Golfers thin the ball when our swing bottoms out in the wrong place. If your swing bottoms out behind the ball, the result is a fat shot. If the swing bottoms out ahead of the ball, the result is a thin shot. Another common cause of thinning it is when the golfer raises up just before impact, lifting his or her head and torso.
Why do I keep thinning my golf balls?
As mentioned previously a flat golf swing will make you prone to thinning the golf ball. If this is the reason you believe you are hitting poor shots along the ground you should consider using this drill to help you swing more upright.
What causes a thin shot in golf?
Reaching for the ball — where your arms often get into a diagonal position — will often lead to a thin shot or a top. 4. Arms not extending down When you make your backswing, your trail elbow folds to create power.
Why do I slice my golf ball?
There may be no greater power loss than a slice. The ball sometimes starts out ok and then makes this depressing curve, robbing you of all of your potential distance and power. You can fix that slice, but it starts with understanding what causes it in the first place… 1. Open club face The most common cause of a slice is an open club face.
What is topping or thinning the golf ball?
One of the most common misses is topping or thinning the golf ball. Often, a thin shot can be recoverable, but topping can be a score-killing shot, and immensely frustrating if you don’t know what’s causing it.
How to hit a tennis ball with your back?
Who were the two golfers in the 2003 Presidents Cup?
What is a good image for a tennis player?
Do golfers hit the ground first?
See more
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How do I stop my golf ball from thinning?
Bottom of the Swing Arc Before the Ball and/or Too High Indeed, in order to produce a shot that sees the leading edge of the club making contact with the ball – such as is the case in thin shots – the bottom of the swing arc needs to be located behind the ball, or before contact with the ball is made.
What causes hitting the golf ball thin?
Golfers who hit a lot of thin shots tend to swing the club too steeply into the ball. That's because they slide past the ball on the downswing and have to force the club down to make contact. When they slide too far, they catch only the top half of the ball, hitting it thin.
How do you fix fat and thin golf shots?
4:427:33How to stop hitting topped, thin and fat iron shots - 3 Causes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInto the ball nice and show with the club leaning forward and really avoid any of these fat and thinMoreInto the ball nice and show with the club leaning forward and really avoid any of these fat and thin shots. So if you do have problems with top shots spin shots and fat shots.
What does thinning the golf ball mean?
A "thin shot" in golf is one in which the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high (near the midpoint of the golf ball, or slightly lower or higher), which typically results in a low, sometimes slicing shot. A thin shot also often produces much more vibration that is felt in the golfer's hands.
What causes fat and thin golf shots?
Generally speaking, a thin or fat shot is caused by having your swing center too far behind the ball at impact. This error causes your club to bottom out too far behind the ball and will cause you to hit the ground first (a fat shot) or hit the top of the ball (a thin shot).
Why am I thinning my pitch shots?
Interestingly enough, the skulled, or thin pitch shot over the green is just as common and is caused by the same reasons. Both of these shots are caused by the player trying to scoop the ball up in the air with the right hand and clubhead.
Can a strong grip cause fat shots?
Fat shots. One of the other signs of an overly strong grip is the tendency to hit the ball fat, especially on short iron shots. As mentioned above, a strong grip makes it easy to release the club on the way down, and an early release could cause you to stick the club in the ground behind the ball.
How do I stop hitting iron shots fat?
4:208:39HOW TO STOP HITTING BEHIND THE BALL INSTANTLY (No Joke)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis practice swing you're gonna lift the heel. Three or four inches with irons. Five or six inchesMoreThis practice swing you're gonna lift the heel. Three or four inches with irons. Five or six inches with driver if you're drop kicking. So you've got that.
What causes a fat golf shot?
Fat shots happen when the clubface bottoms out digging behind the ball instead of pinching the back of the ball on the downswing. The timing is off, as the upper body hits before the lower body shifts weight back to your front foot.
How do I stop my wedges from thinning?
2:033:14How to Stop Thinning your Wedge Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSome shots getting the feeling of what it feels like with your arms in a more extended. Position andMoreSome shots getting the feeling of what it feels like with your arms in a more extended. Position and the second one where you force the weight onto the back foot.
Why am I topping the ball?
Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the ball or you catch the ball on the way up, instead of at the bottom point. A lot of things can cause this to happen: A club that's too short. An awkward stance.
How do you avoid blading chip shots?
2:144:25How to Stop Skinnying (Topping or Blading) Your Chip Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd here's a guaranteed cure for not skinning chips is to then put your right foot back behind youMoreAnd here's a guaranteed cure for not skinning chips is to then put your right foot back behind you up on its tippy toe. And then go ahead and hit down and hit hit that chip shot with confidence.
What causes weak iron shots?
5:3411:02GOLF: STOP Hitting Weak/Right Iron Shots! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat's too much loft club face is too open you're going to be steep coming down weak and right shotsMoreThat's too much loft club face is too open you're going to be steep coming down weak and right shots. The first thing we need to do is change where the loft. Points.
How do I stop my wedges from thinning?
2:033:14How to Stop Thinning your Wedge Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSome shots getting the feeling of what it feels like with your arms in a more extended. Position andMoreSome shots getting the feeling of what it feels like with your arms in a more extended. Position and the second one where you force the weight onto the back foot.
How do you avoid blading chip shots?
2:144:25How to Stop Skinnying (Topping or Blading) Your Chip Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd here's a guaranteed cure for not skinning chips is to then put your right foot back behind youMoreAnd here's a guaranteed cure for not skinning chips is to then put your right foot back behind you up on its tippy toe. And then go ahead and hit down and hit hit that chip shot with confidence.
Why am I hitting my irons so low?
Low shots are the result of a faulty impact position (the position of the clubface as it strikes the ball) that de-lofts the clubface. Impact is the moment of truth in golf. Ben Hogan said, "The ultimate judge of your swing is the flight of the ball," and impact determines ball flight.
Fat Golf Shots: 5 Steps To Eliminate Them For Good — Hitting It Solid ...
If you have ever spent any time on a golf course, you have probably hit a fat golf shot or two. It is nothing to be ashamed of, because it has happened to everyone that has ever picked up a golf club, even the professionals . Some people have figured out how to stop hitting fat go
How to hit a tennis ball with your back?
First, make your initial move from the top a little bump onto your front foot. Feel like you’re shifting toward the target, so your chest is over the ball. Second, get to impact with the back of your top hand facing the target (left), not pointing upward. A good image is that you’re back-handing the ball, like a tennis stroke.
Who were the two golfers in the 2003 Presidents Cup?
In the 2003 Presidents Cup in South Africa, two of the sweetest swingers at that time, Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby, were matched against two of the most unconventional, Jim Furyk and Jay Haas. As they warmed up, murmurs from the crowd suggested the “pretty” swings had it made. At one point, Jay said to Jim, “I bet those people don’t give us much of a chance.” Jim laughed, and the Americans went on to win, 6 and 5, one of the most lopsided victories in the history of the event. Don’t get me wrong, Adam and Stuart are tremendous talents. (I taught Adam for years.) But the only real barometer of a golf swing is the shots it produces.
What is a good image for a tennis player?
A good image is that you’re back-handing the ball, like a tennis stroke. If you get those two moves right, you’ll swing into impact with your weight forward and your wrists firm—two things every good ball-striker does.
Do golfers hit the ground first?
A lot of golfers never get over the instinct to lift the ball off the ground. They swing off their back foot or flip their hands through impact, both of which make the club bottom out too soon. As a result, they hit the ground first (fat shot) or catch the ball on the upswing (thin shot).
Why do golfers hit thin shots?
Golfers who hit a lot of thin shots tend to swing the club too steeply into the ball. That's because they slide past the ball on the downswing and have to force the club down to make contact. When they slide too far, they catch only the top half of the ball, hitting it thin.
How to hit a ball solidly off a high tee?
To hit a ball solidly off a high tee with an iron, your swing has to be pretty level at the bottom. Make a full backswing and feel as if you're staying over the ball through impact. Ranked No. 1 by his peers among Golf Digest's 50 Greatest Teachers, Harmon runs the Butch Harmon School of Golf at Rio Secco Golf Club, Henderson, Nev.
How to hit a golf ball with a 5-iron?
Tee up some balls as you would for a driver, and practice hitting them with your 5-iron. If you move in front of the ball on the downswing, like thin hitters do, you'll swing down too steeply and slide the club under the ball, making contact high on the face.
How to hit a driver in golf?
Swing your arms back wide, and make a full shoulder turn. Try to get your back to the target ( YES ). Don't be too eager to hit the ball: Turn to the top, and then turn through . If you make a good move going back, you'll be in position to make a more level strike and stop hitting it thin. Tee up some balls as you would for a driver, ...
What happens if you don't wind up going back on the downswing?
The problem actually starts on the backswing. Thin hitters usually lift the club abruptly, without much shoulder turn ( NO ), which leads to the forward slide. If you don't wind up going back, you have nothing to unwind on the downswing. So you slide. Here's how to stop that cycle.
Why is my ball not rolling across the ground?
In simplest terms, in order to get the ball up into the air — and not rolling across the ground — is to hit down into the dirt. (GETTY) If that’s not happening, there may be a few reasons why. Here are some of the most common I see: 1. Bad Posture. Good posture is the basis for solid contact.
What ruins a golf swing?
Nothing ruins a great golf swing like a loss of balance. Assuming you’re in a good set up to start, it only takes a small loss of balance to cause you to top the ball. A good check of balance is holding your finish until your golf ball lands.
How to throw a golf club toward the ground?
It can be helpful to practice this by placing a ball in your right hand, from your golf posture. Allow the elbow to fold as it would in your backswing and then throw the ball so that it hits the ground.
How to get the ball down to the ground?
1. Bad Posture. Good posture is the basis for solid contact. Bowing forward from your hips so that your hands can hang below your shoulders can put you in balance and also get the club down to the ground. Too much knee flex or squatting can often make it extremely difficult to get the club down into the turf, and therefore get the ball into the air.
How to brush grass without a club?
Keeping your hands away from your sternum can help to maintain the width of your backswing, making it easier to brush the grass. One of my favorite drills for feeling this is to hold your lead wrist with your trail hand. From here, make your backswing without a club and feel your trail arm pull your lead arm wide.
Why is it so hard to keep your head down?
The problem with keeping your head down is that it limits your body’s ability to move athletically. If you attempt to keep your head down, it’s very difficult to allow your body to rotate properly on your downswing to get the club down to the ground and the ball into the air. 7. Tension in hands and arms.
What happens if you stand too far away from the ball?
If you stand too far away from the ball at address, it’s almost difficult not to top the ball without a heroic move. Reaching for the ball — where your arms often get into a diagonal position — will often lead to a thin shot or a top.
Why do I keep slicing the golf ball?
There may be no greater power loss than a slice. The ball sometimes starts out ok and then makes this depressing curve, robbing you of all of your potential distance and power.
Why do I slice my golf club?
1. Open club face. The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. This open club face will give you contact that isn’t square and often feels like a “side swipe.”. The most common cause of an open club face is an incorrect grip as your hand position will directly reflect in the face. You can make this adjustment by turning one of both ...
What are the challenges of golf?
One of the great challenges when studying golf is knowing when information is correct for you. The foot positions that are great for the the tour players, might not be appropriate for anyone with flexibility limitations. A square back foot and a flared forward foot will affect the swing path and produce a slice for many golfers who have limitations.
What is the purpose of a square face golf club?
One of the great stabilizers of a square club face is to keep your underarms relatively close to your body throughout your golf swing. If on your backswing or your downswing your underarms move away from your body, it is very easy to open the face.
How to rotate back on a golf swing?
If you slice the ball try the opposite. Flare your back foot and square your forward foot. This will help increase your ability to rotate back and also slow your body rotation down on your forward swing, both helping with path and sequencing of body and arms. 1. Open club face 2. Thumbs too on-top of the grip 3.
What happens if you move your ball too far back?
Ball position that is too far back can cause a slice and/or a pop up. As your move your ball more forward it is also important that you allow your shoulders to tilt back and away from the target. Your lead shoulder should get higher and your back shoulder lower.
How does width affect golf swing?
If the lead arm stays too stiff for too long on your forward swing, this will not only hold the club face open and making the ball s lice, but also delays the release of the club face and the speed associated.
What is a thin shot in golf?
In golf a thin shot – or a golf shot hit thin – is one that see the club hitting the ball below its equator. But in contrast to a better shot that sees the clubface striking the ball inside the sweet spot hitting it thin will often see the leading edge of the club making contact with the ball. This results in a ball that doesn’t travel as high ...
Why does the bottom of the swing move?
The position of the bottom of the swing arc may have moved from where it should be thanks to the swaying swing error. Specifically, a golfer who is said to sway will move his hips laterally during the course of the swing, moving them back during the backswing before bringing them forward during the downswing.
What to do if you are using the ball forward positioning option?
If you are using the ball forward positioning option and are struggling with thin shots, move to a positioning mechanism that sees the position of the ball vary according to the club in hand.
Why is my right shoulder lower than my left?
Because your right hand is positioned lower on the grip of the club than your left hand, it is natural for your right shoulder to find itself slightly lower than the right. Some golfers fight this natural stance and position their shoulders level to the ground instead. Doing so can produce thin shots.
Can the bottom of the swing arc be too high?
Alternatively, the bottom of the swing arc can also be too high in contrast to where it should be. A pure strike at the ball will see the clubface hitting the ball in the sweetspot whereas a thin shot will see the bottom of the clubface and oftentimes its leading edge hitting the ball instead. This can happen as a result ...
Does flipping the club head cause swing error?
Specifically, it involves letting the clubhead catch up to your hands at impact instead of seeing your hands ahead of the club and ball at impact. Doing so, while not a swing error per se, can result in one when it is not done purposefully. Indeed, flipping the club will tend to move the bottom of the swing arc back behind ...
Why do golfers thin their shots?
Here are the 11 reasons why golfers thin their golf shots. 1. You raise up during your backswing or downswing. During your backswing or downswing it is important not to raise your body otherwise you will be likely to thin the ball.
Why does the leading edge of an iron thin a ball?
The leading edge of an iron will thin a ball if a player slightly straightens their hips during their swing. Refrain from lifting up during the backswing because in doing so you pull your swing arc up a fraction and this is enough to significantly alter the point at which the ball is struck.
How to avoid flat swing plane?
If you are tending to hit thinned golf shots due to a flat or rounded golf swing you should consider using this drill. Tee the ball up with a seven iron and about four inches behind it place another tee into the ground.
What is the driving force for a solid downswing?
The natural tension you build up in your backswing should be the driving force for a solid downswing. Overriding this with an emphasis on starting the downswing with your arms and hand is recipe for disaster and is known as hitting from the top. This leads to a number of common swing faults including thinning the ball.
How to make your clubhead impact in the same position?
1. Keep a constant body height during your golf swing. As mentioned above raising your downswing or upswing will lead to you thinning the ball.
What happens if you cure your weight transfer?
If you can correctly cure your weight transfer so as it is on the right side at the top of your swing you will reduce your chances of thinning the ball. Having learnt what a thinned shot is , what causes it and 6 cures you can now move onto the next step to ingrain these corrections into your full swing.
How to hit a golf ball with a descending blow?
By learning to hit down on the ball with a good angle of attack you will quickly be able to say goodbye to your thinned shots. Try this drill.
Why does my golf club get stuck in the ground?
If you crowd your club and stand so close that your arms do not have enough room to hang and swing can often result in your golf club getting stuck into the ground. Being too crowded, effectively makes the club too long relative to your body, so it has nowhere to go but into the ground.
Why does my golf club hit the ground before the ball?
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. Also, when you stance is too wide, the potential locations the club has to hit the ground increases, which results in more inconsistent strikes.
What is the aiming line on a golf club?
The aiming line on a golf club is the leading edge and the more lofted the club the more crooked the top line may look. Often golfers will not set the club properly on the ground as a compensation — they hit slices, for instance, so they set the club closed at setup.
How to make good contact in golf?
1. Crowded posture. Proper posture is one of the most important fundamentals to good contact. Giving yourself enough room to bow from your hips so that your hands can hang below your shoulders puts you into a balanced position that allows you to be athletic throughout your swing.
What does it mean when you get stuck in your backswing?
If your backswing is a straight line back that tends to go toward the sky and is just a lifted motion, all you will have is straight down, which tends to get stuck. It reminds me of the letter V. Straight back and up equals straight down and dig.
How to know if your golf club hits the ground?
You can easily check this by taking a practice swing and seeing where, relative to your feet, your club hits the ground. If your club hits the ground centered in your stance, it would be greatly to your advantage to place your golf ball there. 3. Flat footed forward swing.
What happens if your stance is too wide?
Ideally, for a ball on the ground your stance should be approximately hip width, give or take a little. 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.
How to hit a tennis ball with your back?
First, make your initial move from the top a little bump onto your front foot. Feel like you’re shifting toward the target, so your chest is over the ball. Second, get to impact with the back of your top hand facing the target (left), not pointing upward. A good image is that you’re back-handing the ball, like a tennis stroke.
Who were the two golfers in the 2003 Presidents Cup?
In the 2003 Presidents Cup in South Africa, two of the sweetest swingers at that time, Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby, were matched against two of the most unconventional, Jim Furyk and Jay Haas. As they warmed up, murmurs from the crowd suggested the “pretty” swings had it made. At one point, Jay said to Jim, “I bet those people don’t give us much of a chance.” Jim laughed, and the Americans went on to win, 6 and 5, one of the most lopsided victories in the history of the event. Don’t get me wrong, Adam and Stuart are tremendous talents. (I taught Adam for years.) But the only real barometer of a golf swing is the shots it produces.
What is a good image for a tennis player?
A good image is that you’re back-handing the ball, like a tennis stroke. If you get those two moves right, you’ll swing into impact with your weight forward and your wrists firm—two things every good ball-striker does.
Do golfers hit the ground first?
A lot of golfers never get over the instinct to lift the ball off the ground. They swing off their back foot or flip their hands through impact, both of which make the club bottom out too soon. As a result, they hit the ground first (fat shot) or catch the ball on the upswing (thin shot).