Fat and Thin Golf Shots: Causes, Data, and Fixes
One of the biggest consistency killers in golf is poor contact. If you've ever hit one shot heavy and the next one thin, you're not alone: and you're not broken. You're just out of sequence.
What Causes Fat and Thin Shots?
- Fat shot (chunk): The club bottoms out too early, hitting the ground before the ball
- Thin shot (blade): The club catches the ball on the lower edge or misses the turf entirely
According to a 2017 study in the Journal of Sports Sciences, inconsistent low-point control is one of the top differentiators between elite and amateur players.
- Early extension (loss of posture through impact)
- Poor weight shift or trail leg collapse
- Inconsistent wrist angles (lead wrist extension at impact)
- Flawed sequencing (upper body dominates downswing)
How to Find and Control Your Low Point
Your low point is the lowest spot in the swing arc. In a solid iron shot, the low point should occur slightly ahead of the golf ball, resulting in ball-first contact.
3 Drills to Clean Up Contact
- Towel Behind the Ball Drill: forces ball-first contact
- Impact Ball or Connection Drill: keeps arms and torso in sync
- Lead Wrist Flexion Drill: promotes better shaft lean and forward compression
Ready to start striking it pure? Come see us at ATX Golf Performance.
Learn More →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I hit the ground before the ball?
Hitting the ground before the ball (fat shot) is usually caused by early extension, poor weight shift, or inconsistent wrist angles at impact.
