under pressure.
Actionable Drills to Build Feel and Consistency
- Feet-Together Drill: Hit chips with feet together to isolate arms, developing the sweeping feel and preventing body sway. Start with 50-yard pitches.
- Grass-Brushing Drill: Place a tee 1 inch behind the ball; sweep through without hitting it, focusing on post-impact extension.
- Spine Angle Mirror Check: Practice in front of a mirror, ensuring no head rise or dip—pivot stays rock-solid.
- Towel Under Arms Drill: Tuck a towel under both arms for connection; chip without dropping it to promote unified release.
Practice these 10-15 minutes daily, prioritizing smooth tempo over perfect strikes initially. Film swings to verify shallow attack angle.
Key Takeaway: Effortless Contact Through Timing
Master lever chipping by embracing rhythm: stable setup, sweeping release, and patient tempo eliminate chunks and blades. Your shots become predictable carriers—low chips run true, high ones land softly. Consistency emerges from feel-honed timing, turning short game artistry into scoring separation. Commit to this flow, and watch mishits fade into beautiful, controlled strikes.