That depressing thud sound, a huge chunk of turf flying farther than your ball, and a feeling of pure frustration. If you keep grounding your golf club before impact, you know this exact moment all too well. It’s one of the most common and confidence-shattering mistakes in golf, but here’s the good news: it's not some random curse. It's a simple issue of physics, and it has clear, fixable causes. This article will break down the most common reasons why you’re hitting the ball fat and give you straightforward, practical drills to get you making clean, ball-first contact.
Before we can fix it, we need to understand the goal. A great iron shot doesn't involve "lifting" the ball. On the contrary, great ball-strikers hit down on the ball. Imagine your golf swing as a large circle, with the clubhead traveling on the circumference of that circle. For an iron shot, the absolute bottom of that circle - the lowest point of the swing arc - should happen a few inches after the golf ball.
When you hit a shot “fat” or ground the club first, it means the low point of the swing is happening before or directly under the golf ball. The club bottoms out prematurely, digs into the soil, loses all its speed, and then bounces up to hit the ball. The perfect outcome would be a compressed, clean strike - the kind all amateurs want, and pros can do. Understanding this idea of managing the "low point" of the swing circle is crucial. Let's look at what causes that low point to happen in the wrong spot.
The golf swing is a dynamic transfer of energy. Think about how you'd throw a baseball. You wouldn't stand flat-footed and just use your arm, you'd shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you throw. The golf swing is no different. A common cause for grounding the club is a "reverse pivot" or simply a failure to shift weight from your trailside leg to your lead side as you take the shot toward the target.
If your weight remains on your back foot through impact, you’ve left the center of your swing circle well before the golf ball. As a natural consequence, the club starts descending before reaching the ball, resulting in a "chunky" hit.
This is perhaps the most frequent fault in amateurs who struggle with fat and thin shots. “Casting” or an "early release" means you’re un-hinging your wrists too early in the downswing, right from the top. Think of it like throwing a fishing line - that whip happens at the start of the forward motion.
In a powerful, efficient golf swing, you want to maintain the angle you created in your wrists at the top of the backswing for as long as possible. This stored angle is called "lag," and it's a huge source of power and speed. Releasing it early doesn't just cut down your potential, it also widens your swing arc prematurely, resulting in a less effective strike.
This feels a little odd at first, but it is excellent for building the proper feel of retaining your wrist hinge and releasing it at the right moment - through the ball, not before it.
Your setup posture isn't just a starting position, it's the foundation of your entire swing. One of the most important aspects is maintaining your height and center of gravity so your upper body remains consistent during the swing. This means keeping a solid athletic posture.
Many golfers who hit fat shots have a tendency to "dip" or drop their entire body during the downswing. This occurs when there's excessive or unnecessary knee flexing or loss of spinal tilt. When your body drops, the ground rises on you, resulting in fat shots.
This is an effective posture-focused drill that helps maintain a stable axis throughout your swing.
This is a subtle but important factor. Incorrect ball position can lead to fat shots. A ball that is too far forward for your club causes your swing arc to bottom out early, resulting in poor contact.
A good rule of thumb:
Stop guessing! Give yourself a perfect visual reference on the range.
Eliminating fat shots comes down to managing the low point of your swing. By focusing on a proper weight shift, maintaining your wrist angles, stabilizing your posture, and having a consistent ball position, you move that low point to its correct spot: just after the golf ball. Be patient, work on one concept at a time using these drills, and you'll soon trade that nasty thud for the sweet, satisfying click of pure impact.
While these drills address the most common mistakes, it’s sometimes hard to self-diagnose what's happening on the course. That's why I designed Caddie AI, to offer immediate clarity on the course. Whether it's understanding the best shot or diagnosing swing issues, Caddie AI provides the advice you need, right on your phone. Check it out and eliminate the guesswork from your game with Caddie AI.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
