| For many golfers the 'fat' shot is an all too common | | | | and note what is happening to your back shoulder. |
| occurrence but, fortunately, it is also something which | | | | That's right, it is dipping towards the ground and this |
| is not too difficult to cure. | | | | will cause you to hit the ground before you hit the |
| A fat shot is simply one in which the club head | | | | ball. This is the perfect recipe for a fat shot and also |
| grounds before hitting the ball so that you end up | | | | often for a slice. |
| taking more grass than ball and your ball simply pops | | | | The secret to curing this problem is to hit the ball |
| up into the air and flies short. So just why does this | | | | with as much power as you can muster but without |
| happen? | | | | moving your lower body as it is this lower body |
| More often than not the fat shot happens because | | | | movement which causes your shoulder to dip. |
| your back shoulder dips during your swing so that the | | | | So, at the top of your swing keep your leading arm |
| club head hits the ground earlier than you intend. This | | | | as straight as you can and then keep it fully |
| is perhaps most commonly seen when you are a long | | | | extended during your down swing. At the same time |
| way from the green and attempt to get as much | | | | keep your head and hips as still as possible. The key |
| distance into your shot by playing your shot with as | | | | here is to start your downswing with your arms and |
| much strength as you can muster. In this scenario it | | | | not your legs and this is something which you may |
| is natural for you to dip your shoulder as you ready | | | | find difficult to master at first because you will |
| yourself to hit the ball as hard as you can. In | | | | probably already be in the habit of using your legs to |
| essence, it is a bit like getting yourself ready to hit a | | | | power your swing. |
| home run in baseball rather than a golf shot. | | | | Nevertheless, if you practice this technique and |
| Let me try to illustrate the principle. Stand up and get | | | | concentrate on keeping your hips still so that too |
| yourself into your normal stance ready to fire the ball | | | | much weight does not transfer onto your back foot |
| up the fairway and onto the green. Now, without | | | | and cause your back shoulder to drop you will soon |
| moving the rest of your body, turn your hips | | | | find that the fat shot is a thing of the past. |
| towards your target while keeping them horizontal | | | | |