Why Am I Hitting the Ball Fat?

Are You the Cause for Hitting the Ball Fat?



Just out with the golf buddies for the day. No problem shooting even par today and you wouldn't be surprised that a couple of eagles could happen. You set up the little white golf ball on the tee, bring back that club and swing 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 wonder what does he mean by that expression?



So What is Hitting the Ball Fat?



Simply, hitting the ball fat occurs when the club head meets the ground prior to making contact with the golf ball. Usually the reason for this occurring is the golfer will slide their hips too far 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. It is just not possible to find out by 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.

A different approach to discovering your problem is by taking a normal golf stance and go into your backswing then hold it at the top. Hold the club in that position and then using your hips slide them towards your target on a horizontal level. This action will naturally cause the rear shoulder to drop. If this is the case then you have probably figured what is causing your problem.



How to Fix the Shoulder Drop



So what corrective measures are needed to avoid hitting the ball fat? The solution is learning how to turn your hips correctly. 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. Remeber to allow your hips to turn but not slide. Practice these tips and you should be able to correct your problem for hitting the ball fat.



Practice With Your Entire Set of Clubs

You are going to have to practice with all of your clubs if you want to solve 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. Then the next time on the course you can have that "dream" game you have been playing in your head.


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