Curing fat shots
 

All of a sudden, I've started to hit numerous fat shots. I haven't had this problem since I first started playing. Any ideas as to causes and cures would be appreciated. Thank you.

teach

i) Cramming on extra power with right wrist action at impact.

ii) Cramming on the power from the top (casting) and running out of right arm in the process.

iii) Ball too far back in the stance - curiously enough.

iv) Ball too far forward in the stance and bottoming out prior to impact. Also causes thin shots if you get that far without bottoming out.

v) Hitting at the ball rather than swinging through it.

vi) Conciously hitting down on the ball (see v), above, also) and overcooking it.

There's half a dozen to chew over but the list is not exhaustive.

Get your hands well ahead of the ball at impact.

Take a divot.

Keep a stable center, holding your finish and keeping your balance.

When the left arm and clubshaft are in a straight line - the primary lever assembly is at its most extended state. When the left wrist bends - the clubhead arc or circle around the left shoulder center becomes reduced and therefore hitting fat is not caused by scooping. Very often the golfer with severe downwards 'bobbing' will scoop to reduce his clubhead orbit to stop hitting it so fat because his computer tells him that his clubhead orbit would probably bury the clubhead in the ground but the main culprit however was the head position.

Here is the reason YOU are doing it:

You have recently 'improved' your "flip piont."

But—like Mathew points out—your radius is set for your old flip.

So....like Denny and Edz pointed out, keep your left shoulder moving away from the ball while you keep your hands forward—ie NO flip.

Hit 'em good.

Brian—Golf's Answer Man

Flip Point?
 

What is the "flip point" and what is it's function?

Hey Brian I have heard your name a lot from other TGMer's! Where do you teach? Do you have a site aslo? Do you have videos? Heard a lot of great things about ya.

Thank you and follow-up
 

Thank you all for your responses. i have two follow-up questions:

1. On one fat shot I still had my weight on my rear foot at the finish. Assuming that this can also cause fat shots (as well as a huge power leak), how might I correct this? I should also note that this problem developed when I was working on fixing my OTT problem.

2. What does running out of right arm mean?

Thank you.

teach

1. Work on the 2nd Essential, Balance.
2. Running out of right arm means that at follow through (8-11), your right arm is unable to straighten because of an off plane right shoulder (7-13)

Flip Point:

The point where you start to throw it away.

In other words—something you don't want to have.

My website is www.manzellagolfforum.com

The expression Running out of Right Arm is associated with the straightening of the right arm, for whatever reason, prior to impact.

At impact, provided that the right shoulder has made its way down plane then the amount of right elbow bend that was factored in at set up will be maintained - i.e "not run out of" - and throw away will not have occured, nor will the shot have been hit fat.

At the end of follow through, the only place in the golf stroke, the right arm and left arm will both be in a straight line condition; but that is a good thing.

6-h-c
 

Your definition raises an issue...why then does Mr. Kelley admonish taking all strokes to the both arms straight position per 8-11?

On 'Running Out Of Right Arm'
 

To be a good player, you must swing your Left Arm through the Ball while keeping your Left Wrist Flat. This assures the Rhythm of the Stroke -- the Left Arm and Clubshaft remaining In Line (6-B-3-0) -- and also compliance with the Law of the Flail (Sketch 2-K #1-#3). However, unless the Right Arm is sufficiently bent through Impact, it acts as a 'chain' on the Left Arm that prevents it from swinging through. Then, the Left Wrist Bends, Rhythm evaporates and erratic Execution (3-F-6) becomes the order of the day.

The solution is to maintain the Normal Condition of the Arms: 'Left Arm straight and Right Arm bent' until the end of the Follow-Through (by definiton, the Both Arms Straight position). To see it in action, click through this sequence of Stuart Appleby http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline...634482,00.html frame-by-frame throughout the Release Interval (Release to Follow-Through).

Then, learn to do it yourself. The key here is the Right Shoulder. Most players Turn it Off Plane during the Start Down and keep it too 'high' throughout the Downstroke. Instead, keep it 'back and down' (On Plane / 7-13). A few thousand Start Down Waggles (3-F-5) -- the Hands (via the Pivot and its On Plane Right Shoulder as actuated by Hip Action) dragging the butt end of the Club directly toward the Plane Line -- will be your gateway.

Work on these things -- diligently -- and finally will come the day when you will watch your Right Arm (the Third Side of the Triangle / 6-A-1) extend beautifully Down Plane (3-F-7-E) through Impact and Follow-Through (1-L #10 and #15). And for at least this one brief shining moment...

The world will be as it should.

:)

And I said all that without moving my lips!:D

The Journey
 

Burner,

Your game has got to be coming along with all the TGM knowledge you've been gathering over the years. I'll bet you are tearing up the links on the other side of the pond. When are you going to spend a few Pounds and visit the swamp? The Azaleas are coming into bloom! :)

Bagger

Bagger,I really thought my game was coming along. Strap yourself in and read on.

Played long and hard throughout our cold and windy winter months and was beginning to bask in my burgioning prowess.

Its Spring (officially) over here now and the sun shone today. But, at the risk of making myself the laughing stock of the forum, I have to tell you I stank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-x

Would you believe, because I am in shock,............. :shock:

43 over par!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

Complete train wreck and some; my worst round of golf ever.

Nothing was right and I couldn't find any answers. I really tried but the more I tried to do it right the more I did it all wrong. You name the type of mishit and I made it - with ease.

I knew the faults and I know the answers, so why repeat the faults :confused: - over and over and over and over.

I was looking to bust into the single digit category this summer but now I just feel suicidal.

The lure of the swamp is increasing.

One More For St. Andrews?
 

In response to my Tuesday post, three have indicated a definite interest in an 'Old Course alternate' St. Andrews experience. What say you, Burner?

Have clubs will travel. But, don't leave it too long Yoda, I'm not getting any younger.

Gettin' Measured For My Kilt
 

All rightee, then! The '06 LBG Academy at St. Andrews could still happen. I'll do my part next week and put up final details during Masters Week.

Cheerio, y'all!

You kilt somebody?

A kilt?
 

Yoda doing the geometry of the circle in a kilt!?!? That would be a picture to have in the old archives. :)

Does Yoda appreciate that most of the Thistles (Scotlands national emblem) grow well over knee height?:eek:

Brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it.:p

..........