Miles Bennett
In golf, a thin shot refers to when the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high, usually near the midpoint of the ball or slightly lower or higher. This often results in a low shot that slices and produces a lot of vibrations felt in the golfer's hands. Thin shots are caused by a variety of factors, including the golfer's posture, weight distribution, and movement during the swing. To avoid thin shots, golfers must maintain a stable pelvis angle, distribute weight evenly, and refrain from rising their torso before impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A "thin shot" in golf is when the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high (near the midpoint of the golf ball, or slightly lower or higher). |
| Other Names | Thin shots can also be called bladed shots, skulls or skulled shots. |
| Impact on Ball Flight | The ball tends to fly lower than intended. |
| Impact on Distance | The ball may not travel as far as intended, but it can also overshoot the target due to increased roll-out. |
| Sensations | The golfer may experience an uncomfortable stinging sensation in their hands. |
| Divot | Thin shots result in minimal divot production. |
| Common Causes | Golfer raising up before impact, reverse pivot in swing, insufficient weight transfer to the lead leg during downswing, improper spine angle at impact, improper weight distribution at address, improper setup and positioning. |
| Fixes | Maintain a stable pelvis angle during the swing, keep head at a consistent vertical distance from the ground, focus on striking tee through impact, ensure correct weight distribution, adjust setup and positioning. |
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What You'll Learn
Thin shots occur when the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high
Thin shots in golf occur when the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high, typically near or slightly below the midpoint of the ball. This results in a low shot that can slice and produce a lot of vibration felt in the golfer's hands. The distance of a thin shot can be unpredictable. While the ball may roll out and overshoot the target, it can also drop quickly and fall short of the desired distance.
Thin shots are often the result of errors in the swing arc, specifically the position of its bottom. One common mistake is when the golfer rises just before impact, lifting their head and torso, which pulls the arms up and raises the club. This can be avoided by keeping the head at the same vertical distance from the ground throughout the swing. It is also important to maintain the angle of the pelvis during the swing, ensuring that the bottom of the swing arc is in the right place.
Another cause of thin shots is the improper distribution of weight during the swing. Professional golfers shift their weight to the front leg early in the downswing, sometimes up to 85% of their weight. In contrast, amateurs often exhibit a lesser weight shift or none at all, which can lead to thin shots. To correct this, golfers should focus on controlling the club's arc and having their body weight forward at impact.
Additionally, thin shots can be caused by a "reverse pivot" in the swing, where the golfer transfers their weight in the opposite direction. Instead of moving their weight to the back foot during the backswing and bringing it forward during the downswing, they do the reverse, moving their weight to the back foot just before impact. This moves the bottom of the swing arc back and can result in thin shots. To correct this, golfers should focus on transferring their weight to the front foot during the downswing.
To summarise, thin shots in golf occur when the clubhead strikes the ball too high, leading to low and sometimes unpredictable shots. This can be improved by addressing issues with the swing arc, maintaining proper posture and weight distribution, and avoiding a "reverse pivot" during the swing.
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The golfer's torso and head may lift before impact, raising the club
A "thin shot" in golf occurs when the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high, usually near or slightly below the equator of the ball. This often results in a low shot that slices and produces a lot of vibration felt in the golfer's hands.
A common cause of thin shots is when the golfer's torso and head lift before impact, raising the club. This pulling up of the torso and head is often a result of the golfer trying to "help the ball" into the air, feeling that they need to swing up into it. However, this is unnecessary as golf clubs are designed to get the ball airborne. This pulling up of the torso and head leads to the shoulders rising, which in turn lifts the arc of the swing. As a result, the clubface catches the ball on or slightly below its equator, leading to a thin shot.
To prevent this, golfers should focus on maintaining their posture throughout the swing and keeping their upper torso bent in the same way. It is important to keep the head at the same vertical distance from the ground throughout the swing, which will help prevent the upper body from rising. Additionally, golfers should ensure they are not setting up with their shoulders aligned too far to the right or left, as this can also contribute to thin shots by affecting the swing's bottoming-out point.
Another factor that can lead to thin shots is the weight distribution between the golfer's feet. Placing more weight on the back foot during setup can move the bottom of the swing arc back, making it challenging to hit down on the ball and leading to thin shots. To avoid this, golfers should focus on evenly distributing their weight between both feet during their setup.
By making these adjustments to their posture, alignment, and weight distribution, golfers can reduce the likelihood of their torso and head lifting before impact and improve their overall swing consistency.
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The bottom of the swing arc may be higher than it should be
A "thin shot" in golf is when the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high, resulting in a low, sometimes slicing shot. This can happen when the bottom of the swing arc is higher than it should be.
The swing arc is the path that the golf club travels on during the swing. The bottom of the swing arc is the point at which the clubhead is closest to the ground. If the bottom of the swing arc is too high, it can cause the clubhead to strike the ball above the equator, resulting in a thin shot.
There are several reasons why the bottom of the swing arc may be too high. One common reason is that the golfer may not be shifting enough weight to the lead leg during the downswing. This can cause the clubhead to come down on the ball from a higher position, increasing the likelihood of a thin shot. Another reason could be the golfer's setup, such as incorrect posture or alignment, which can affect the swing path and cause the bottom of the arc to be too high. Additionally, releasing the golf club too early or having an incorrect attack angle can also contribute to the issue.
To correct this problem, golfers should focus on improving their weight transfer during the downswing, ensuring that their weight is forward at impact. Adjustments to their setup, such as widening their stance, tilting the spine angle, and turning the shoulders during the backswing, can also help lower the bottom of the swing arc. Practicing drills and exercises, such as trying to "bruise the ground" without digging, can help golfers improve their consistency in finding the correct bottom of the swing arc.
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A reverse pivot in the swing can cause thin shots
A reverse pivot occurs when a golfer moves their body weight in the opposite way that they are supposed to during their swing. At the start of the swing, the body weight should be evenly distributed between both feet. During the backswing, the weight should shift towards the back foot, and then during the downswing, the weight should transition towards the front foot. A reverse pivot will cause the golfer to shift their weight to their front foot during the backswing and then shift their weight to their back foot during the downswing.
The reverse pivot can cause thin shots because it affects the golfer's ability to transfer weight correctly during the swing. This can lead to the golfer raising their torso and head before impact, which pulls the arms and club up, causing the club to contact the ball too high. Additionally, a reverse pivot can cause the golfer to take the club inside during the swing, reducing the width of the swing and affecting the rotation of the hips.
To correct a reverse pivot, golfers can try drills that focus on weight transfer and hip rotation. It is also important to pay attention to the position of the head during the swing, as moving the head too much can make it difficult for the body to pivot correctly. By addressing these issues, golfers can improve their swing and reduce the occurrence of thin shots.
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Thin shots can be called bladed, skulls, or wormburners
A ""thin shot" in golf occurs when the clubhead strikes the golf ball too high, often near the midpoint of the ball. This can result in a low, sometimes slicing shot that produces a lot of vibration, felt in the golfer's hands. Thin shots can also be called "bladed shots", "skulls", "skulled shots", or "wormburners".
A bladed shot is when the leading edge of an iron first contacts the ball near its equator. A skull or skulled shot refers to a thin strike that often skips across the green on shorter shots. A wormburner is a shot in which the golf ball barely gets off the ground or doesn't get off the ground at all. It is often considered an unintentional shot, resulting from imperfect impact with the ball.
Thin shots often occur when the golfer raises their head and torso just before impact, lifting the club too high and causing it to contact the ball in the wrong place. Golf instructors often advise against trying to "lift the ball", as golf clubs are designed to get the ball up in the air. Instead, golfers should focus on maintaining a correct posture and swing technique to avoid thin shots.
To prevent thin shots, golfers can start by checking their basic setup positions. This includes ensuring the golf ball is positioned correctly in the stance and that the shoulders are aligned properly. Additionally, golfers can try drills to improve their swing plane or practice hitting shots from a side-hill lie with the ball above their feet. Maintaining a stable pelvis angle during the swing can also help prevent thin shots.
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Frequently asked questions
Thinning in golf refers to a shot that has been hit too high on the ball by the clubhead, usually near or slightly below the midpoint of the ball. This often results in a low shot that can lack distance and sometimes slice.
A thin shot is often caused by the golfer lifting their head and torso before impact, which raises the club. It can also be caused by a reverse pivot in the swing, where weight is transferred to the back foot instead of the front.
To stop hitting thin shots, golfers should focus on keeping their upper torso bent the same way throughout the swing and ensure they are not rising up before impact. It is also important to control the club's arc and have your body weight forward at impact.
A thin shot occurs when the clubhead strikes the ball above the equator, whereas a fat shot occurs when the clubhead strikes the ground before the ball, usually due to an incorrect swing arc.
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