Fat Shot
A fat shot is a shot in which the club strikes the ground behind the ball first and therefore loses a lot of energy.
The fat shot is one of the most common mistakes in golf and immediately recognisable from the result. The ball flies clearly too short, often only half as far as planned, because the ground contact brakes the swing before the clubface reaches the ball. In the German-speaking world the same mistake is simply called Fett; both terms describe identical shots. The counterpart is the topped ball, where the club misses the ground completely and grazes the top of the ball. Both mistakes have the same origin: the lowest point of the swing lies in the wrong place.
On the course a fat shot almost always costs you a stroke. An example: you are standing 130 metres from the green and take the 8 iron. The club digs in a hand's width behind the ball, a large divot flies further than the ball, which lands in the rough after 60 metres. Instead of putting for par you are now playing for bogey. It becomes especially expensive on approaches over water, because the shortened ball no longer clears the edge of the hazard.
The most common causes are a lowest point lying too far behind the ball, a buckling of the body at impact and the deliberate helping of the ball up. Whoever plays from soft or wet ground has to strike the ball more cleanly, because the club sticks faster there. The rule of thumb is: ball slightly further back in the stance, weight toward the target, swing through calmly. If that does not work consistently, an hour with the pro is worthwhile, because the top and the fat shot alternate in many players.
FAQ
How do I immediately recognise that I have hit the ball fat?
The ball flies clearly too short, often only half as far as planned, and the divot flies further than the ball. You also feel a dull resistance in your hands, because the club digs into the ground first and the swing is braked before the clubface reaches the ball. The German term Fett describes exactly the same mishit.
What are the most common causes of fat shots?
The lowest point of your swing lies behind the ball instead of in front of it — often because the body buckles at impact or you want to help the ball up deliberately. From soft or wet ground it gets worse, because the club sticks faster there. As a rule of thumb it helps: ball slightly further back in the stance, weight toward the target, swing through calmly.
What can I do about recurring fat shots?
First check ball position and weight shift, because most fat shots arise from a lowest point that is too late. If the fat shot and the top alternate for you, the problem lies with the swing's lowest point itself. Then an hour with the pro is worth more than hours of your own trial and error on the range.