Why Am I Hitting The Ball Fat?

Did That Guy Just Call My Ball Fat?

 

Great day out golfing with your buddies. You feel like this is going to be the day to break par. You get the ball set up on the tee, pull that monster club back and whale away. Except instead of driving that ball down the middle of the fairway you feel a “thud” before impact and the ball just dribbles out in front of the tee. Your friend calls out “Hey you just hit the ball fat”. You turn around and wonder “What did he mean by that comment?”

 

What Does Hitting the Ball Fat Mean?

 

Basically hitting the ball fat occurs when your club head strikes the ground before making contact with the golf ball. The reason that this occurs is because the golfer slides their hips while starting their downswing. The sliding motion will cause the rear shoulder to drop which in turn lowers the golf club resulting in a bad golf shot.

 

You Need a Friend to Check for You

 

You have to get some help from a friend or observer to discover why you are hitting the golf ball fat. This is one time that you cannot do this yourself. Your friend has to look for some telltale signs for you. First, look for the rear shoulder lowering when you start your downswing. If you are dropping your lower shoulder then the club naturally strikes the ground first.

 

Another way to check your problem is to take a normal golf stance and start your backswing and then stop at the top of the backswing. Hold the club in that position and then using your hips slide them towards your target on a horizontal level. By doing this your rear shoulder naturally drops. If this is what is occurring then you have probably uncovered your problem.

 

How to Fix the Shoulder Drop

 

So now that you have discovered that you are hitting the ball fat how do you correct it? In order to correct hitting the ball fat you have to turn your hips in the correct manner. Do not slide your hips but have them turn naturally with your body. Try to focus on beginning your downswing using your arms and then your natural body movement will allow your hips to turn. Remember that your forward arm should stay straight when going into the downswing. When you are at the top of your swing concentrate on keeping your front shoulder down. Once again, your hips should naturally turn but not slide. Once you practice these suggestions you should fix your problem for hitting the ball fat.

 

Practice With Your Entire Set of Clubs

 

Practice with all your clubs for correcting hitting the ball fat. Every club has its own unique qualities and you have to get used to the right way to swing each club. This problem can be fixed with patience and practice. So the next time you are out on the course you can tell your buddy to watch who he is calling fat.

 

For additional information on how to avoid hitting the ball fat visit Tips For Golf Swing!