Why am I hitting it fat or thin intermittently?

Understanding Intermittent Fat and Thin Shots in Your Rotary Swing

As Riley "The Rotator," I've seen countless athletic golfers struggle with fat shots—where the club digs into the turf behind the ball, chunking it short—and thin shots, striking the ball too high on the face for low, weak flights. These mishits hit intermittently because they're symptoms of inconsistent sequencing in the rotary swing's explosive rotation. Power comes from body turn, not arms, so disruptions in hip drive, weight shift, or posture throw off your low point, causing the club to bottom out too early (fat) or too late (thin).

Primary Causes Rooted in Rotary Swing Mechanics

• Inconsistent Weight Distribution and Transfer: Rotary swings demand a dynamic 50-50 start at address, shifting aggressively into the lead side through hip rotation. Hanging back on the trail side fat-tens the shot; sliding forward without rotation thins it. Intermittency arises from fatigue or overthinking, breaking the athletic sequencing.
• Early Release or Casting: Premature uncocking of the wrists—known as casting from the top or early hit—leaks power and scoops the clubhead. In rotation-focused swings, this happens when arms outrace the body turn, raising the swing's low point for thins or dropping it for fats.
• Loss of Posture or Early Extension: Standing up through impact disrupts the rotary plane. Without aggressive chest rotation through the ball, your body stalls, forcing compensations that bottom the swing erratically.
• Poor Sequencing: Rotation Getting Ahead or Behind: Rotary power thrives on hips firing first, shoulders following. If rotation lags (arms dominate), you chunk; if it rushes (hips spin out), you thin. Typical left-side misses compound this if uncorrected.
• Ball Position and Setup Errors: Too far back promotes fats; too forward invites thins. Combined with short backswing efficiency, minor drifts amplify intermittently under pressure.

Diagnostic Checks for Your Swing

1. Video Analysis: Record from down-the-line and face-on. Look for trail-side weight linger (fats), head rising early (thins), or arms uncocking before chest rotation.
2. Impact Feedback: Use foot spray on the clubface. Fats show marks low/left; thins high/center. Track patterns over 10 shots to spot intermittency triggers like fatigue.
3. Pressure Mat or Turf Drill: Feel where your swing bottoms. Rotary ideal: Lead foot pressure peaks at impact with body turn driving ground force.

Actionable Fixes and Drills for Rotary Power

• Weight Shift Drill: Setup 50-50, place a glove under trail heel. Rotate hips explosively to crush it forward—builds athletic transfer without slide. Hit 20 half-swings focusing on chest facing target at impact.
• Anti-Casting Pump Drill: Backswing to short/medium length, pause, then drop arms into body rotation slot before unleashing wrists. Mimics delayed hit for conserved angular momentum, stabilizing low point.
• Rotation-Only Swings: No arms—turn chest through a tee, feeling body-hit not hands. Progress to full swings, emphasizing hip-shoulder sequence like a baseball swing.
• Posture Maintainer: Swing against a wall with glutes touching—prevents extension. Pair with flexibility work: hip rotations, thoracic stretches daily for rotary demands.
• Ball Position Rule: For driver, inside lead heel; irons, middle of stance. Verify with alignment stick under balls.

Key Takeaway: Intermittent fats and thins vanish when you lock in rotary sequencing—50-50 start, explosive hip drive, chest rotation powering a consistent low point. Commit to these drills for 2 weeks, and your athleticism will unleash distance without mishits. Master the body turn, and pure sweet-spot contact becomes your norm, transforming power potential into scorecard reality.