The thin shot in golf occurs as a result of the golf club striking the golf ball too high. This causes the ball to come out low and the golfer loses carry distance on the shot. The cause is often associated with the center of the swing being too far back at impact. What Causes A Thin Shot In Golf?
Full Answer
What causes thin shots in golf?
Thin shots happen when the golf club impacts the golf ball too high on the ball - near or a little below the ball's equator. But what causes that ? 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.
What is a lie in golf?
The first is simply where the golf ball sits. A golfer's lie is the location of the golf ball at rest. In this usage, the term typically refers to the quality of the ball's position; i.e., "do you have a good lie or bad lie?" or "how is your lie?"
What is a fluffy lie in golf?
Fluffy Lie: When the ball is sitting up on top of longish grass, which can lead to a golfer swinging the clubhead underneath the ball, catching little (or even none) of the golf ball.
Do Your Lie angles fit your golf clubs?
Golfers who use clubs whose lie angles don't fit their body types and/or golf swings are costing themselves strokes. Matching the lie angle of clubs to the specific golfer is one of the goals of a clubfitting session. Lie angles almost always range from the mid-50 degrees (in drivers) to the mid-60 degrees (in short irons).
Why does my golf swing thinning?
Why do golfers thin the ball?
What is a thin shot in golf?
How to stop hitting a golf ball thin?
What does it mean when you hit a thin shot?
How does a thin shot affect golf?
What happens if you hit a short iron on the fairway?
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What does a thin golf shot mean?
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).
What is a thin lie?
Updated on 11/25/19. In golf, a "tight lie" is what the golfer faces when his golf ball comes to rest in a spot where there is very little grass underneath the ball. That might mean short, sparse turf or even bare dirt. The term "tight lie" also implies that the ground under the ball is compact or firm.
How do you fix a thin golf shot?
9:2411:30GOLF: How To Fix Topped And Thin Shots - Three Sure Fire FixesYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if we're going to put that together i would feel i set the radius at address lead shoulder downMoreAnd if we're going to put that together i would feel i set the radius at address lead shoulder down head on the wall. Trail shoulder down head on the wall as my arms extend.
What does a flatter lie angle do?
A flat lie angle means that the angle between the shaft and the ground is smaller, making the club shaft more flat as compared with the ground. If your club is too flat for your swing then it means that during your swing, the toe of the club will be lower than the heel (normally you want them level at impact).
How do you hit off thin lies?
Czaja said there are four tips to keep in mind when hitting from a tight lie.Move the golf ball back in your stance. This will set your hands in front of the ball.Swing down more on the ball. This will give the golf ball backspin.Keep good tempo.Take more loft. Go to a hybrid instead of a longer iron.
How do you chip off thin lies?
0:176:13How to Chip from Tight Lies - Chipping Drills - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBack. And i move my hands. Forward you'll notice the leading edge goes down. And if i hit behind itMoreBack. And i move my hands. Forward you'll notice the leading edge goes down. And if i hit behind it at. All i'm going to chunk. It now if you do that on a fluffy lie.
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 hitting my fairway woods thin?
The tendency for most golfers with a fairway wood is to put it all the way off your front foot because it appears easier to get in the air. But this will make you hit it on the way up and thus, thin or top it. Instead, put the ideal ball position will be about 1-2 ball lengths behind the inside of your front foot.
How far should you hit a 7 iron?
Average 7 Iron Distances are following: Beginning golfers- 100 yards (men) or 60 yards (women) Intermediate golfers- 135 yards (men) and 75 yards (women) Advanced golfers- 165 yards (men) or 140 yards (women) PGA Tour Players- 185 yards (men) or 160 yards (women)
Do shorter golfers need flatter lies?
Generally, shorter golfers will need a flatter lie angle, whereas taller players will need a more upright lie angle. If you hit a lot of shots toward the toe of your club and your ball tends to fade to the right, you probably have a lie angle that is too flat for you.
What lie angle do most pros use?
Lie angles almost always range from the mid-50 degrees (in drivers) to the mid-60 degrees (in short irons). In irons, the range is typically from 59 or 60 degrees to around 64 degrees.
How do I know if my lie angle is too flat?
Draw a straight line on the back of the golf ball, and have it facing the clubhead. After you make impact the line will appear on the face. If it's pointing towards the toe, then your club is too upright. If it's pointing towards the heel, then it's too flat.
What are the 4 types of lies?
People can lie to two kinds of audiences: other people or themselves, and they can lie about two different kinds of things: facts (or what they believe to be facts) and their values....We can now explore four types of liars:Deceitful.Duplicitous.Delusional.Demoralized.
What are the three types of lies?
The three most commonly referred to are lies of commission, lies of omission, and lies of influence, aka character lies. The reading below neatly summarizes these and provides some examples.
What's the difference between a white lie and a lie?
These were more like white lies. With a real lie, the intent is malicious and the consequence is serious. While with a white lie, often more like a harmless bending of the truth, the intent is benign and positive, and usually the consequence isn't major.
What is an example of a good lie?
You tell your husband that his new haircut looks really good because you don't want to hurt his feelings by telling him that you hate the haircut. You respond to someone who invites you on a first date by saying that you have to work late even though you really already have a date with someone else.
HOW TO STOP HITTING THIN GOLF SHOTS - YouTube
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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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 golfer's lie?
A golfer's lie is the location of the golf ball at rest. In this usage, the term typically refers to the quality of the ball's position; i.e., "do you have a good lie or bad lie?" or "how is your lie?" Meaning, is the ball sitting on top of healthy fairway grass? (good lie); or, the opposite, has the ball sunk down into some think rough (a terrible lie)?
What is the lie angle of a golf club?
And "lie" is also shorthand for "lie angle," which refers to the angle of the shaft relative to the sole of the golf club as it is properly grounded. For best results, the lie angle of a golfer's clubs should match the type of swing he has; depending on the type of swing, a golfer might benefit from a higher lie angle or a lower lie angle.
What is a fluffy lie?
Fluffy Lie: When the ball is sitting up on top of longish grass, which can lead to a golfer swinging the clubhead underneath the ball, catching little (or even none) of the golf ball. There is also the term " preferred lies ," which refers to a local rule that allows, under certain conditions, golfers to move their golf ball out ...
What is the difference between a cuppy lie and a fluffy lie?
The ball is very tight to the ground with little room to get the golf club's leading edge through what grass there is. Cuppy Lie: When the ball is stitting down slightly, as if in (or actually in) a slight depression. Fluffy Lie: When the ball is sitting up on top of longish grass , which can lead to a golfer swinging the clubhead underneath ...
What does "hanging lie" mean in golf?
Hanging Lie: "Hanging lie" typically refers to a golf ball that is sitting on some kind of side slope or small decline so that the ball is below the level of the golfer's feet. (Although some golfers also use "hanging lie" to mean a ball sitting above one's feet.)
What is an uneven lie in golf?
The golf club, upon striking the hard ground, will often bounce up, resulting in many shots hit thin. Uneven Lies: A catch-all category that includes sidehill lies (ball on the side of an incline), uphill lies (ball on the upward face of an incline with the golfer's feet below the level of the ball) and downhill lies ...
What is hardpan lie?
Hardpan Lie: Hardpan is any spot in fairways, rough or other playing areas other than hazards where the ground is very hard due to compacting of the soil. The term is particularly applied to hard, bare patches of dirt, but it equally applies to grassed areas where the grass is closely mown on top of very compact soil.
What happens if the lie angle of your golf clubs is ill-suited to you?
When the lie angle of your clubs is wrong for your swing or body type, you can put a great swing on the ball and still have problems with accuracy. Poorly fitting lie angles create pushes and pulls and other mishits.
What is the lie angle of a golf club?
The "lie angle" of any golf club is the angle formed between the center of the shaft and the sole, or ground line, of the club when the club is soled in its proper ...
What is the lie angle on a 9 iron?
Upright lie angle: A lie angle that is higher than the standard lie angle (a 66-degree lie angle on a 9-iron is more upright than the standard 9-iron lie angle of around 64 degrees). You might hear a golfer (or clubfitter) saying things such as, "You need flatter lie angles on your irons," or "I had my irons bent 1-degree upright.".
Why is a proper lie angle important?
Proper Lie Angle Is More Important in Irons Than in Woods. Don't misunderstand: Lie angle is an important factor in all golf clubs, even the putter. But having improperly fit lie angles causes more problems in irons than in the woods.
What is lie angle?
Lie angle is a factor that affects the accuracy of golf shots. Golfers who use clubs whose lie angles don't fit their body types and/or golf swings are costing themselves strokes. Matching the lie angle of clubs to the specific golfer is one of the goals of a clubfitting session.
What is the range of lie angles?
Lie angles almost always range from the mid-50 degrees (in drivers) to the mid-60 degrees (in short irons). In irons, the range is typically from 59 or 60 degrees to around 64 degrees. (Lie angles on putters reach into the 70s.)
Which direction does the club face point?
If the toe of the club is up (relative to the heel) at impact, the clubface will point to the left (for a right-handed golfer);
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 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 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.
How many feet between your feet for thin shots?
If you suspect a very narrow stance could help explain your thin shots it may be a good idea to allow more room between your two feet at address.
What is the lie angle of a golf club?
The lie angle of a golf club is the angle that is formed between the club shaft and the ground when the club is soled properly at address.
Which golf clubs have flatter lie angles?
Long clubs have flatter lie angles than shorter clubs, so the angle formed with a driver is going to be lower than with a pitching wedge, for instance.
Why does lie angle matter?
Lie angle matters because it impacts the direction that the clubface is pointing at the moment of impact. If your lie angles are way off, it’s going to be hard to hit the ball accurately. And, if you do manage to hit the ball accurately, you’ll need to make some adjustments or compensations to make it happen.
What is the best angle for a pitching wedge?
Why is Lie Angle Actually Important? 1 A common lie angle for a pitching wedge is 64*. If that happens to be a good fit for your game and your swing, you’ll be in good shape. However, for many players, that is going to be either too upright or too flat. 2 It that’s too upright for you, the toe of the club is going to be up in the air at impact, while the heel digs into the turf. This is a problem because the clubface will be effectively shut at impact, and the ball will likely go left. Even if you make a good swing, the result may not be what you want because of the lie angle. 3 On the other hand, if that 64* angle is too flat, the heel will be off the ground at impact and the toe will dig in. This is going to typically lead to misses to the right of the target.
What happens if your 64 angle is too flat?
On the other hand, if that 64* angle is too flat, the heel will be off the ground at impact and the toe will dig in. This is going to typically lead to misses to the right of the target.
Can you change the angle of your irons?
If it turns out that your lie angles need to be changed, it may be possible to have your current irons bent into the right position. That doesn’t work with drivers, but many of the modern drivers on the market today can be adjusted by changing the position of the shaft in the hosel.
Is it worth learning about lie angle?
Even if you aren’t particularly interested in everything that goes into building or fitting a golf club, it’s worth your time to grasp the concept of lie angle. It’s really pretty simple, and it will be a benefit to your game if you can make adjustments to dial in your clubs just right.
What does "lie" mean in golf?
Lie can also refer to the environment in which the ball finds itself, the ball or shot lie. It can also refer to the number of strokes a player has taken up to a point on a given hole.
What is the lie of a golf club?
The lie of a club is the angle formed by the intersection of the line of the shaft and the line of the ground when the clubhead is resting flat on the ground. That angle number is located between 0 and 90 degree and varies from club to club.
Why is it important to use the correct lies in golf clubs?
Using clubs with the correct lies can prove crucial when working to maximize the chances of hitting the ball straight. Indeed, a club that is too upright for its golfer will see its toe lift from the ground instead of laying flat and as a result balls struck with it will tend to go left of the intended target.
What happens if you hit a ball with a flat piece of plastic?
Using that tape and hitting balls from a flat piece of plastic will leave an impression on where the sole hit hardest on the ground. If the impression on the tape is made in the center you are using the correct lie. If the impression is close to the heel, you are using clubs that are too flat.
What is the difference between a gold dot and a maroon dot?
At one end of the spectrum is the Gold dot with a 3.75 degree flatter lie and at the other end is the Maroon dot with a 4.5 degree upright lie. Likewise, a shorter golfer will likely be more comfortable using clubs whose lies have been made flatter – less upright – they he would using normal, standard lie clubs.
What is the lie angle of a golf club?
Lie angle is defined as the angle between the shaft and the ground line when the club is measured in normal playing position with the center of the sole touching the ground line. The most important thing about measuring lie angle for each particular golfer is how the club is interacting with the ground at impact.
What is the lie angle on irons?
Lie angle is one of the most important, if not THE most important thing to get right when you buy a set of irons. Each manufacturer has a different spec for the lie angle on their clubs, and a majority of golfers never get them adjusted for their particular swing.
What happens when the angle of the club is not adjusted properly?
There are only two scenarios that occur when your lie angle is not adjusted properly for your swing. The club is too upright, and the toe is not making contact with the ground at impact. The club is too flat, and the heel is not making contact with the ground at impact.
Why is the lie angle important?
Wrapping it up. To briefly summarize, the lie angle of your irons is extremely important because it will greatly affect the initial direction of your shots. Not all irons are created equal, and most players are using irons that likely do not have the right specifications for their swing.
Do golfers get adjustments when buying irons?
When golfers buy a new set of irons they don’ t usually get any kind of adjustments made , most notably their lie angle. They incorrectly assume what they are buying is right for them. Today I want to talk about one of the most important things players are overlooking when they purchase an iron set. If this specification is not adjusted properly ...
Is the line on my golf club pointing to the heel or the toe?
If it’s pointing towards the toe, then your club is too upright. If it’s pointing towards the heel, then it’s too flat. If the line is perpendicular to the grooves on the face, then your lie angle is correct.
Can you bent a golf club?
It’s relatively easy to get this fixed, as most clubs can be bent afterwards. Try this test out with the marker and see what kind of results you are getting with your current set of irons.
Why does my golf swing thinning?
Another common cause of thinning it is when the golfer raises up just before impact, lifting his or her head and torso. This pulls your arms up, too, which raises the club. In that case, even if the bottom of the swing is in the right place, the club will contact the golf ball too high on the ball's surface.
Why do golfers thin the ball?
Thin shots happen when the golf club impacts the golf ball too high on the ball - near or a little below the ball's equator. But what causes that ? 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, ...
What is a thin shot in golf?
Updated April 29, 2019. 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 ...
How to stop hitting a golf ball thin?
Start with the easiest things to check: your basic setup positions. Make sure you aren't positioning the golf ball in your stance way off normal; make sure you aren't setting up with your shoulders aligned well right or left. These things can throw off where your swing bottoms out.
What does it mean when you hit a thin shot?
Golfers have various expressions when they hit a thin shot: Hitting a thin shot can be called "thinning it," or a golfer might say, "I thinned that one.". Golfers talk about "hitting it thin" or say "I caught the golf ball thin" or "That one was a little thin.". All mean that instead of making crisp, correct contact (sweeping the ball with woods, ...
How does a thin shot affect golf?
A thin shot also often produces much more vibration that is felt in the golfer's hands. It's impossible to predict how a thin shot will turn out. If it's a low screamer but one that stays up in the air and then gets lots of roll-out, the ball can overshoot the target by a lot. If it's a ball that barely gets off the ground and then drops, ...
What happens if you hit a short iron on the fairway?
If you're hitting from the fairway with a short iron or wedge and hit a thin shot, the ball might wind up way over the green.
