Why do I Top/Fat my shots?
Why do I Top/Fat my shots? This is a very common question that I get asked a lot.
Nothing is worse than badly topping or hitting the ball fat when you are out on the course in a competition.
There are a couple of reasons for doing so and I would like to explain 2 of them for each mishit.
Why do I Top/Fat my shots?
Topping the Ball
Reason 1 – Stress
A player will often top the ball because they are under stress. Stress is caused by several things but the main reason is nerves.
When a golfer is nervous, usually in competition with on-lookers, they tend to tense up. Their swing becomes very tight and edgy.
Before playing your shot, take a few deep breaths and slow your breathing down a little. This will help you relax in a short period of time.
Reason 2 – Incorrect Concept
Another reason for topping the ball is that the player has the wrong concept in the head of how they should hit a golf ball.
It is often the case that beginners try to hit the ball into the air. You may have heard of someone trying to scoop the ball up.
In any ball sport, where the ball is in motion, a player must make an upward swing through impact for the ball to go up.
Unfortunately, for many starting out in golf, they try just that. To hit a golf ball correctly, with an iron, you must try to hit down on the ball.
Make a real effort to hit the ball on the downswing as though you want to hit the ball into the ground.
The loft and the shaft will do the rest for you as long as you have the right clubs for you.
Why do I Top/Fat my shots?
Hitting the ball Fat
Reason 1 – Too much weight on the right foot.
The main reason for hitting a ball fat is that there is too much weight on the right leg at the time of impact.
Every golfer should aim to have more weight on the left foot than their right foot at impact.
It could be that the golfer is physically trying to put their weight on the right leg at the top of the backswing.
When you are trying to put around 60% of your weight onto the right leg, you can bet it will be more like 90%.
As most amateur golfers start their downswing with their hands, the weight will tend to stay on the right side. (See photo below)
Because the weight is too much on the right leg, at impact, the lowest part of the swing will be before the ball.
This will cause the golfer to hit the ground before the ball and therefore the divot will fly further than the ball itself.
Reason 2 – Incorrect Concept
As with topping the ball, the player may have the wrong concept of how to hit a golf ball.
It is possible that the player is trying to scoop the ball up into the air instead of hitting down on it.
Remember that we are trying to hit the ball on the downswing so that the ball will fly up into the air.
Now go up to the driving range and try it out.
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