What causes a "fat" shot?

[Johnny Par]

I read various anwsers to this and would like to hear what ST'ers have to say about hitting fat shots.

here's is what I've read so far:

1. hitting too steep
2. club is too shallow as it approaches the ball

I read that one solution is to move your stance so that the ball is to your right at address, closer to your right foot (right handed golfer), seems incorrect, no?

Now at the range, I notice that when I initiate my hip turn on my downswing, I hit the ball better. Why is that?

[HighTopFade]

1. hitting too steep

I hit the ball cleanly but I kick up really big macho divots. I even embarrassingly kick up divots with my woods.

How can I control this?

[Johnny Par]

I hit the ball cleanly but I kick up really big macho divots. I even embarrassingly kick up divots with my woods.

How can I control this?

I think I read somewhere that Tiger said his divot is the size of a dollar bill.
Not sure how to control.

[Farquod]

Fats are always caused by your weight remaining behind the ball. Beware the reverse pivot!

[HighTopFade]

I think I read somewhere that Tiger said his divot is the size of a dollar bill.

I can understand up to a 6 iron. Anything longer should decrease in size.

[sandwedge]

I hit the ball cleanly but I kick up really big macho divots. I even embarrassingly kick up divots with my woods.

How can I control this?

I am the opposite. I never take a divot. My swing is more of a sweep. That is probably why I hit my hybrids and woods so well and can't hit my irons very well.

[HighTopFade]

My steep angle of attack is my biggest concern right now. Moreso than my reverse pivot. A lot of my second shots on long par 4s and par 5s are 6 irons with the fear of getting to steep with a fairway wood. I think there is a lot of distance lost as well.

[Johnny Par]

Fats are always caused by your weight remaining behind the ball. Beware the reverse pivot!

ic. So this weight transfer is caused by the hip action?

And correct me if I'm wrong, a reverse pivot is when you swing with all your weight in front of the ball?

[Johnny Par]

I am the opposite. I never take a divot. My swing is more of a sweep. That is probably why I hit my hybrids and woods so well and can't hit my irons very well.

Same here. If I hit my iron good, I take no divot.
I am having success with my driver and hybrid, just can't hit my irons.

[JEFF4i]

Also keep your head still, if it moves prematurely up, it can cause a fat shot.

As far as divots, they are usually okay as long as you hit the ball first.

[Fourputt]

ic. So this weight transfer is caused by the hip action?

And correct me if I'm wrong, a reverse pivot is when you swing with all your weight in front of the ball?

A reverse pivot or weight shift is when you manage to start the downswing with your weight on your left foot (forward foot), and finish with it on the right (back foot).

[Johnny Par]

A reverse pivot or weight shift is when you manage to start the downswing with your weight on your left foot (forward foot), and finish with it on the right (back foot).

Ah, IC, thanks for clarifying fourputt.

[warbirdlover]

Much simpler...you're moving your head.

[HighTopFade]

Can moving your head also cause thin shots?

[ezra76]

Let your hands lead through impact, maintianing the angle of the shaft through impact. If you must exaggerate this, start with the shaft on an angle, hands ahead of the ball and swing through this way. Also keep the weight on the right instep through impact. I got these tips a while back and it improved my iron striking 10fold. I never hit a fat shot anymore. I've also helped my dad using this tip, worked for him, and even had some kid at the hack course ask me if I would give him lessons. LOL. He said he'd never hit iron shots that good before. It was a great feeling to give someone a tip and have it work.

Here's a quick drill you can do anywhere you can tear up a little grass. Grab a short iron and put a tee all the way down in the ground, this is your "ball" now put another tee in the ground a good middle finger length in front of it. Adress your "ball" tee, swing and take both tees out of the ground.