Golf Tip of the Day: How to Deal with Fat Shots
If you leave your local driving range with a bunch of divots in the grass, you likely have a problem with fat shots. Not only will you embarrass yourself during games by slicing chunks of earth from the green, but your ball will never go as far as it could, nor in the direction you want. Let’s tackle some of the basics in order to rid your game of this detrimental shot.
Focus on your follow through
A good follow through is essential to add distance and good aim to every swing you take. Fat shots prevent you from achieving a good follow through and will likely distract you from trying to achieve one too. If you are able to focus the majority of your attention on achieving a follow through, you are likely to get better at hitting the ball with the sweet spot of your clubface.
Cutting the grass versus digging a hole
As a golfer you know that there’s a big difference in cutting the grass and digging a hole. A great way to start off every swing is to perform a practice shot beforehand. A quick dummy swing or two will help you to correct any mistakes you’re making. If your clubface isn’t skimming the grass, check what needs to be corrected. (More on this in the next paragraph)
Practicing your swing before every shot
So what are some of the faults you may expose when performing a practice swing? Try to maintain the following:
- A steady swing that stays straight
- Keeping your head down
- Not bending your knees
If there’s any deviation from your initial stance, you may find yourself either making fat or thin shots—depending on how high or low you end up hitting the ball. Make sure you maintain a consistent height.
You will be able to focus on where your clubface is hitting the ball if you keep your head down. The sweet spot can only connect if you’re concentrating on face-to-ball aim. You can’t do that if you’re getting ahead of yourself and lifting your head as the ball connects. You’ve heard it a thousand times: Keep your head down!
A major cause of fat shots is the bending of the knees on the downswing. Work on keeping your knees steady so that the position you start off with is maintained throughout the entire swing.
Put these strategies into practice and deal with your fat shots one habit at a time.