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Hitting the ball fat can be every bit as frustrating as hitting a slice. Don’t get discouraged, though, because once you know why you’re hitting the ball fat, you can begin working on correcting it. It’s a simple matter of golf swing mechanics.
When you’re hitting the ball fat, it’s almost impossible to identify what you’re doing wrong without someone else there to help you. If you can, have one of your golf buddies watch you swing while looking for whether you have any of the swing flaws described below.
You’re probably dropping your back shoulder (the right one, if you’re right-handed, the left shoulder if you’re a lefty) if you’re hitting the ball fat. Dropping your shoulder will cause the club to hit the ground early, before it ever gets to the ball. It’s often caused by trying to swing too hard and starting the downswing with too much hip motion.
Here’s something you can try to illustrate this principle. Grab a club and address the ball normally. Then bring the club up to the apex of your backswing and stop. With the club at the top of your swing, slide your hips horizontally toward your target and watch what your back shoulder does. It dips!
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Now, ask your buddy to watch your hips and back shoulder while you repeat this exercise slowly. If he or she sees your shoulder dropping, you’ve probably learned why you’re hitting the ball fat.
You’ll need to learn how to use your lower body properly during the swing in order to correct the problem. Your hips must coil and uncoil, not slide laterally, during your swing. If you focus on initiating your downswing with your arms, your hips will follow quite naturally.
You can also focus on keeping your lead (front) shoulder down during your swing. Practice this a few times and your shots will get better as your body gets the message.
In addition, you need to remember to keep your lead arm straight as you begin your backswing. As you reach the top of your backswing, tell yourself to keep your forward shoulder down, and then begin your downswing. As your hips uncoil, don’t permit them to slide forward horizontally.
All these tips are easy, but you’ll need to spend some time practicing and trying different things. Naturally, the best place to do this is at the practice range. You might even be able to find someone there to watch your swing for you.
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Remember to go through all the clubs in your bag while you’re practicing, not just one or two of them. Hitting the ball fat is possible with any club, from driver to sand wedge, so you’ll need to practice with each club in order to master the art of hitting the ball crisply. Many players, even professionals, start with their short irons and work up to the longer clubs when they’re learning a new shot or a new technique.
