
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.
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.
Why is it so hard to release the golf ball properly?
You can easily prevent a proper release through the ball at impact by having your grip turned around too much to the right. This makes it difficult for you to keep the club close to the ground after you have hit the ball.

How do I stop my golf ball from thinning?
3:1610:34How to Stop THINNING Your Irons! (Simple Drill) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipShot is the leading edge contacting. Too far up the golf ball essentially. The golf club is not lowMoreShot is the leading edge contacting. Too far up the golf ball essentially. The golf club is not low enough as it reaches arrives at the golf ball.
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.
How do I stop Mishits in golf?
4:075:31HOW TO GET RID OF MISHITTING THE GOLF BALL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if your belt line goes up you're going to be prone to miss hits or at best you're always goingMoreAnd if your belt line goes up you're going to be prone to miss hits or at best you're always going to have a very shallow angle of approaching towards the back of the ball.
How do I stop my irons from blading?
1:452:56Stop BLADING and CHUNKING Your Irons | TaylorMade Golf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I have a lot of golfers who their hips go forward their head goes back and they tend to top theMoreSo I have a lot of golfers who their hips go forward their head goes back and they tend to top the ball. So staying in posture. Starting with some small shots.
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.
Why do I keep miss hitting my irons?
If the club-face gets “open” during the golf swing then we have to make compensations to try and square it up at Impact. This often results in a poor downswing sequence, a quiet lower body and even poor shaft lean at impact. These all contribute to the club “bottoming” out too early, resulting in a poor strike.
How do you hit the center of the clubface every time?
2:424:09How to STRIKE golf shots from the centre of the club face EVERY TIMEYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd on the heel as you come in and very simply all you want to do is take up your stance. And thenMoreAnd on the heel as you come in and very simply all you want to do is take up your stance. And then as you swing through and hit you want to make sure that you're not striking either of the poles.
Why do my golf shots go low and right?
The most common one is when you're too close to the ball, whether you start out that way or you fall toward the ball on the downswing. You also could be swinging too much around your body in the backswing, which can make you swing outward too much on the downswing, exposing the hosel to the ball.
Why do I hit my irons low and left?
Another reason you hit it low is that your club bottoms out too soon. You're probably trying to pick the ball off the turf. The bottom of your swing might be an inch or so behind the ball, but a tour pro's club is still moving downward a few inches past impact.
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).Jim Suttie: Move your swing center forward to stop thin, fat shotshttps://archive.naplesnews.com › news › jim-suttie-move-...https://archive.naplesnews.com › news › jim-suttie-move-...Search for: What causes fat and thin golf shots?
How do I stop hitting the ground before the golf ball?
3:385:12HOW TO STOP HITTING THE GROUND BEFORE THE GOLF BALLYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCheck set up ball. Position weight distribution. And in the goal swing focus on a point two to threeMoreCheck set up ball. Position weight distribution. And in the goal swing focus on a point two to three inches in front of the ball shift. In front of it.HOW TO STOP HITTING THE GROUND BEFORE THE GOLF BALLhttps://www.youtube.com › watchhttps://www.youtube.com › watchSearch for: How do I stop hitting the ground before the golf ball?
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 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 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.
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.
How to hit a ball in tennis?
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.
What happens if you thin a golf ball?
What is a thin? A thinned shot is a golf shot where the leading edge of the golf club has hit the middle section of the golf ball, causing the golf ball to shoot forward at high speed very low to the ground, resulting in a missed green as the ball tends to shoot too far through the green. This shot mainly takes place with irons and very often short irons and pitches.
Why is it bad to hit the golf ball too hard?
If you stand around any driving range near your home and just watch others practice, you will see plenty of players who are swinging 'out of their shoes' on every shot. This obsession with swinging hard is a big part of the reason why most amateur players never get any better. Golf is a game which is about control, rather than raw power. In terms of thin shots, swinging hard is bad news because your right hand can become overactive at the bottom of the swing. With too much right hand trying to force the ball down the fairway, the club head will move up away from the turf prematurely, and you may catch the ball thin. Simply put, swinging extra hard is not worth the risk.
How to deal with thin shots?
The first thing you need to do when dealing with thin shots is realize that you have a problem with this mistake. Hitting one or two shots thin from time to time really isn't much of a concern, but you should take notice if the pattern becomes more frequent. Specifically, if you find yourself standing over the golf ball thinking about making this mistake, you will know that it is time to take action. You should have plenty of confidence when starting your swing, feeling like you are going to hit the ball perfectly on the center of the face. Without that confidence, you will never be able to live up to your potential on the course. As soon as you notice your confidence start to slip as a result of too many thin shots, you should get to work on finding a fix.
What is the most common fault of a thinned shot?
Fault - The most common faults of a thinned shot are incorrect ball positioning and poor downward strikes to reach the base of the golf ball. Many golfers can also thin the golf ball by leaning back on the ball, attempting to scoop the ball into the air causing an upward hit.
Why do you look up early in golf?
This is a classic mistake which has been made by nearly every golfer at least once. It is natural to feel anxious when you are hitting a shot on the golf course, and as a result, you may look up early to see where the ball is going. Of course, looking up early is a bad idea, as it is going to pull the rest of your body out of position – and it is going to raise the level of the club head. Countless thin shots can be blamed on this mistake. Do your best to keep your eyes focused on the ball all the way through impact, and only allow yourself to look up when you are sure the ball is gone. Practice this skill specifically on the driving range so you aren't even tempted to look up early while playing actual rounds of golf.
What is a thin shot in golf?
A ' thin ' golf shot is one which is struck with the bottom of the club head. Rather than catching the ball cleanly on the sweet spot, you will strike the ball down near the bottom of the face when you hit it thin – and the resulting shot will probably struggle to get off the ground. Hitting your shots thin can be a frustrating mistake, so you will want to find a fix as quickly as possible. Every golfer catches one thin from time to time, but you will want to limit the frequency of this mistake as you work toward becoming a better player.
What happens if you hit a thin chip shot?
While it might not be quite as embarrassing to hit a thin chip shot when compared to a full shot, the results can be just as damaging in the end.
What is a thin golf shot and what it looks like?
A thin golf shot is a shot when the golf ball strikes the bottom part of the clubface. This can be anywhere from ½ inch or more located below the centre of the clubface depending on how large your irons or woods are. The golf ball will typically travel very low to the ground or at least lower than your normal centred strike.
How to maintain lag angle in golf?
2. As you commence the downswing you need to maintain the angle you had at the top of the backswing between your right arm and the shaft (call lag angle). 3. Ideally you’ll want to maintain this angle until you reach the rear thigh and then you can release the golf club at the golf ball.
How to fix lag in golf club?
To fix you need to do a couple of things: 1. Ensure you have a light grip pressure particularly in the right hand (right-hander) so that when you start the downswing you are not pushing against the golf club and reducing the lag angle. 2.
Why is my golf ball thin?
Another common reason for hitting the golf ball thin is what’s called flipping or casting which happens in the golf downswing. This is when the clubhead overtakes the hands prior to reaching the rear thigh in the downswing and the clubhead reaches the golf ball on an upward trajectory exposing the lower or leading edge of the club.
Why is it so hard to catch the sweet spot in golf?
If your golf ball is positioned particularly too far forward in your stance, it makes it difficult to catch the sweet spot because the bottom of the swing arc is usually well before it reaches the golf ball. This exposes the bottom of the clubface leading to thinned golf shots.
How low does a golf ball travel?
The golf ball will typically travel very low to the ground or at least lower than your normal centred strike. Typically you won’t get a lot of spin on the golf ball, and if you’re lucky enough to hit the green it will most likely run through the back into trouble. Additionally, a thin shot will result in no divot being taken ...
What are the top 3 swing faults?
1. Standing up in the downswing or coming out of posture. 2. Flipping the golf club or casting in the downswing. 3.
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.
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.
Why do players thin the ball?
Too many players thin the ball due to poor weight transference. This is a situation where they are left leaving their weight on their back right foot as they try to lift the ball. The worst example being where one swings with a reverse pivot. This happens when the player’s weight is on their left side at the top of their backswing. Thus from this position they can only swing down and incorrectly transfer their weight away from the target to the right. The end result is a steep downswing that leaves the player susceptible to a thinned shot.
Why do low handicap players take divots?
Generally a low handicap player will consistently take a divot and this is because they commit to hitting down on the ball with a descending blow. Typically a larger divot is taken with the clubs with the greatest loft because the player is hitting down more. A beginner is often afraid to take a divot and believes that they should be hitting the ball flush off the fairway. This leads to an array of thinned and topped shots because there is too small a margin of error for someone who has just started playing the game.
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.
What does it mean when your left knee is dipping?
If you feel your left knee and shoulder dipping during your swing it means you have more than likely moved your weight to your left side. In this position there is no where to go and you have to transfer the weight to the right thus leading to a thinned shot as you raise the swing arc and your left side together. 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.
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 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.
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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 maintain a good path in backswing?
It’s possible to have a proper path in your backswing without sacrificing width. 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. While you practice, be sure to keep your lead underarm close to your body to maintain a good path and width.
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.
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.
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 does it mean when a golfer moves his weight towards the back foot?
Instead of moving his weight towards his back foot during the backswing and bringing it towards the front foot during the downswing, he will do the opposite. Bringing the weight towards the back foot ahead of impact will likely move the bottom of the swing arc back also, often resulting in a thin shot.
How are thin shots produced?
In a similar way to fat shots, thin shots are fundamentally produced by errors related to the arc of the swing itself and more specifically to the position of its bottom.
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.
Why does my swing arc reach the bottom of the ball?
The reason your swing arc reaches its bottom before the ball and produces a thin shot may have nothing to do with the actual swing itself and may have to do with the positioning of the ball instead.
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 ...
What is a notable swing error?
A notable swing error sees the golfer rising just ahead of impact and in doing so raising the bottom of the swing arc just before contact is made with the ball.
Where does flipping the club go?
Indeed, flipping the club will tend to move the bottom of the swing arc back behind the ball and will oftentimes see the club hitting the ball below the sweet spot of the clubface, or worse through the leading edge.
