How do you stop hitting golf balls fat?
How to Stop Hitting Fat or Thin Golf Shots – 5 Quick Tips 1. Check Your Setup. A vast majority of the issues amateur golfers face can be traced back to a poor set up. If you’re hitting fat golf shots, make sure the ball is positioned properly in your stance by using your breast bone (middle of the chest) instead of your feet.
What causes you to hit a fat golf shot?
What Causes a Golfer to Hit it Fat?
- Ball Position This is the most common mistake I see among amateur golfers. Fortunately, it’s also the easiest to fix. ...
- Pressure Shift I talk about pressure shift a lot. It may seem overly simple, but trust me: When my students get the pressure shift right, they see major improvement ...
- Angle of Club Shaft
How to stop hitting a fat golf shot?
Video Drill To Stop Hitting The Ball Fat
- Have a friend take a video or record your own (preferably a slow-motion video if possible) of you hitting a golf ball.
- Then, draw a circle around your head at address, using a free app like “Hudl Technique.”
- As you watch the video, focus on your head. ...
- Be sure to notice your biggest tendencies. ...
How far do average golfers really hit the ball?
The average distances an amateur golfer drives a ball is 200 yards. A pro golfer on the PGA tour hits the ball further, with an average distance of 270 yards off the tee. It’s no surprise that golfers can be a very competitive bunch of people. Many golfers like to see who can hit the ball the furthest.
What is hitting fat and thin in golf?
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).
What is hitting thin in golf?
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.
What causes hitting fat golf shots?
The main reason that a fat shot occurs, though, is that a player has unnecessarily moved their “swing center.” You can think of your center as one of two things, either your head or your sternum. I tend to use the head reference more often because it doesn't twist throughout the swing as the sternum does.
How do you fix fat golf shots?
0:0110:37This Drill Will Fix Your Fat Golf Shots Forever - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you're eating fat shots the majority of the problem is coming from your weight shift. Now mostMoreIf you're eating fat shots the majority of the problem is coming from your weight shift. Now most people i see get to the right way too late in the back swing.
How do I stop hitting fat and thin golf shots?
0:467:33How to stop hitting topped, thin and fat iron shots - 3 Causes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd at the same time you want to make sure that we've got the shaft leaning forward. So if we canMoreAnd at the same time you want to make sure that we've got the shaft leaning forward. So if we can get the the shallow path with the club leaning. Forward we'll eliminate all of those fat thin.
How do you avoid hitting fat shots in wet conditions?
0:391:39Trouble Hitting Off of a Wet Fairway? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou should make good clean contact with the golf ball regardless of what it's sitting on a dryMoreYou should make good clean contact with the golf ball regardless of what it's sitting on a dry fairway a wet fairway.
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 you hit out thick grass?
0:596:263 STEPS TO PLAYING OUT OF THICK ROUGH - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMore descending blow the reason for that is that's going to eliminate. Or it's going to reduce theMoreMore descending blow the reason for that is that's going to eliminate. Or it's going to reduce the amount of debris that I get between the club and the ball.
Why do I keep Fatting my irons?
Too much hip rotation in the golf downswing is a common cause of heavy (or fat) iron shots. Here's how to avoid it… The best golfers shift the lead knee and hip towards the target even before the club starts changing direction into the downswing.
How do I hit my irons pure every time?
5:017:25HOW TO STRIKE YOUR IRONS PURE AND SOLID EVERY SINGLE ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe're going to feel that the lower half starts it we want the right elbow in right hand on top orMoreWe're going to feel that the lower half starts it we want the right elbow in right hand on top or left logo to the ground whatever way you like to feel it we're gonna come down prepare it swing.
Should you hover your irons?
Soling the club in such a lie can set off a chain reaction which could move the ball, incurring a penalty. By hovering the club, you not only eliminate that risk, you reduce the tendency to snag the clubface in the grass, both on the takeaway and on the way down to the ball.
What is a fat shot in golf?
In golf a fat shot – or a golf shot hit fat – is one that sees the club penetrating the ground before making contact with the ball. This is in contrast to a better shot that sees the clubhead making contact with the ball before it proceeds to penetrating the ground, as should happen in shots made with irons and wedges.
What is the error in golf that leads to fat shots?
A typical error that golfers make which can lead to fat shots is that they fail to keep this spine angle constant throughout the golf swing.
Why does swinging make you fat?
Swaying can lead to fat shots because it moves the bottom of the swing arc away from where it was set at address.
Why do fat shots occur?
The fundamental causes behind fat shots relate to the arc of the swing itself and more specifically to the position of the bottom of the swing arc. Indeed, in order to produce a shot that sees the club penetrating the ground before contact is made with the ball – such as the case with fat shots – the bottom of the swing arc needs ...
How to explain hitting fat shots?
Hitting fat shots from fairway bunkers are commonplace and can be explained by how deep your feet are dug in at address. Indeed, a sandy lie brings with it another variable in how deep your feet dig into the ground, in relation to the ball.
Why is my golf ball so far forward?
Is the ball located too much forward? One of the reasons your club may penetrate the ground before it hits the ball has to do with the placement of the ball itself in your stance , in relation to your feet. A ball placed too much forward – towards the target – can prove tricky to hit cleanly and can result in fat shots.
Why do you need to lower the bottom of the swing arc?
Doing so will reduce the number of possible positions the bottom of the swing arc can be found and should allow you to produce purer shots on a more consistent basis.
What is fat golf?
Hitting fat golf shots is one of the most frustrating faults in the game. It doesn’t matter how forgiving your irons are, if you are striking the ground before the ball, some technical swing changes are needed. Here, we will look at where hitting fat golf shots comes from and offer some pointers for how to improve your ball striking.
How to hit fat golf shots?
If you are hitting fat golf shots, the first place to start is with your address position. With your mid irons, the ball should be positioned slightly forward of middle in your stance so that your sternum is over the ball. Importantly, your hands should be a fraction ahead of the ball. This will encourage the downward angle ...
Where should weight be in golf?
The basic key here is that your weight should move towards your back foot in the backswing and then towards the target in the downswing. For some golfers, there is a desire to lean back through impact to help the ball into the air.
When hitting irons, should your divots start after the ball?
When hitting irons, your divots should start after the ball. For the best possible iron contact, you should aim to strike the ball and then the ground. This is a useful image to have in mind for any player who is struggling hitting fat golf shots.
What happens when you get to the top of the backswing?
2. By the time they get to the top of the backswing, their torso and pelvis have “re-centered” back over the ball.
Do fat shots recenter late?
Inevitably, they’ll often re- center too late, which causes inconsistencies and fat shots.
Why do golfers hit the ball fat?
But many golfers will hit the ball fat because they address it too far forwards in their stance.
What is hitting the ball fat?
Updated April 26, 2021. Hitting a golf shot sweet is one of the best feelings in sport. But a lot has to go right for you to hit the perfect shot and one of the most common issues golfers suffer from is what’s known as hitting the ball fat. A fat golf shot is when a golfer miscues his swing and chunks the ground with their club before they hit ...
What Causes Fat Golf Shots?
A typical golf swing works in a pendulum motion. In order to connect with the ball properly, the bottom of the arc of the swing should land a couple of inches behind the ball. This means you’re striking the ball on your downswing and taking a divot after you’ve hit connected with the ball.
How to move weight in the wrong direction?
Laterally moving backwards on your downswing and pushing your hips out behind you will move your weight in the wrong direction, favouring your back leg. This will move your swing arc back a couple of inches, causing you to to come down much sooner and narrower on the ball, chunking the turf too early.
What happens when you hit a fat shot?
Typically, when you hit a fat shot, your downswing comes down a lot shallower onto the ball, meaning that your club will connect with the ground a couple of inches before the ball, preventing you from striking the ball flush.
What is the line A in golf?
Line A shows the swing arc of a good golf shot, connecting with the ball on the downswing, and bottoming out behind the ball. Line B shows the arc of a fat golf shot which hits the ground first and bottoms out before or underneath the ball. This shallow swing trajectory can be caused by a number of factors, from where you place ...
How to swing a golf ball?
Stay upright, but keep your head and body as still as you can until you make impact with the ball where the natural motion of your swing should cause you to rotate your pelvis into the shot, straighten your legs, and rise up opening your chest after impact.
What is a Fat Golf Shot?
If you’re a relatively new golf player, it won’t be unlikely if you hear the term ‘fat shot’ for the first time. Some players even go ahead and think that the term is associated with the weight or the size of the golfer.
What Happens When You Hit a Fat Shot?
The biggest impact of such a shot would be less distance covered by the ball. It’s the telltale sign that there was something wrong with your swing. Ideally, you should be hitting the green with your short irons. Instead, you may very well land in the fairway again!
The Common Causes of Hitting Fat Golf Shots
For different players, the reason for hitting fat shots vary. A PGA instructor can always guide you in the right direction if you’re serious about fixing your swing issues.
Drills to Fix Fat Golf Shots
By now, you should have a precise idea about what fat shots mean and why you may be hitting those. It’s time to fix the issue once and for all!
Final Words
Hitting fat golf shots is a real problem. We’ve seen plenty of players being guilty of it. It might seem like a serious problem at first. But you should know that it’s quite easy to fix it with the drills we’ve designed for you in this guide.
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How to beat the fats in golf?
FIGHT THE FATS. Grab your 7-iron, take your address position, lift your right foot off the ground, and then hit balls while standing on your left foot only. With all your weight forward, you’ll make a descending blow and ball-first contact. To beat the fats, strive for this front-sided feeling when you play.
What is fat iron shot?
Fat iron shots are the scourge of the average player. The club hits the ground behind the ball, turf goes flying — and the ball goes nowhere. If you can get to the fat shot’s root cause — hanging back on your right leg through impact — you’ll fix it quickly.
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.
How to hit a tennis ball with your back hand?
If that sounds familiar, let me give you two simple keys. 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. 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).
How to get fat shots in golf?
Swinging too steep. While it is a problem when you try to lift the ball into the air, the opposite mistake can be just as damaging to your game. A swing that is coming down into impact on an angle that is too steep is very likely to create a fat shot as well. This problem is usually caused by a lack of lower body rotation in the downswing. When you start the club down toward the ball, your body should be turning out of the way to make room for your hands and arms to swing through the shot. However, if you fail to turn enough, your arms will be forced to take a steeper path down into the ball. Not only will you likely hit the shot fat when this happens, but there usually will be slice spin added to the ball as well. Correct your steep plane by working on your balance and practicing the rotation of your body in the downswing.
What happens if you put weight on your right foot after a golf swing?
If you have a significant amount of your weight on your right foot after the swing is over, there is a problem. Work on getting more of your weight onto your left side in the finish position and the fat shot issue might just take care of itself. Trying to lift the ball.
How to get the ball to float up?
Trying to lift the ball. Your irons have loft for a reason – so the club can do the work of getting the ball up into the air for you. As long as you hit down through the shot and make solid contact with the back of the ball, you should have no trouble getting the ball to float up nicely into the sky. However, if you try to help the ball get off the ground by scooping it instead of hitting down through it, you may run into trouble with fat shots. Many golfers make the mistake of thinking that they have to lift the ball into the air, so they try to hit up through the shot at impact. Don't fall into that trap. Hit down through your iron shots and trust that the loft of the club will do the rest.
How to hit a golf ball on the fairway?
Hitting your fairway woods requires a swing that is similar to the one you use with your driver, however you will often be hitting the ball right off of the turf instead of a tee. That means that you need to strike the ball cleanly in order to hit a good shot. If your swing were to bottom out even an inch or two behind the ball during the downswing, a fat shot could result.
How to reduce frustration on the golf course?
To reduce your frustration on the course, and reduce your scores at the same time, striking the ball cleanly should be something that is high on your priority list. Following is a list of three swing mistakes that could be leading to your problem with fat shots. Weight moving the wrong direction.
What causes a golf club to hit the ground before the ball?
Putter. One of golfs most deflating mishits is the “fat” golf shot, when the club strikes the ground before the ball. Fat shots typically occur with an iron in hand and may be rooted in any number of swing faults. A poor weight shift is a common culprit.
How to improve your swing weight shift?
Improve your golf swing weight shift and strike ball before ground using this classic drill: 1. With any club shorter than a 5-iron, take your usual address with the ball positioned at or near the middle of your stance. 2. Lift your right heel off the ground, balancing on the toes. 3.