Golf Glossary
Fat Shot
In short
A fat shot, also called a chunk, happens when the club hits the ground before the ball. The club is slowed down and the ball flies well short. A deep divot is left behind the ball. The fault occurs at all levels of play, most often with irons and wedges.
Fat shot in golf: what happens?
On a good iron shot the club strikes the ball first and the ground afterwards. The low point of the swing is therefore a little in front of the ball, towards the target. A small divot results, which is a piece of turf removed by the club.
In a fat shot the low point is behind the ball, on the side away from the target. The club digs into the ground before it reaches the ball. The ground slows the club and the clubface meets the ball only after this contact. The ball gets little speed and flies weakly and short. Sometimes it travels only a few metres.
In contrast, in a thin shot the leading edge strikes the ball high up or in the middle. The ball runs or flies low, often too far with wedges. Both faults have the same cause: the low point of the swing is not where it should be. Golfers also say they ‘hit behind the ball’. The fat shot is therefore a problem of ground contact.
Causes: why does the club hit the ground first?
One of the following causes is usually present, often several at once.
- The weight stays back. A player who stays on the back foot in the downswing has the low point far behind the ball. This is called hanging back.
- The hands flip forward too early. The player tries to lift the ball with the club head. The wrists release before impact and the club hits the ground.
- The ball position is too far forward. With short irons the ball should be about in the middle of the stance. If it is far forward, the club reaches the ground earlier.
- The body drops in the downswing. If the upper body sinks, the club digs in.
- The swing decelerates. Out of fear of the fault the player eases off before impact and the club drops behind the ball.
- A very steep angle of attack, for example from an over-the-top downswing.
External factors also play a part: a poor lie, wet ground or very soft turf amplify the effect.
Effects on ball flight: distance and direction
A fat shot can be recognised from the ball flight and from the ground.
- Short: depending on the strike the ball flies clearly shorter than usual, not rarely a third or more. A 7-iron that normally goes 140 metres may travel 90 metres.
- Weak flight: the ball launches slowly. Because grass and soil get between face and ball, the spin is hard to predict.
- Divot behind the ball: this is the surest sign. The turf is torn up behind the ball position, not in front of it.
- Sideways error: a slowed club often turns the face differently and the ball starts left or right.
- Pain or bruising in the hands: hard ground contact vibrates up the shaft and loads wrists and elbows. If you feel this often, take the fault seriously.
Anyone using a measuring device such as TrackMan sees the fat shot in the numbers. At the same club head speed the ball speed is clearly lower than on a good strike. The ball therefore loses distance and carry drops.
Practical example: a par 3 with water
Imagine a par-3 hole of 140 metres. A pond lies between tee and green and reaches 125 metres from the tee. You take a 7-iron, which you normally hit 140 metres. In the downswing your weight stays back and the club hits the ground five centimetres behind the ball. The ball flies only 85 metres and lands in the water.
The consequence is a penalty stroke under the Rules of Golf (Rule 17, penalty areas). Instead of a putt on the green you play your third shot, either again from the tee or from a spot behind the pond on the line to the flag. A possible par easily becomes a double bogey.
A clear thought changes the next shot: as a guide you put about 60 per cent of your weight on the front foot and leave it there. The ball is in the middle of the stance. The club strikes the ball first and then brushes the turf. The ball flies 138 metres and stays on the green. The numbers are a worked example.
Drills against the fat shot
With these drills you learn to bring the low point of your swing in front of the ball.
- Line drill: draw a line in the turf or lay a club across the ground. Without a ball, swing so that the club touches the ground after the line, not before. The line is where the ball would be.
- Towel drill: place a towel about ten centimetres behind the ball. If you hit the towel, you have hit behind the ball. If you do not touch it, you are right.
- Weight drill: play half swings and hold the finish for three seconds. As a guide, about 90 per cent of your weight belongs on the front foot in the finish.
- Step drill: in the follow-through take a small step towards the target with the back foot. This forces the weight transfer.
- Check the ball position: with short irons put the ball in the middle, with long irons slightly further forward.
Practise first with small swings and then increase the speed. Anyone who strikes the ball slowly and with good contact can later transfer the feeling to the full swing.
Fat shot compared with thin shot, shank and top
Poor shots are not all alike. The terms help with fault finding.
- Fat shot: the club hits the ground before the ball. The ball flies short.
- Thin shot: the leading edge strikes the ball too high up. The ball flies low and often too far. An extreme form is the top, where the ball just rolls along the ground.
- Shank: the ball hits the hosel, the connection between club head and shaft. It shoots off sharply to the right.
- Air shot: the club hits neither ball nor ground. It counts as a stroke.
Both fat and thin have to do with the low point of the swing. They often arise from the same causes, namely weight, ball position and wrists. That is why a drill for one fault usually helps with the other too. A coach can see on video which cause is most likely in your case.
When a coach makes sense
Many players struggle with fat shots for years. An outside view often helps. The coach films your swing from the side and from behind and shows where your low point is and when the weight moves.
Numbers help as well. Modern measuring systems show whether club head speed and ball speed match. A low smash factor, meaning little ball speed relative to club head speed, points to poor contact. Progress over several weeks can also be documented that way.
Another point is equipment. A wrong lie angle or clubs that are too long can favour ground contact. A club fitting clarifies that. Only when technique and equipment are right is fine-tuning worthwhile. Give training time: new ground contact often needs several sessions before it shows in play.
Try it at Golf Lounge
Whether your club hits the ground before the ball is shown by measurements and video. The TrackMan technology at the Golf Lounge measures club head speed, ball speed, carry distance and spin, and V1 Pro video analysis adds to it. If ball speed is low relative to club head speed, meaning a low smash factor, that points to poor contact. The PGA coaches help with the cause and show suitable drills. You book your sessions online.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fat shot in golf?
A fat shot is one where the club hits the ground before the ball. The club is slowed, the ball flies weakly and clearly short, and a deep divot is left behind the ball. It occurs most often with irons and wedges.
Why do I keep hitting fat shots?
Common causes are weight that stays back in the downswing, wrists that flip forward too early, a ball position that is too far forward and a swing that decelerates. The low point of the swing is then behind the ball. A video shows which cause applies to you.
How do you avoid a fat shot?
As a guide, with irons put about 60 per cent of your weight on the front foot and leave it there. With short irons the ball position is in the middle. Practise with the line drill, in which the club touches the ground after a line in the turf. Swing at an even tempo through to the finish.
What is the difference between a fat and a thin shot?
In a fat shot the club hits the ground before the ball and the ball flies short. In a thin shot the leading edge strikes the ball too high up and the ball flies low and often too far. Both have to do with the low point of the swing.
As of: October 2026