Hitting the ball fat...why?

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c21heel

c21heel

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For the last four years, my number 1 swing fault has been hitting the ball fat (seems to come and go). Not the kind of fat shots that go less than 10 yards, but the kind that end up about 10-20 yards short of the greeen.

Any of you ever suffer this? If so, what did you find fixed your problem. The more advice, the better :)!

Ironically enough, I tend to hit fat shots when I've played a lot or getting near the end of a large bucket during my trips to the range. I would like to blame it on tension or the hit impulse.

Thanks,
c21heel
 
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Archie Swivel

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I find that fat shots tend to be due to improper weight shifts. Try snapping your left (front) leg straight just after impact while touching your right knee to the back of your left knee and end in a position where you can 'tap' your right toe on the ground at finish with good balance. If you're still hitting fat, then you've got some major throwaway.
 
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MizunoJoe

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Not enough info. If you are a Swinger, and have turn/slide/turn hip action, you could be getting tired or lazy and not getting enough slide, and/or you could be moving off the ball on the BS. Or you could be "quitting" and letting the clubhead catch up to the hands too quickly causing a vertical shaft at impact rather than a forward slanting shaft.
 
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Brian Manzella

Administrator
c21...

Your clubhead is DROPPING below the plane....Keep it in the air longer by:

1. Ajusting your aiming point
2. Swinging "more left."
3. Getting your right hip bone to the ball at impact.

I have 14,567 more if these don't work.
 
c21heel

c21heel

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All, thanks and here is some additional information. I took a quick video shot of my swing this morning and detected a pronounced lean into the shot. My head was moving forward and downward, but when I tried to hold my head back and up, I hit the fall even fatter.

This evening, I will try all of your recommendations.

Brian, I have the resilience and patience to try all 14,000+ recommendations :)!
 
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BigBadDonkey

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I know this sounds like 'pop golf junk' but I was hitting the ball fat recently due to 'too much' head movement on the backswing. Maybe when you are getting tired you sway more than usual?
Maybe worth a try? , but I would stick with Brian's post LOL.
 
c21heel

c21heel

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Could be all that Turkey pushing my stomach out to far to the right on the backswing. I did kind of over do it this Thanksgiving!
 
c21heel

c21heel

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Well, I've worked on everything but the rear elbow bend. How would rear elbow bend keep me from hitting the ball fat?

Thanks,
c21heel
 
Burner

Burner

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quote:Originally posted by c21heel

Well, I've worked on everything but the rear elbow bend. How would rear elbow bend keep me from hitting the ball fat?

Thanks,
c21heel
Click to expand...
It 'aint the bend, its the too early straightening that is the problem.
 
Steve Khatib

Steve Khatib

Super Moderator
If it is not quitting or leekage it is aiming point. My favourite drill for this is to move the more forward, all the other teachers tend to get you to move it further back, but this only plays to and encourages the problem. Hit some balls positioned way forward and see what happens. You will be suprised how far your body naturally reacts. I personally hate all the multiple ball positions stuff as the ball should be positioned under the hinge unless you are executing variations.
 
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shootin4par

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quote:Originally posted by c21heel

Well, I've worked on everything but the rear elbow bend. How would rear elbow bend keep me from hitting the ball fat?

Thanks,
c21heel
Click to expand...
ok, I am a newbie so dont take my advice as gospel, but here is my shot in the dark. If your rear elbow straightens too early then you encourage your rear wrist to do the same. I find it akward to flip with my rear hand while keeping the elbow bent. I believe, but again could be wrong, that most all pros have a rear elbow bend at impact. Picture it this way. You get mad at a foursome for hitting up on you, exchange some words, and go to throwing punches. Imagine the impact position of your hand on his face. would your rear elbow be bent or straight, why? You know that a punch with a straight arm has lost power but a slightly bent arm at impact allows you to follow through, or hitting through the ball/face, same for a golf swing
 
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shootin4par

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quote:Originally posted by c21heel

shootin4par, sounds convincing to me. I'll try it out tomorrow on the course.
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try it out on the course[:0] Dont put that pressure on me, first try it out on chips, then pitches, half shots, then full shots AT THE RANGE
 
B

BigBadDonkey

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quote:Originally posted by c21heel

Ironically enough, I tend to hit fat shots when I've played a lot or getting near the end of a large bucket during my trips to the range. I would like to blame it on tension or the hit impulse.

Thanks,
c21heel
Click to expand...

I think when people strive for distance they tend to lean get that head back moving a little more on the backstroke. Natural impulse 'cause it can give you that little extra oomfh.
I think it's the same when getting tired as some of your muscles start feeling tired.
I think Homer Lynn are right on with this tripod still head thing *if* you can do it. Tiger's head is as still as any of them and he has STT apparently , although I don't think he does!
 
c21heel

c21heel

New
BigBadDonkey, thanks for the help. I'm headed out to hit some golf ball this evening and will focus on keeping the head steady.

I'll report back!
 
c21heel

c21heel

New
Okay, I'm back. I played a quick nine holes today in 25 degree weather (I'm an idiot, I know). I focused on keeping the head still, keeping a bend in the right arm, swinging more left, right hip through the ball, etc. All seemed to help to varying degrees, but nothing completely eliminated the heavy shot. Until...

I remember someone on this board mentioning that Hogan recommended lowering the club to initiate the downswing, which I equated to starting the club down a flatter plane. I gave it a try and didn't hit a single shot fat for the last six holes! This obviously made my swing a little flatter as my ball flight turned into a slight draw. I can deal with that.

I think my backswing was a little too steep as my head was lifting on the backswing and lunging on the downswing. I thought about keeping my left arm in line with my shoulder plane at the top of the swing and it worked wonders. As Hogan would probably say, I was busting the plane of glass on my backswing.

I'm fixed, well, at least until I pick up a club again :)!

Sound reasonable?
 
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ian d m

New
Sounds very reasonable and logical. I was surprised no other questions were asked of this struggling golfer before all the theorists offered a suggestion - very revealing.

1. Did he hit fat and also tend to slice and pop up his drives ? Is he a higher handicapper ? (Most likely) or
2. Did he hit fat by catching/scuffing the ground too early (in which his divots were too early yet a teed up driver was less of a problem) Maybe an occaisional pull hook ? (less likely)

Without this information a helpful answer would be just luck. Why ? Because the corrections for these two problems are the opposite of each other.

In any case, the golfer fixed himself by trying a shallower approach into the ball (surely the most common correction for hitting fat yet surprisingly missed by all) - so it sounds like his problem was more number 1 than number 2. He also enjoyed the draw that resulted - the clubface squares itself more easily when it approaches the ball on a shallower plane. When it swings down too steeply, it is more likely to dig too deeply and stay open.

But he really needs to find out where exactly he was too steep. Was it in the takeaway ? Or at the top ? Or coming down ? If he flattens the wrong bit he might get some short term relief with his irons but may struggle with another part of his game that he used to do well.

Simple ? Not necessarily (but not complicated either) - his own correction was logical and more effective than the other suggestions. If it turns out his problem was to swing down too steeply then "swinging more left" would probably exacerbate his problem - his arms would come down more steeply and he would crash further into whichever part of the USA he lives in.

At least, though, the intention to help was there; so you have to applaud that.
 
c21heel

c21heel

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ian d m,

Not a high handicaper by no means; haven't shot a round above 82 all year. My handicap is a 5.4, but it could be better if I could just eliminate the fat shots (about five a round) that leave me in the bunker or the tough rough. I have been blessed with both a good Putter and Driver.

But, I'm sure my problems are from an overly steep downswing. My divots can be deep at times and tend to point straight to left of target. Not sure I have ever had one that has pointed right of the target.

And, a lot of the lack of information was my fault. I didn't provide the complete picture in my first post.

I do appreciate all the help that everyone has offered thus far.

Thanks,
C21heel
 
jenhaoyen

jenhaoyen

New
c21heel said:
ian d m,

Not a high handicaper by no means; haven't shot a round above 82 all year. My handicap is a 5.4, but it could be better if I could just eliminate the fat shots (about five a round) that leave me in the bunker or the tough rough. I have been blessed with both a good Putter and Driver.

But, I'm sure my problems are from an overly steep downswing. My divots can be deep at times and tend to point straight to left of target. Not sure I have ever had one that has pointed right of the target.

And, a lot of the lack of information was my fault. I didn't provide the complete picture in my first post.

I do appreciate all the help that everyone has offered thus far.

Thanks,
C21heel
Click to expand...

werd. Nice forum.
 
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