What Causes a Double Hit in Golf?

That stomach-sinking thwack-thump of a double hit in golf is a sound and feeling no player forgets. It can happen on a delicate chip, a shot from deep rough, or a tricky sand save, leaving you baffled and a bit embarrassed. This guide will break down precisely what causes a double hit, why it happens, and most importantly, provide a clear, actionable plan to get it out of your game for good.

First, a Quick Word on the Rule

Before we get into the technique, let's clear up a common question: "Is a double hit a penalty?" The good news is, not anymore.

In 2019, the Rules of Golf were updated. Previously, a double hit resulted in a one-stroke penalty. Under the new Rule 10.1a, if you accidentally hit the ball more than once in a single stroke, it does not count as a penalty. You simply count the single stroke you made and play the ball from where it lies.

This is a welcome change that acknowledges the accidental nature of the shot. But while it may not cost you a penalty stroke, it’s still a sign that something is not quite right in your swing mechanics, especially around the greens. It hurts your score because the shot rarely ends up where you intended.

The Simple Physics of a Double Hit

A double hit seems bizarre, but the physics behind it are surprisingly simple. It all comes down to the relationship between the speed of your clubhead and the speed of the golf ball at the moment of impact.

A double hit can only occur on very low-speed shots. Think of a delicate 15-yard chip, a soft bunker shot, or a hack out of deep grass. On a full swing, the ball leaves the clubface at such a high velocity that there is no chance for the clubhead to ever catch up to it.

However, on a short, small swing, here’s what happens:

1. Your clubface makes initial contact with the ball.
2. The ball gets compressed and starts to move forward, but very slowly.
3. At the same time, the force of the impact causes the clubhead to recoil or "bounce" backward off the ball, momentarily slowing its forward progress.
4. Because the ball isn't moving away quickly, the clubhead - still moving forward in its arc - catches up to the ball on its tiny rebound and strikes it a second time.

It all happens in a fraction of a second. The bottom line: the clubhead strikes the ball, recoils, and then strikes it again before the ball has a chance to get away. This happens when the clubhead is moving incredibly slowly through the impact zone.

The Real Culprit: Fear, Deceleration, and the "Scooping" Instinct

Now we know what happens, but the more important question is why. Why does the clubhead slow down so much in the first place? The cause is almost always rooted in a mental fear that leads to a physical flaw.

The number one reason for a double hit is deceleration through impact combined with a "scooping" motion of the hands and wrists.

Let's paint the picture. You're just off the green with a fluffy lie. Your only thought is, "Don't hit this too hard!" That fear triggers a chain reaction:

• You Decelerate: Instead of making a smooth, accelerating pendulum motion, you take the club back and then consciously try to slow the clubhead down as it approaches the ball. You're trying to "ease" the ball toward the hole.
• You Try to Lift the Ball: Your instincts tell you that to get the ball up in the air, you need to lift it. This causes your wrists to break down at impact in a flipping or scooping motion. Your trail hand (right hand for a righty) shoots under the ball, trying to flick it up.
_You Stop Your Body Rotation:_ Instead of turning your chest and hips through the shot, your body freezes. The swing becomes an "all arms and hands" affair, which is the perfect recipe for scooping.

This "scoop" action is catastrophic for solid contact. When you flick your wrists, you are releasing the club's energy far too early. The clubhead is actually at its slowest point right at impact. This weak, decelerating, upward-moving strike creates the absolute perfect conditions for the club to rebound and hit the ball a second time.

Remember ideology from our swing guide: the golf swing is a rotational action powered by the body. The double-hit swing is the exact opposite - it's a frozen body and a flippy, handsy jab at the ball.

How to Fix a Double Hit: Your Action Plan

Eliminating the double hit isn't about some secret move, it's about replacing feel-based fear with a commitment to sound mechanics. Here is a step-by-step guide to do just that.

Step 1: The Mental Shift - Trust the Loft

First, you have to accept a fundamental truth: it is not your job to lift the golf ball. It is the job of the golf club. A 56-degree sand wedge has 56 degrees of loft for a reason. All you need to do is deliver that loft to the back of the ball with a little bit of speed, and the ball will pop up into the air. Believing this is the first and most important step.

Your goal is not to "help" the ball up. Your goal is simply to strike the ball and accelerate the clubhead *through* the impact zone.

Step 2: The Physical Fix - Lock In Acceleration

The antidote to scooping and deceleration is using your body's rotation as the engine of the swing, even on small shots. Here’s the feeling to lock in:

• Keep Your Sternum Turning: For small chips and pitches, think about rotating your chest and torso back and through. The club, arms, and chest should feel connected, moving together as one unit. The hands and wrists stay relatively quiet.
• Finish Facing the Target: Your goal is to finish with your chest, hips, and belt buckle all pointing towards your target, or a little left of it for a right-handed player. This ensures your body doesn't stop, which is what forces the hands to take over.
• Feel the Clubhead Speed Up: The clubhead should be at its fastest point a few inches *after* it makes contact with the ball, not before. You want to feel a "whoosh" sound past the ball.

Step 3: Practical Drills to Build the Right Feel

Ingraining these feelings takes practice. Here are three simple drills that are incredibly effective at eliminating the scooping motion and preventing a double hit.

1. The Brushed Grass Drill

This is the simplest way to learn acceleration.

• Set up without a ball.
• Take a small backswing with your pitching wedge or sand wedge.
• Your entire goal is to make a swing where the club brushes the grass just in front of where the ball would be.
• Focus on hearing the "swoosh" of the clubhead accelerating through that point. Do not let the swoosh happen before or at the ball's position, it must be *after*.
• Repeat this 10-15 times, just feeling the rhythm and acceleration. Then, put a ball down and try to create the exact same feeling. You'll be amazed at how crisply the ball comes off the face.

2. The Lead-Arm-Only Chip

The scooping motion is almost always led by a breakdown in the trail wrist. This drill removes that temptation.

• Take your normal stance, but grip the club only with your lead hand (left hand for righties). You can place your trail hand on your chest or behind your back.
• Practice hitting small 10-15 yard chip shots.
• You'll quickly discover that it's nearly impossible to hit a solid shot this way by just using your arm. You MUST rotate your body through the shot to transport the club.
• This drill forces you to keep your lead wrist flat and use your body rotation as the engine, completely eliminating the scoop.

3. The "Towels Under the Arms" Drill

This classic drill is perfect for promoting a connected, body-driven swing.

• Take two small towels and tuck one under each armpit.
• Your goal is to hit short chip and pitch shots without either towel falling out.
• To keep the towels in place, your arms must stay connected to your torso. This prevents your arms from running off on their own and forces you to use your body's turn as the source of power.

Final Thoughts

A double hit almost always comes from one place: a fear of hitting the ball too hard that leads to a short, stabbing, and decelerating swing. The solution lies in trusting the loft on your club and committing to accelerating through the ball using the rotation of your body, not a weak flip of your hands.

We know that building this on-course confidence is easier when second-guessing is taken out of the equation. For those really tricky shots from deep rough or an awkward lie where the fear of mishit creeps in, you can consult our Caddie AI. Just snap a photo of your ball's lie, and you'll get instant, clear advice on the best way to approach the shot, giving you the clarity needed to commit to a confident, accelerating swing.