‘Swing to a finish’: one simple thought to stop hitting it fat

Butch Harmon

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Most fat shots are easy to diagnose. If you don’t shift to your front side on the downswing, the club runs into the ground before it gets to the ball–and you chunk it.

Golfers make this mistake because they try to help the ball into the air. As they start down, the weight goes to the back foot, and the head and spine tilt back. They unhinge the wrists early, which sends the club into the ground.

To stop doing this, you have to trust that the club’s loft will get the ball up. Shift to your front side as your first move down. Here’s a good swing thought: Swing to a finish. Focus on finishing with your weight left and your body over your left leg (above), and you’ll start hitting it pure.

GOOD PRACTICE

If you tend to catch shots heavy, hit balls off a downslope. Because the ground behing the balls is higher, you’ll learn to shift forward–or else really hit it fat.

by Butch Harmon

Golf Digest

Teaching Professional

Ranked No. 1 by his peers among Golf Digest’s 50 Greatest Teachers, Harmon runs the Butch Harmon School of Golf at Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, Nev. For more tips, click golfdigest.com/harmon.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Golf Digest Companies

COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

You May Also Like

It’s the difference between a good putter and a poor one. Here’s proof

The quiet eye: it’s the difference between a good putter and a poor one. Here’s proof Joan N. Vickers Why is putting so difficult f…

Jamaica say you will: this complex island isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but for great golf and sizzling nightlife, it’s hard to beat

Jamaica say you will: this complex island isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but for great golf and sizzling nightlife, it’s hard to beat – Travel Fil…

Fixing your angles

Fixing your angles Hank Haney Cupped left wrist opens face The position you see Hunter in at the top of the backswing is com…

The Hustler : Jim Thorpe Has seen it all and done it all. Now he’s ready to open up and tell all – senior golfer

The Hustler : Jim Thorpe Has seen it all and done it all. Now he’s ready to open up and tell all – senior golfer – Interview Pete Mcdaniel…