Stop Hitting It
THIN
The ball jumps sideways off the clubface edge. Painful. Embarrassing. Usually caused by setup and impact position — not your swing. Here's how to fix it for good.
Why Thin Shots Happen
Most golfers blame the swing. The real cause is usually an incorrect bottom position at impact — the club reaches the bottom of its arc before the ball, or the golfer's body moves forward ahead of the club.
Standing Too Far Away
At impact, the clubhandle points toward your belly button. If you're standing too far from the ball, the handle ends up past your front hip and the clubhead catches the ball on the upswing.
Early Extension
The hips rise during the downswing, reducing the space between your shoulders and the clubhead. The club then bottoms out after the ball.
Steep Angle of Attack
A downward strike into the ball is the correct pattern — but if the bottom of the arc is too far forward (toward the target), the leading edge catches the ball's equator.
Casting / Early Release
The wrists release the club too early, making the shaft look like an L at impact. The effective loft drops and the ball jumps low and hot.
The Fix Sequence
Work through these in order. Each drill targets a specific cause. Don't skip — the order matters.
Impact Tape Drill
Stick impact tape on the clubface. Hit 10 balls. If marks are above center, your bottom is forward. If below, your bottom is back.
Setup Check
At address, you should have a 3-finger gap between your thigh and the butt end of the club. If more, you're too far. If less, you're too close.
Low Point Control
Place a tee 1 inch behind the ball. Hit the ball — the tee should be undisturbed. If the tee moves, your bottom is forward (thin pattern).
Head Behind the Ball
At impact, your head should be behind where the ball started. If it moves forward, your body rises. Drill: address position → pause → hit. Feel the head staying back.
"I'd rather hit a fat shot than a thin one. At least a fat shot gets the ball in the air."
— Common golfer sentiment (incorrect)Thin shots travel far but go sideways. Fat shots lose distance but stay more or less straight. Fix the thin first.
TrackMan Shows Exactly What's Happening
The difference between a fat shot and a thin shot is about 2–3mm of vertical impact position. On a launch monitor, it's immediately visible: attack angle, ball flight, and face-to-path relationship all tell the story.
One session of data removes all the guesswork. You know exactly whether the problem is steepness, forward lean, or body position — and you drill specifically for that.
Book Swing Analysis →Better Clubs Hub
Equipment guide for iron and driver selection. Know what you're playing before you buy.
betterclubs.co.za →Get Fitted Hub
TrackMan fitting and coaching. Where your thin shots get diagnosed properly.
getfitted.co.za →Check My Shaft
Find the right shaft flex for your swing speed. A mismatched shaft causes timing problems that lead to thin shots.
checkmyshaft.co.za →Fix Your Thin Shots
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