Stop Hitting It
Fat
The club digs into the ground before the ball. You lose distance, accuracy, and confidence. It's not a power problem — it's a bottom position problem. And it's fixable with the right drills.
The Real Causes of Fat Shots
Most golfers think fat shots come from swinging too hard or "getting quick." The data says otherwise: fat shots are almost always a swing bottom position problem — the lowest point of the arc lands in front of the ball, in the dirt.
TrackMan captures attack angle and dynamic loft at impact. Combined with video, it's immediately clear whether the problem is a steep angle, incorrect setup, or forward lean issue.
Steep Angle of Attack
A steep downswing cuts into the turf before the ball. The club's lowest point is forward of the ball's position.
Forward Lean Mismatch
The club shaft leaning toward the target at impact is correct for some clubs — but too much forward lean with an iron catches turf before the ball.
Setup Position
Standing too close or too far from the ball changes the effective bottom of the arc. Close = bottom forward. Far = bottom back.
The Fix Sequence
Run through these in order. Each step addresses a specific cause. Don't skip — work through them with a 7-iron until the pattern changes.
Towel Under Arms Drill
Tuck a towel under your arms at address. Maintain contact with both arms through the swing. This prevents early extension ( hips moving toward the ball) which is a major fat-shot cause.
Tee Behind the Ball
Place a tee 2 inches behind the ball. Hit the ball — the tee should be undisturbed. Any movement means your bottom is forward. Work until the tee stays put.
Impact Tape Check
Apply impact tape to the clubface. Marks in the center = good strike. Marks below center = fat or thin pattern showing bottom-forward. Marks above = thin.
Weight Distribution
At address, 55–60% of weight on your front foot. As you swing through, the weight transfers forward. Many fat-shot players have too much weight on the back foot at impact.
Related Problems
Fat shots rarely come alone. They usually come with thin shots, fat shots, chunks, skulls — all variations of the same bottom position problem. Fixing one tends to fix the others.
Thin for the Win
The opposite problem: hitting the ball on the upswing. Often a paired issue with fat shots.
thinforthewin.co.za →Get Dialed In
TrackMan data shows attack angle, ball flight, and impact position. Know your numbers.
getdialedin.co.za →Better Clubs
Iron selection matters. Some iron designs are more forgiving on fat contact than others.
betterclubs.co.za →"I've been chunking it for three years. Two sessions of drills and impact tape and I finally understand why. It wasn't my swing — it was my setup."
— Client, 22-handicap, PretoriaFind Out Why You're Hitting It Fat
TrackMan shows exactly where your bottom position is relative to the ball. Then you drill the right thing.
Book Swing Analysis →