Cause 1: Low Point Is Behind the Ball
The most fundamental cause of fat shots is a swing arc that bottoms out before reaching the ball. This can come from a ball positioned too far forward, a weight transfer that is too slow (weight stays on the trail foot too long), or a spine that rises (early extension, which raises the club) combined with a subsequent drop (as the body reacts) that produces an inconsistent low point.
Cause 2: Trail Arm Cast (Early Release)
When the trail arm straightens too early in the downswing (the cast motion), the club reaches its lowest point in the wrong place. This is especially pronounced when the trail arm straightens aggressively — sometimes called the 'chicken wing' in reverse. The fix: keep the trail elbow connected to your trail hip pocket through the early downswing, maintaining the angle until the hands are below hip height.
Cause 3: Sway in the Backswing
If your weight moves to the outside of the trail foot in the backswing (sway), the body must shift back and through in the downswing — often overshooting and leaving weight behind. This late weight transfer causes the club to bottom out behind the ball. The fix: maintain trail knee flex in the backswing and feel the weight in the INSIDE of the trail foot, never the outside.
The Bump-and-Rotate Fix
The single most effective fat shot fix for most golfers: initiate the downswing with a small bump of the lead hip toward the target before rotating. This shift moves the low point forward (toward the target) by moving the pivot point forward. Practice this bump with a headcover against your lead hip — the bump should move the headcover slightly, then the rotation begins.
Practice: The Toe Line Drill
Draw a line in the ground at right angles to your target line, just ahead of where the ball would sit. Make slow swings and strike this line rather than a ball. All contact should be at or forward of the line. This removes the ball and focuses your attention purely on the low point position, making it easier to feel and adjust without the distracting outcome of where the ball went.
Key Takeaways
- Fat shots come from specific, diagnosable causes — not just 'bad technique'
- The bump-and-rotate drill moves the low point forward instantly for most golfers
- Sway in the backswing is often the hidden cause of front-nine fat shots
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