Fighting the fat shots.... any advice would be gladly received.

[Jimmyhill23]

Hi everyone,

I have been fighting fat shots and a flip for quite some time now. I don't feel that I am hanging back and it seems to be more a case of uncocking my wrists early. Have tried Monte's No turn cast drill this morning and that seems to have improved my P6 position and impact position quite a bit although, as I'm on lockdown in my garden, I can only hit short pitches. If you can see anything obvious for me to work on during this lockdown period, I would be really grateful. I did find that keeping my trigger finger loose and 'feeling' the load in transition seemed to improve contact. I seem to find one thing works one day and not the next. I feel like the next few weeks of lockdown may be a good opportunity to get things right once and for all.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

 

[glk]

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C62sOYme3iQstraighten right arm too early. Lack of right side bend. Shoulder too far away.

[Jimmyhill23]

Thanks GLK. I’ve had a go at adding more side bend and continuing my shoulder forward but now I just crash into the ground even sooner. I’ll stick with Martin’s drill and see how I get on. Thanks for the tips. It feels so weird keeping my right arm bent for so long...but I suppose that’s the point.

[glk]

takes time. More than just a “small” bucket or a few swings. Do it slowly. Brain learns better at slower speeds. Your brain wants to extend that arm so not surprised that when you get the shoulder moving down you hit well before then ball. Good luck.

[Jimmyhill23]

So, I spent another hour or two trying to increase side bend while maintaining a bent right arm and wrist. It's amazing how feel can be so different to real. I felt like I was doubled over sideways, and made some really good contact but having watched the videos back, there was hardly any change. I will try to make some further improvements today. This has become my lockdown project!

 

[glk]

Yeah have to really exaggerate and go at it slow. Might consider the gankas no throw - short swing an intentionally hold the elbow bent even thru follow thru - you really have to sidebend to get down to the ball and it ends up with a funky follow through. Google and you can find it - it is in some instruction videos that were done years ago.

no throw at 6:00 minute mark

[GT7212]

Best drill I’ve ever used to get rid of the fatties:

setup at address and place club head 2-3 inches forward from where ball would be. From there get into impact position and finish swing at 75% speed. This drill helps establish low point where the swing bottoms out. As you become comfortable begin hitting half shots then 3/4 shots. A little weight on lead foot at address may help control bottom of the arc too. Good luck mate

[MonteScheinblum]

If...........you’re going to sway that right hip and knee that much in a short swing like that, you need to start more left at address and start moving left earlier.

You just have too far to go from where you are statically at the top.

I would get the right hip moving more behind you and that will create better momentum moving left as you get to the top.

[Chip Duffer]

Not a swing technique answer (I’ll leave that to the professionals), but a few years ago I went through a period struggling with hitting it fat. I tried several things, and somewhere along the way I made one simple adjustment. I focused on the front of the ball instead of the back. It worked for me.

A swing drill I was taught that helped was to put my right foot just behind my left and hit shots. This drill helps me to remember that I don’t need to sway to hit quality shots and really helps reinforce releasing the club properly at the bottom. Of course, it strongly encourages balance. ?

good luck.

[Jimmyhill23]

Thanks guys. That’s really helpful. I will have a go at pivoting more centrally, without swaying. More practising today and I’ll follow up with some videos of my progress.

One thing that has definitely helped, although it may just be a bandaid, is making sure that my trail hand trigger finger remains very, very light on the club. It seems to stop my over active right hand.....i need to hit some full shots to see what effect it has. Temporary hitting net is next on my ‘to do’ list.

Thanks again.

[Jimmyhill23]

Well, after a day or so of not really getting anywhere, today i finally made some significant progress. Really focussed on getting my right shoulder down to the ball and ignored the desire to release....which happened naturally. The result was a much improved impact position with forward shaft lean, bent trail arm and a low point after the ball. The before and after of my impact positions are chalk and cheese. Of course, there were a few shanks and a couple of fats but generally, much much better. Just need to get that face closed now but I’m confident about achieving that. I’ll add some before and after photos of impact to show the difference. Still lots to work on but I’m really happy with where I got to today. I must say, it was easier to achieve with a full swing over a partial swing. Swinging slower seemed to allow me time to fire my trail arm early whereas a full swing happened so quickly, everything had to take place automatically, without my interfering brain being able to mess things up.

The journey continues tomorrow.....wish I had a hitting net - https://www.youtube.com/user/jameshill23/featured

ps - oh, and the right shoulder down has highlighted my lack of flexibility in my lower back. Stretching and strengthening starts tomorrow too!

 

[Wormkiller]

A drill that fixed me I got from Mark Tossfield. Cant stand him, but it worked. Place the ball forward of your normal address position, but start your club in your normal address position. So the ball will be a couple of inches in front of your club face. Dont know why but it works. For me at least. I use it for my longer irons (7 iron, 6 iron) even on the course.

Something that has dramatically helped my pitching and wedges has been to place the ball a little further back in my stance and focus on not releasing the club, ie: holding my wrist set. If that makes sense.

Likewise chipping. Holding my wrist set has turned around my game around the greens. And also, resorting to a more putting style of chipping where possible, especially when Im green side. Game changer.

 

 

[Jimmyhill23]

Thank you! I’ll give it a try.