Fat And Thin Golf Shots

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.

At ATX Golf Performance, we work with players across every level to help them develop efficient, repeatable swings based on their physiology and intent. This article breaks down the real reasons behind fat and thin shots—and what the data says about correcting them.

What Causes Fat and Thin Shots?

Let’s define the issue:

• 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.

The causes usually include:

• 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.

How to Check It:

• Place a line on the turf or mat and make practice swings

• Your divot should start after the line, not before

Training Tip: Use video feedback to track low-point consistency, or practice with foot powder spray on the clubface and turf to see where impact actually happens.

What the Data Tells Us

Biomechanical research (Kwon et al., 2012) shows that skilled players exhibit:

• Better ground force generation from lead side

• More efficient pressure shift from trail foot to lead foot before impact

• Consistent forward shaft lean and wrist flexion at contact

In short, their bodies are stable and their hands are leading—not flipping.

3 Drills to Clean Up Contact

1. Towel Behind the Ball Drill

• Place a towel 4–6 inches behind the ball

• Forces you to strike ball first and avoid early ground contact

2. Impact Ball or Connection Drill

• Keeps arms and torso in sync

• Prevents casting or early wrist release

3. Lead Wrist Flexion Drill

• Use resistance bands or HackMotion trainer to monitor wrist angles

• Promotes better shaft lean and forward compression

Don’t Just Guess—Train With Feedback

Fixing fat and thin shots isn’t about trying harder—it’s about training smarter. Whether you’re working on low point control, balance, or wrist angles, you need feedback. That’s why we integrate tools like:

• Pressure mats

• 3D swing sensors

• High-speed video

We give our athletes the same tools used by tour players and college teams—and teach them how to apply it to real play.

Ready to start striking it pure? Come see us at ATX Golf Performance.