You stop hitting behind the golf ball—also known as hitting it fat or chunking it—when you hit the ground before you hit the ball. This is one of the most common golf swing flaws. Fixing fat shots requires fixing the timing and sequencing of your swing.
Hitting behind the ball happens when the low point of your swing arc comes too early or too far behind the ball. This means your club digs into the turf before reaching the ball, robbing you of power and distance. It’s frustrating, but the good news is that this issue has clear causes and simple fixes. We will explore these causes and give you practical steps to improve your ball striking tips.
Why Am I Hitting Behind the Golf Ball?
Several key factors cause a golfer to hit fat shots. It is rarely just one thing. Usually, it’s a combination of poor setup, improper weight transfer, and issues with the club path.
Steep Downswing and Over-the-Top Motion
A very common reason for hitting fat is having a steep downswing. When the club comes down too vertically, the angle of attack becomes too steep. This forces the lowest point of the swing to happen too soon, which is almost always behind the ball at impact.
Many amateurs try to lift the ball into the air with their hands or arms. This usually results in an “over-the-top” move. The arms drop the club steeply from the inside-out path, causing the clubhead to bottom out early.
Lack of Forward Weight Shift Golf
Your lower body needs to lead the downswing. If you fail to shift your weight properly toward the target during the transition from backswing to downswing, your upper body often tries to compensate. This leads to hanging back with your rear foot.
When you hang back, your center of gravity stays too far behind the ball. This keeps the low point of your swing behind the equator of the ball, guaranteeing you will hit the ground first. A proper weight shift golf sequence is vital for moving the low point forward.
Poor Hand Position Golf at Impact
Your hand position golf dramatically affects where the club bottoms out. If your hands get too far ahead of the clubhead at impact (forward shaft lean), you are naturally pushing the low point forward. However, if your hands lag too far behind the clubface, or if you “flip” your hands (releasing the club too early), the clubhead will pass your hands too soon, causing you to hit the ground first.
Sometimes, golfers hold onto the angle they created at the top of the swing for too long. This is called “casting.” Casting causes the club to bottom out too far behind the ball.
Not Controlling the Low Point
The goal in iron play is to control the low point control. The low point is the deepest part of your swing arc. For a divot to start after the ball, the low point must be slightly ahead of the ball’s position at impact.
If you feel like you are “sweeping” the ball (especially with longer irons or fairway woods), you are likely not getting the club deep enough into the turf, which can also lead to thin shots, but when you hit fat, you are simply bottoming out too soon.
Steps to Fixing Fat Shots Now
Fixing this problem requires addressing the setup, the transition, and the impact position. Focus on one change at a time for the best results.
1. Setting Up for Success
Your setup dictates the swing path that follows. Small adjustments here can make a big difference.
Ball Position Adjustment
For irons, the ball should generally be played more toward the center of your stance. When the ball is too far forward, your natural tendency is to swing up or hold onto the club too long, leading to poor low point control.
- Short Irons (Wedges/ 9-Iron): Ball centered or slightly forward of center.
- Mid Irons (7/8 Iron): Ball just inside the front heel.
- Long Irons (4/5 Iron): Ball near the front heel.
Stance and Posture for Better Weighting
Ensure your weight is balanced, but slightly favored toward the target (lead side) at address. A 55/45 split (55% on the trail foot, 45% on the lead foot) is a good starting point for irons. This setup primes your body to move toward the target.
| Setup Element | Correction for Hitting Fat | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Distribution | Slight lean toward the target. | Encourages forward momentum. |
| Ball Position | Move ball slightly back in the stance. | Moves the impact point forward relative to the ball. |
| Posture | Maintain spine angle throughout the swing. | Prevents swaying away from the target. |
2. Mastering the Transition and Sequence
The transition—the moment you stop going back and start going down—is where most fat shots are made.
Focusing on Ground Force Reaction
Elite golfers utilize the ground to power their swing. This is called ground force reaction. To stop hanging back, you must actively push off the ground with your lead foot during the transition. Think of it like pushing off a starting block in a sprint.
When you push down and into the ground with your lead foot, you initiate the downward move with your lower body, not your hands. This helps shift your center of gravity forward and brings the low point toward the target line.
Shallowing the Golf Swing
To combat a steep downswing, you need to practice shallowing the golf swing. Shallowing means that in the downswing, the club shaft moves slightly flatter or more laid off than it was at the top. This steep angle of attack turns into a shallower angle upon approach to the ball.
A simple drill for this is the “over the fence” drill:
1. Take your normal backswing.
2. As you start down, feel like your hands drop slightly toward the inside of your back knee.
3. Imagine throwing a rope (the club) under a low fence placed just in front of you.
Shallowing naturally helps the club approach the ball from the inside, which helps manage the low point.
3. Tempo and Release
Many golfers hit fat because they rush the transition or hold onto the club too long, leading to casting.
Tempo Over Speed
Rushing the transition often leads to poor sequence and hitting behind the ball. Try counting while swinging. A common tempo rhythm is 3:1 (three counts backswing, one count downswing). Slowing down the transition allows your body to complete the weight shift golf before your arms fire.
Feeling the Hands Ahead
At impact, you want your hands slightly ahead of the clubhead. This ensures the lowest point of the swing occurs after the ball. If you are flipping your wrists (releasing the club too early), you are essentially trying to scoop the ball, which pushes the low point backward.
Drill: Impact Bag Work
If you have an impact bag, practice hitting it with a half swing. Focus on feeling your lead wrist stay firm and your hands moving toward the target before the clubhead strikes the bag. This reinforces the correct impact position and prevents the early release that causes fat shots.
Diagnosing Deeper Swing Path Issues
If the simple fixes above don’t work, the problem might be rooted deeper in your swing plane or kinetic chain.
Interpreting Swing Plane Errors
The golf swing plane refers to the angle the club travels on. If the plane is too upright (too vertical) on the way down, it forces the club to dive steeply.
The Arm Disconnect
Often, steepness comes from using the arms too much on the takeaway. If your arms lift the club too high too quickly, you lose connection with your body rotation.
Instead, focus on initiating the backswing with your chest and shoulders turning away from the target. This keeps the arms passive and connected to your core rotation. A connected swing is easier to shallow because the body dictates the club’s path, not the arms independently.
Utilizing Ground Force Reaction Correctly
While we mentioned pushing off the ground, it is critical to apply this force at the right time. Pushing too early causes you to stand up too soon, leading to topping the ball. Pushing too late means you are still rotating around your axis, causing you to hang back.
The correct sequence is:
1. Transition starts (weight moves left/toward the target).
2. The push or “squat” into the ground happens as the swing starts down.
3. This ground pressure creates torque that launches the arms and club downward, bringing the low point forward.
Think of this as jumping slightly into the shot. This is advanced but essential for superior ball striking tips.
Drills for Improving Low Point Control
Consistent practice with specific drills helps ingrain the feeling of hitting the ball first.
The Towel Under the Arm Drill
This drill forces connection and prevents the arms from disconnecting and over-swinging, which often causes a steep approach.
- Place a small towel or glove under your lead armpit (left armpit for a right-handed golfer).
- Take half swings, trying to keep the towel secure throughout the entire motion, including impact.
- If the towel falls, it means your arm moved independently, leading to a steep, disconnected path that usually results in hitting fat.
Tee Drill: The Ball and Two Tees
This drill forces you to strike the ball before hitting anything else.
- Set up to your ball as usual.
- Place one tee about one inch in front of the ball (closer to the target).
- Place another tee about four to six inches behind the ball.
- Your goal is to hit the ball cleanly, taking turf after the ball, and crucially, you must miss both tees. If you hit the tee behind the ball, you’re still hitting fat. If you hit the tee in front, you are likely thinning it or hitting the ground too far ahead.
The Step Drill for Weight Shift Golf
This drill explicitly teaches proper weight transfer into the downswing.
- Start with your feet together, holding the club across your chest.
- Take your normal backswing motion. As you reach the top, step your lead foot toward the target to where your normal stance width would be.
- As your foot plants, immediately initiate the downswing, striking a ball placed where your feet end up.
This forces the weight to move forward before the club moves down, correcting the tendency to hang back and ensuring correct low point control.
Common Misconceptions When Fixing Fat Shots
Many golfers try to fix hitting fat by making the wrong adjustments, which can create new problems.
Misconception 1: Swinging Harder to Compensate
When you hit a fat shot, you lose distance. The natural reaction is to swing harder to get the lost yardage back. Swinging harder without fixing the sequence only makes the divot deeper and the fat shot worse. Focus on clean contact first; speed comes naturally from correct impact.
Misconception 2: Trying to Keep Your Head Still
While stability is good, forcing your head down often causes you to tense up your neck and shoulders. This rigidity prevents the proper weight shift golf and can lead to early extension (standing up), which results in thin shots rather than fat ones, but still ruins solid contact. Let your head move naturally as your body rotates around a stable axis.
Misconception 3: Swinging “Up” on the Ball
Golfers often try to swing up to avoid the ground. This is the opposite of what good iron play requires. Good ball striking tips dictate that you must hit down slightly (a descending blow) to compress the ball against the turf. The secret isn’t swinging up; it’s making sure the descending blow happens after the ball, not before it.
Technical Checkpoints for Impact
To ensure you are delivering the club correctly, review these technical checkpoints associated with good hand position golf and impact dynamics.
Shaft Lean and Forward Shaft Lean
At impact, the shaft should lean slightly toward the target. This is called forward shaft lean. It requires your hands to be slightly ahead of the clubhead.
- Too much lag/flip: Causes the low point to move behind the ball (fat shot).
- Perfect lean: Moves the low point 1-3 inches ahead of the ball (ideal divot).
Body Rotation Through Impact
Your chest and hips should be rotating toward the target, not spinning out or remaining stalled on the back foot. A fully rotated chest at impact ensures your arms have cleared out of the way, allowing the club to follow the proper golf swing plane. If your chest is still facing the target line or slightly right (for a right-hander), you are stalling and encouraging a steep downswing.
Final Thoughts on Consistency
Stopping hitting behind the golf ball is about creating consistency in your low point. It demands a coordinated effort from your entire body. Dedicate practice time specifically to drills that promote shallowing the golf swing and proper weight transfer.
Remember, the ball needs to be struck first. If you can consistently hit the turf after the ball, you have mastered low point control. Be patient; retraining muscle memory takes time and focused repetition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
H3: What is the primary cause of hitting fat shots?
The primary cause is the low point of the swing arc happening before the ball at impact, often due to a steep downswing or failing to initiate the weight shift golf sequence correctly in the transition.
H3: How does weight shift affect hitting behind the ball?
If you fail to shift your weight forward onto your lead foot during the transition, you hang back. Hanging back keeps your center of gravity behind the ball, forcing the club to bottom out behind it, which causes fat shots.
H3: Can I fix a steep downswing by slowing down my swing?
Slowing down the overall speed can help initially because it gives your body time to sequence properly. However, the fix for steepness is actively shallowing the golf swing on the downswing, ensuring the club comes from slightly underneath the plane rather than from over the top.
H3: What role do my hands play in avoiding fat shots?
Correct hand position golf at impact requires your hands to be slightly ahead of the clubhead (forward shaft lean). If your hands flip or lag too far behind, the clubhead will bottom out prematurely behind the ball.
H3: What should my divot look like if I am striking the ball correctly?
If you are achieving excellent low point control and proper ball striking tips, your divot should start an inch or two after where the ball was positioned, moving toward the target.