Along with a "shank," which happens when your shot travels almost at right angles from you, a "chili-dip" is one of the ugliest phrases in golf. To chili-dip a shot, usually a short iron, wedge or chip, you strike the ground well before the ball. The result is a flubbed shot that travels a very short distance. A dictionary definition of chili-dip is "when swinging a club in golf, to hit the ground before hitting the ball." Golf synonyms for chili-dip include to "chunk" a shot and "laying sod over a shot."
Cause
Most golf instructors believe chili-dipping is caused by dropping the head on the downswing or at the moment of impact. Dipping the head usually will drop the club into the ground too early, resulting in the dreaded chunk. Some instructors believe dropping the back shoulder on the downswing also produces chili-dips, especially with long irons and woods.
Potential Cure No. 1
If you chunk a lot of your chip shots, Rick Barry, the director of instruction at the Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina, suggests practicing blindfold. No, not to avoid seeing the results of your chili-dips but to avoid dipping your head at impact. Address the ball and stand tall, put a blindfold around your eyes, peek to address the ball again and chip with your head and upper body high. Barry believes this drill eliminates what he calls the hit impulse, focusing too much on the ball and dipping your chin as you attempt to scoop it into the air.
Potential Cure No. 2
David Leadbetter, who teaches some of the best players in the game, has a simple suggestion for those who tend to chunk their chips. When you are just off the green, think about putting instead of chipping. After all, it's hard to chili-dip a putt. So pull out your putter, sometimes called a Texas wedge, when the fringe is smooth. It's a safe and smart shot: A bad putt from off the green almost always winds up closer to the pin than a bad chip.
Potential Cure No. 3
Golf writer D. Merrill at the Squidoo website suggests a rather simple but logical cure for chili-dipping longer irons and woods. Citing the book "The Simple Swing," Merrill writes that a dip of the back shoulder toward the ground, caused by trying to overswing and hit the ball too hard, causes chili-dipping. Keep your shoulders from dropping on the downswing and you should eliminate these types of chili-dips. To put it another way, stop trying to crush the ball.
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