Trevor Ng
In golf, a fat shot occurs when the club hits the ground before making contact with the ball. This results in a noticeable decrease in the distance the ball travels. The main causes of fat shots are the arc of the swing and the position of the bottom of the swing arc. To avoid hitting fat, golfers should focus on maintaining the correct spine angle, using larger muscles like the shoulders and hips, and developing a repeatable setup and swing sequence. Drills that emphasize perfect impact position are also recommended.
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What You'll Learn
The definition of a fat shot
In golf, a fat shot is when the club hits the ground before making contact with the ball. This results in a notable reduction in the distance travelled by the ball as the clubhead is significantly slowed down by the ground. The swing/clubhead will bottom out at a certain point in the swing, and if the golfer's sternal notch is behind the ball at impact, the club will hit the ground first.
The most common reaction to hitting the ball fat is to move the ball back in one's stance. However, this can result in the club getting stuck and, consequently, a fat shot. The placement of the ball in relation to the feet is crucial. If the ball is placed too far forward, it can be difficult to hit cleanly and may lead to a "'swaying' swing error".
To avoid hitting fat shots, golfers should focus on achieving a repeatable swing sequence that allows for a more centred strike. This can be achieved by relying more on the larger muscle groups, such as the hips and shoulders, rather than the hands and arms. Additionally, maintaining the spine angle from address to impact allows for more consistent contact and better turf interaction.
Drills that help golfers develop a feel for the perfect impact position are also recommended. One such drill involves placing two tees perpendicular to the club a few feet apart and practising weight shift by placing the ball at different points along this line. Another drill is to focus on a spot about an inch in front of the ball and try to hit that spot instead of the ball.
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How to correct a fat shot
Hitting fat shots in golf is incredibly frustrating and impacts your score. The main causes of a fat golf shot include improper ball position, early release, incorrect weight transfer, lateral movement of the body, poor posture, and using the wrong muscles on the downswing.
To correct a fat shot, you need to understand why you are hitting it fat and work on your golf swing technique. Here are some tips to help you correct a fat shot:
- Check your spine angle: Maintain your spine angle throughout the golf swing. Many amateur golfers lose their spine angle on the downswing as they attempt to make contact with the ball. Maintaining the spine angle allows for more consistent contact and better turf interaction.
- Use larger muscles: To achieve a repeatable swing and stop hitting fat shots, rely more on the larger muscles like the shoulders and hips. Avoid using your hands and arms to strike the ball, as this can lead to a steep approach and a high likelihood of a fat shot.
- Correct wrist mechanics: Master the correct wrist mechanics to improve your swing. Start your downswing with your lower body, rotating your lower body first. An arms-first downswing can make it difficult to strike the ball cleanly.
- Improve weight transfer: The improper transfer of weight during the swing can lead to fat shots. Focus on transferring your weight correctly, with the weight moving towards your back foot in the backswing and then towards the target in the downswing. Avoid leaning back through impact, as this will cause you to strike the ground before the ball.
- Ball position: Ensure that your ball position is not too far back or too far forward in your stance. This can cause you to miss the exact low point of the swing where you should strike the ball.
- Visual drills: Focus on visual drills to improve your swing. Draw a line on the ground and practice taking a divot after the line, or place an obstacle behind the ball to train your body not to hit it. You can also put a tee peg in front of the ball and try to hit that.
- Reduce lateral hip movement: Excessive lateral hip movement during the backswing and downswing can add variability to the bottom of the swing arc. Reduce this lateral movement to improve the consistency of your shots.
By following these tips and practicing your swing, you can correct fat shots and improve your golf game.
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The impact of a fat shot
Hitting a "fat shot" in golf means that the club hits the ground before making contact with the ball. This results in a notable reduction in the distance the ball travels, as the clubhead is significantly slowed down by the ground. The vertical position of the bottom of the swing arc can also impact whether a shot is considered "fat". If the club hits the ball but then digs too deeply into the ground, the velocity of the shot will be impacted, affecting how far and high the ball goes.
The most common reaction to hitting a fat shot is to move the ball back in your stance. However, this can sometimes make the problem worse, as the ball position can change depending on the golf club in your hand. If the ball is placed too far forward, it can be difficult to hit cleanly and may lead to a swaying swing error, where the hips move back and forth laterally.
To avoid hitting fat shots, golfers should focus on developing a repeatable setup and swing sequence that allows for a more centred strike. This can be achieved by maintaining the spine angle from address to impact, relying on larger muscles like the shoulders and hips, and ensuring proper ball position for the club being used. Drills that give golfers the feeling of a perfect impact position can also help eliminate fat shots.
One drill to help eliminate fat shots is to place two tees perpendicular to the club a few feet apart and place the ball on that line. The golfer then practices their weight shift, starting with the ball near the farthest tee and gradually moving it closer to the other tee. This provides feedback on whether the golfer is hitting the ball first, then the grass, then the ground, or if they are still hitting it fat. Another drill is to focus on a spot about an inch in front of the ball and try to hit that spot instead of the ball itself.
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Drills to correct a fat shot
Hitting a fat shot in golf means making contact with the ground before the ball. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including improper weight distribution, incorrect wrist mechanics, and insufficient pivoting. To correct this issue, it is important to identify the underlying cause and then focus on specific drills to address it. Here are some effective drills to help you correct those fat shots:
Understand the Basics of Weight Transfer:
The fundamental principle of weight transfer in a golf swing is that your weight should initially shift towards your back foot during the backswing and then move towards the target during the downswing. To correct fat shots, it is crucial to ensure that your weight is distributed correctly and transferred to the lead side during the swing.
Step Drill:
This drill helps you focus on transferring your weight to the lead side. Start by setting up with your feet together. As you swing through the ball, step onto your lead foot. You can practice this drill both on and off the golf course to improve your weight transfer and reduce fat shots.
Focus on the Lead Hip:
Get a great turn with your lead hip, allowing your arms to drop into place naturally. A good lead hip turn helps you gain power and achieve clean strikes. During your swing, focus on staying over your lead side a little longer to ensure proper weight transfer.
Tee Peg Drill for Angle of Attack:
To improve your angle of attack and achieve solid contact, try the tee peg drill. Place a tee in the ground a few centimetres in front of the ball and focus on striking the tee instead of the ball. This drill helps you develop a more downward angle of attack, improving your contact and reducing fat shots.
Correct Wrist Mechanics:
Mastering correct wrist mechanics is essential to eliminating fat shots. Keep your lead wrist flexed through the low point of the swing, allowing you to make clean contact with the ball. Avoid using only your hands and arms to strike the ball, as this can lead to a steep approach and increase the likelihood of fat shots.
Divot Drill:
Set a club parallel to your target and practice your weight shift. Place the ball near the farthest tee and keep moving it closer to the next tee with each swing. This drill provides feedback on whether you are hitting the ball first, then the grass, or if you are still hitting it fat.
Feet Together Drill:
Hit shots with your feet together to promote compact and efficient movements. This drill helps you identify if excessive turning or movement is causing your fat shots.
Remember, the key to correcting fat shots is to identify the underlying cause and then focus on specific drills to address that issue. Consistent practice with these drills will help you develop a more repeatable swing sequence, leading to more centred strikes and fewer fat shots.
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Common mistakes when hitting a fat shot
Hitting a fat shot in golf means that the club penetrates the ground before making contact with the ball. This results in a notable reduction in the distance travelled by the ball as the clubhead is significantly slowed down by the ground.
- Improper ball position: If the ball is placed too far forward or backward in the stance, it can result in fat shots as golfers may miss the exact low point of the swing where they should strike the ball. The ball position should be adjusted depending on the golf club being used. As a general guideline, for swings at full speed, the ball should be placed in the centre of the stance for wedges and short irons. As the length of the clubs increases, the feet should be moved back incrementally to find the ball forward.
- Incorrect weight transfer: The weight should be distributed equally among both feet at address and for normal shots. If there is too much weight on the back foot during the downswing, it can cause the club to dig behind the ball and produce a fat shot. The fundamentals of weight transfer dictate that the weight should shift towards the back foot in the backswing and then towards the target in the downswing.
- Lateral movement of the body: This is also known as "swaying" and occurs when the hips move back and forth laterally during the swing. Instead of swaying, golfers should focus on pivoting with their hips and keeping their spine angle consistent throughout the swing.
- Overactive arms: When the arms lead from the top of the swing, the body takes a less active role, and the club may strike the ground before the ball. Golfers should let the lower body lead during the transition from backswing to downswing.
- Early release: Releasing the golf club too soon can cause the club to hit the ground before the ball. The lead wrist should remain flexed through the low point of the swing to ensure clean contact with the ball first.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitting fat in golf, or a fat shot, means that the club hits the ground before making contact with the ball. This slows down the clubhead and results in a notable reduction in the distance travelled by the ball.
A fat shot can be caused by the horizontal and vertical position of the bottom of the swing arc. It can also be caused by the placement of the ball in relation to your feet. If the ball is placed too far forward, it can be difficult to hit cleanly and may lead to a "swaying" swing error.
To stop hitting fat shots, you should work on drills that give you the feeling of a perfect impact position. You should also ensure that your spine angle is the same at impact as it was when you addressed the ball.
One drill to help with fat shots is to place two tees perpendicular to the club a few feet apart and place your ball on that line. Start with the ball near the farthest tee and keep placing it nearer to the next tee. This will give you feedback on whether you are hitting the ball first and then the grass and ground, or if you are still hitting it fat.
A common mistake when trying to stop hitting fat shots is to move the ball back in your stance. This may make the problem worse in the long term, so it is important to address the specific reason why you are hitting fat shots.
