Quick answer: Face-on: at chip address the weight is split evenly or back, and during the stroke the body leans away from the target.
What it does to the ball
An erratic low point: alternating fats and thins from easy spots around the green.
Root causes (by frequency)
Copying the full-swing setup into the short game
Trying to lift the ball by leaning backwards
How to fix it
Chip setup: 70-80% of the weight on the lead foot — and keep it there for the whole stroke — narrow stance, ball center-back
Drills that fix it
Trail foot on its toes · 10 min · 15 reps
Set the weight forward for the entire chip Drop your trail foot half a step back, resting on the toes only, with 80% of the weight on the lead foot. Hit chips from that base: leaning back is impossible. Then return to your normal stance keeping the weight distribution.
Frequently asked questions
What is "Weight back in the chip" in the golf swing?
Face-on: at chip address the weight is split evenly or back, and during the stroke the body leans away from the target.
What does weight back in the chip do to the ball?
An erratic low point: alternating fats and thins from easy spots around the green.
How do you fix weight back in the chip?
Chip setup: 70-80% of the weight on the lead foot — and keep it there for the whole stroke — narrow stance, ball center-back
Sources
Stan Utley (con Matthew Rudy) — The Art of the Short Game