Thin
A thin shot strikes the ball with the lower edge of the clubface above its middle — it flies flat, hot and usually too far.
Thin is the counterpart of fat. On a fat shot you hit the ground before the ball; on a thin shot you hit the ball too high, with the Leading Edge instead of the middle of the clubface. The result is a low, fast ball with no height and no Backspin, one that loves to race over the green. In English the mistake is called "thin", and on a par 3 with water behind the green it is the most expensive mis-hit of all.
The causes almost always lie in rising up instead of staying down. An example: an approach from 90 metres; you stand up at impact because you want to see the ball in the air. The clubhead lifts by a centimetre, strikes the ball at its equator, and the ball shoots flat across the green into the rear bunker. A ball positioned too far back in your stance or actively lifting arms also produces thin contacts. The remedy is a quiet lower body, the ball centred, and your eyes staying on the ground where the ball lay.
Typical misconception: thin is not the same as topped. With a top, the club's edge strikes the ball even higher, almost at the very top, and the ball bounces only a few metres. A thin shot, by contrast, often flies deceptively strong — exactly what makes it dangerous. Anyone who occasionally hits it thin usually has no technique problem but a posture problem at impact. Swinging through calmly beats helping the ball up.
FAQ
How do I know I hit the ball thin?
The ball flies noticeably flat and fast, often with a hard click at impact, and rolls a long way across the green instead of stopping. Unlike a top, it still flies with strength — just without height and without spin. If your approaches regularly race over the green, thin is the most likely suspect.
What helps against thin shots?
Keep your lower body quiet and do not stand up at impact — early extension is the most common cause. Your eyes stay on the spot where the ball lay until the club is through. A simple drill helps on the range: place a tee a hand's width in front of the ball and hit both; that is how you learn the downward strike.
Can a thin shot also be deliberate?
Yes, from short grass around the green experienced golfers deliberately play a low-contact shot so the ball gets on the ground quickly and runs out. The difference from the mis-hit: it is planned, controlled and limited to short distances. As a beginner, though, you should only use this option once your normal chip is reliable.