What can produce either a "skulled" or "chunked" pitch shot?

Producing either a "skulled" or "chunked" pitch shot is primarily influenced by the angle of approach at impact. When the angle of approach is ascending, it can cause the club to strike the ball in a way that results in an improper contact. Specifically, if the club is moving upward when it makes contact with the ball, it can lead to a skull, where the ball is hit too high on its equator and travels low and far, or a chunk, where the club strikes the ground before making contact with the ball, causing it to go shorter than intended.

In contrast, the other factors mentioned do not have the same direct effect on the outcome of the pitch shot. For instance, lower dynamic loft at impact might control the trajectory of the shot but does not inherently lead to skulls or chunks. Additionally, backswing pace typically affects timing and rhythm rather than the specific contact on the ball. Finally, an open grip alignment relates more to clubface direction than to the specific error patterns of skulled or chunked shots. Thus, the ascending angle of approach is the most relevant factor in causing these undesirable shot outcomes.