
What Causes Hitting Behind the Golf Ball?
- Overview. Hitting behind the golf ball, or hitting it "fat," is a common problem, especially with high handicappers.
- Ball Position. Perhaps the most common problem for fat shots is playing the ball too close to the front foot, especially...
- Sliding the Hips. Sliding the hips forward before or at impact causes the body to shift...
Full Answer
What causes you to hit behind the golf ball?
Oct 28, 2018 · The “flip” or early release is a killer in the golf swing. Not only can it cause you to hit behind the ball, it is also robs you of power and distance. The release point is where the swing hits it top speed and if it happens before the ball, the …
How to stop hitting the ground before the golf ball?
Apr 01, 2021 · Understand that every swing is unique and there are a number of factors that cause amateurs to hit behind the ball. The most common reason is amateurs lift with their right side (trail side) going back and lift with their left side (lead side) going forward. This is the exact opposite of what the pros do.
Where should you be looking when hitting a golf ball?
Sep 04, 2018 · This is how to stop hitting behind the golf ball...Subscribe for new videos every week: https://goo.gl/GSJcc8First, I want to explain why you're hitting beh...
How often do people get hit by a golf ball?
Now, you do want to hit a divot in front of the ball. But what often happens is that, as you transfer your weight forward, occasionally your club path comes in way too steep. Essentially, you're chopping down into the ball which makes it difficult to make solid contact. But don't worry because this video will get you back on track!

Why do I always hit behind the golf ball?
How do I stop hitting behind the golf ball?
Why do I hit ground behind ball with driver?
If you stance is significantly wider, it can often cause your hips to move too much side to side and your hip seeks being over each foot. As your hips move too much side to side, this can often cause the club to hit the ground before the ball if you do not recenter yourself exactly the same amount.Aug 1, 2020
Why am I hitting the ground first with my irons?
Can a strong grip cause fat shots?
Why can't I get my driver off the ground?
What happens if you stand too far from golf ball?
How to hit down on the ball?
Start with pitch shots and wedge shots and feel the weight on the front foot. You’ll most likely notice how this helps you hit down on the ball. After getting the hang of it with the shorter shots, try it with a bigger swing. If it feels strange go back to the shorter swings and gradually work your way up.
What is a flip in golf?
The “flip” or early release is a killer in the golf swing. Not only can it cause you to hit behind the ball, it is also robs you of power and distance. The release point is where the swing hits it top speed and if it happens before the ball, the club will be slowing down when it gets to the ball. No good!
How to avoid fat shots in golf?
To avoid this, feel as though the hands, arms, and club move away as one piece during the takeaway. If your takeaway starts with the hands pulling inside or the hips turning the golf club will wind up behind your body. This can lead to the dreaded fat shot.
How to stay centered in golf swing?
A good way to stay centered is to get more weight on your front foot at address. The centrifugal force of the golf swing naturally tries to pull your weight away from the target. Setting a little more weight forward counteracts this natural tendency.
How to stop flipping?
In order to eliminate the flip you need to get your hands leading at impact. The first step to fixing this is to work on reason #1 and get your weight forward at impact. It’s not easy to lead with the hands if you’re weight is on your back foot.
What is the old saying about chili dipped?
Fat, chunked, chili dipped; call it what you will. as the old saying “thin to win” proclaims, there’s not much worse than hitting behind the golf ball.
What does it mean when you hit behind the ball?
Hitting behind the golf ball, or hitting it "fat," is a common problem, especially with high handicappers. It is a frustrating mishit that results in added strokes to the scorecard.
Why does my golf club drop behind the ball?
Failure to naturally transfer the weight through the ball and onto the left commonly causes the club to drop behind the ball. The body and the club must work together in a proper weight transfer.
What is the dip in golf?
Dipping the back shoulder during the downswing causes the body and hands to scoop at the ball (commonly called a "chili dip"). Keeping the upper body upright during the swing and concentrating on leading with the front shoulder can remedy this habit.
What does it mean when your leading arm is loose?
When the leading arm (left arm for right-handed players) isn't straight, it causes a short backswing and prevents the upper body from making the proper coil. Keep the left arm straight, but not tense, and lead the body into the shot with the head and hips behind the ball.
What happens when you downswing in soccer?
During the downswing, players sometimes have the tendency to slide their head forward. This causes the upper body to slide forward, impeding a proper recoil.
Can a fat shot happen on the right shoulder?
Improper weight transfer and dropping the right shoulder can lead to "fat" shots.
What does it mean when you chopping down into the ball?
Essentially, you're chopping down into the ball which makes it difficult to make solid contact.
Which side of the golf ball do you divot on?
All right, so if you guys have been trying to get a divot in front of the golf ball, and you try to keep your weight o the left side as you go into the backswing, but as you make a swing it ends up doing this. Oh, man. That divot went 20 feet.
What happens if you lean let and fall back away?
If I lean let and then fall back away, you’ll see that I’m not going to come through the shot, all my weight’s going to be on my right foot versus inside the right foot, all the way on around to the left foot coming through. That’s the first thing I see.
Why do golfers hit the ball first?
The purpose of these tips is to get the average golfer to hit the ball first instead of the ground because by hitting the ball first, you will see your preferred ball flight and have more consistent results.
Why does a golfer divot after the ball?
This is because they are compressing the ball on the downswing instead of bottoming out before the ball like many amateurs tend to do.
What happens when you rotate instead of swaying?
When you are rotating instead of swaying from side to side, you will notice that you are uncoiling your front side on the downswing instead of moving your body towards the target. This is a HUGE point for the average golfer because it will be the key to clean contact. Crisp turn back, crisp turn through!
What part of the swing should you hit the ball in?
This is important to understand and by following these placement rules, you are hitting the ball in the lowest part of the swing. When done correctly, it makes it possible for the golfer to make solid contact with the ball BEFORE digging into the ground.
How to feel pure contact with a golf ball?
Be sure that you are placing the ball correctly with every club as explained above. The goal of ball setup is to bottom out your swing at the ball every time . This is the best way to begin feeling pure contact.
How to get your chest pointed at the ball?
This will bring us to our next tip. Begin rotating around the center of your body instead of swa ying from side to side . This means your chest will always be pointed at the ball.
How to hit a plus sign on a driving range?
If you're practicing on the driving range I'd encourage you to set up a hitting area with one club (or alignment rod) across your toes on the target line, and another club coming from behind you to make a lower case t or a plus sign +. This will allow you to consistently put the ball in the same spot in your stance.
Why do golfers slide their heads?
During the downswing, many players tend to slide their heads or will want to look at where they hit the ball. Unfortunately, this prevents the player from watching the club strike the ball and , in turn, will cause the entire upper body to move forward once again and impede proper recoil.
Why do I dip my shoulder before hitting the ball?
Dipping the shoulder means that you lower your shoulder excessively when you are moving through your downswing, causing your hands and body to scoop at the ball. This is also commonly known as the “chili dip.”.
What are the factors that affect the golf swing?
These include hip slide, head movement, dipping the shoulder, bending your lead arm, releasing the club too early, and not distributing your weight through your swing correctly. Going through every possible aspect of why you are hitting the ground before the golf ball will be covered ...
How to swing a door frame?
Then cross your arms across your chest as if you were holding a club. Subsequently, make a backswing turn and then a through swing turn. During your through swing turn, you should try and allow your left hip to move laterally, only enough to make slight contact with the door frame.
How to get the perfect swing in golf?
To acquire the perfect golf swing technique will mean that you will hit the ball consistently with power and place it where you would like it to go. However, a lousy technique will reak havoc on your game, causing you to hit the ground before the ball and elevating your handicap. Let’s remedy this.
How to swing in slow motion?
As you are motioning through your golf swing in slow motion, focus on keeping your palms facing down towards the ground, and your chest stays down. Then focus on your shoulder plane and that it is aligned and in a good position. Watch this video below for a visual demonstration.
Why do you hit the ground first?
Hitting the ground first is because your angle of approach (angle at which the club is striking the golf ball) is too shallow. To put it in another understandable way, you are trying to hit the ball with an upwards motion. A golf club (your swing) actually moves through the shape of a circle, meaning when you swing your club, ...
How to stop your body from sliding back when you take a golf ball?
Solution: Lean in your right knee as you turn away from the golf ball. This prevents the upper body from sliding back during the backswing and takeaway.
What happens if you hit the ball too far forward?
For instance, if the ball is too far forward or back in your stance, the arc of your swing will be off, resulting in a topped golf shot. Solution: Position the ball in the middle of your stance for irons and in-line with the lead heel for your driver.
What happens if your arc is too high?
When this happens you usually have two options. You either completely whiff the ball. Embarrassing, but it happens. Or you hit above the equator, topping the ball. You reach the bottom of the arc before hitting the ball and are on an upswing when the club connects.
How to stop choking down on golf clubs?
Solution: Invest in custom-fitted golf clubs or hold the club higher on the grip instead of choking down.
What happens when you hit the bottom of the arc too late?
When the bottom of the arc occurs too late, you’re still hitting above the ball’s equator, meaning you’re hitting at the top of the ball rather than the sweet spot.
What does "topping the ball" mean?
The term “topping the golf ball,” refers to hitting the ball above the ball’s equator.
What happens if you slide your hips back?
Solution: Lean in your right knee as you turn away from the golf ball.
Why is the lead hand the most powerful way to throw a ball?
Because the lead hand is ahead and it's the most powerful way to throw a ball and to generate speed - watch from 7 mins to see this exact drill. Get one of these as it will help you add speed and power to this motion. Now make some small swings with it, and toss the dog ball thrower into your practice net.
What is the club face?
1) Most people who hit the ground behind the ball, when they approach impact, the club face is an open position. Your body is smart, so what it does instead is it tries to do its best for you as you flick your wrists and try to the face up to the ball at impact. As a by-product, you will likely hit the ground first before the ball, or you will top it or thin it.
Does Danny Maude use a dog ball thrower?
One of his drills involves the use of a dog ball thrower. Yes, a dog ball thrower... ...
