How do I stop hitting it fat or thin?

What causes it

Fat shots hit the ground before the ball and thin shots catch it too high on the face. Both come from the lowest point of the swing being in the wrong place. The usual reasons are hanging back on the trail foot, losing posture so the club bottoms out early, or scooping at the ball to lift it. Poor balance and tempo also move the low point around.

How golfers fix it

Golfers have not yet reached a strong consensus on a single video here, but two are worth noting. Bryson DeChambeau's lesson to Rick Shiels, recommended by 4 golfers, covers low point and release timing for iron strike. KraftyGolf's slow motion clip, also recommended by 4 golfers, shows what fat contact looks like and why a hitting mat can hide it. Ways golfers improve:

• Move pressure into the lead foot through impact.
• Draw a line on the ground and aim to strike just ahead of it.
• Practice on turf, not a forgiving mat.

Common mistakes

Trying to help the ball into the air is the classic error, because it moves the low point backward. Another is staring at the ball and freezing the body rather than rotating through. Do not judge your strike on mats only; they let you hit fat shots that would cost you distance on grass.

Written with AI from the lessons and recommendations above. Not a substitute for a coach.