The Chunk in General - Mechanical or Practice?

[Crim]

I was luckily able to play 27 holes this past week (in MN)...that's a little over 4 months of not being on a golf course. 

I don't have an instructor, but I can tell you the swing feels good. Whether it looks good or is good mechanically, I don't know, but I like my distance, I like the flight....

...When I don't chunk it.

It was a nuisance this past week. It's hard to put an average on it, maybe five shots (iron/wedges) on each 9? So you're looking at 10 chunks per round of golf. Ridiculous. Some worse than others of course. So the question is

In general, do you think that a chunk is more from a mechanical failure in the swing? Or lack of practice? My heart says lack of practice because my swing feels so good. My brain says, there has to be something going on mechanically. 

Also, the golf courses just shut back down because of Covid-19. Is there practice I can do to work on the chunk in my back-yard without a golf ball? 

[iacas]

(If you're hitting poor shots, then) your swing isn't good.

Who cares (in this instance) what it "feels" like? You need to feel something different - to make some sort of change - until that changed swing "feels" good and IS actually good.

I'm including setup, grip, etc. in "the swing" here too, as ball position might be leading to some faults, too, or something.

[Vinsk]

1 hour ago, Crim said:

Is there practice I can do to work on the chunk in my back-yard without a golf ball? 

Well first you need to assess the cause of your chunks. It’s mechanical. Lack of practice would be the reason if you knew your issue but didn’t practice fixing it. 

[billchao]

55 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Lack of practice would be the reason if you knew your issue but didn’t practice fixing it. 

Practicing could also mean simply getting into a rhythm and timing a swing compensation better, not necessarily that the underlying mechanical issue is being addressed. Not everyone practices with a purpose.

[Crim]

Just now, iacas said:

(If you're hitting poor shots, then) your swing isn't good.

Who cares (in this instance) what it "feels" like? You need to feel something different - to make some sort of change - until that changed swing "feels" good and IS actually good.

I'm including setup, grip, etc. in "the swing" here too, as ball position might be leading to some faults, too, or something.

I'm happy with the shots that aren't chunky though. So I would say I'm happy with 85% of my iron/wedges. I thought there might be a possibility that if the only problem is hitting behind the ball, it's just maybe a lack of practice. But yeah, in the back of my mind I feel like it's probably a swing issue.   

[Piz]

Every chip is a one-off.  A chunk is a poorly played shot.  If you do not make adjustments for eccentricity...the results will be inconsistent.  Maddeningly so at times.