How long before you stopped hitting topped/fat shots?

[SoundandFury]

Besides going to the range (with no instruction) and playing a dozen or so rounds when I was in high school, I didn't start playing in earnest and taking lessons until about 5 months ago (I'm 30 now).  I now take a lesson every other week or so, go to the range 2-3x/week, and play about 2 rounds per week.

Sort of frustrated with the pace of my progress.  I have no expectations that I should be hitting a majority of all my shots long and straight for years, but the fact that I'm still hitting topped/fat shots is annoying as hell.  I've definitely improved over the last couple of months, to the point where when I'm on the range I problem may good contact 60%-75% of the time, but every once in a while I'll have a practice session or round where it seems like I'm hitting once clean iron for every 10 shots.

My question therefore, is whether this is to be expected and it'll be a long time before I hitting the majority of my irons crisp and clean, or whether I'm behind where I should be.

[joekelly]

There is no 'universal improvement timeline'. Simply too many variables and especially the personal frustration level based on desired outcomes.  You may or may not get to where you want to go. Only one guaranteed statement: if you quit, you cannot get there.

[turbosdad]

I have been playing, taking lessons, and practicing similar to what you say, but for a bout 16 months now.  I could have been nicknamed fat shot.  Actually nearly broke a finger once, and often require a trip to the chiropractor after a round of golf or a long session at the range.  It is slowly going away.  Played 14 holes the other day before I hit a real fatty.  Do hit some thin but  not many of those now either.

Couple of things for me....one, I would HURRY to the range to sneek in a session after work but before getting home.  This lead to rushed and frustrating sessions.  Make sure you are not doing that.  I am better off to go to one a week with no time limit than 3 sessions hurried.

Secondly, I cannot just walk up and hit the ball.  I have to go over my entire swing thought for each ball.  If I buy the jumbo bucket, I would get into a rapid fire, no focus mode.............not learning anything.

So now I get a small bucket, with about 40 or so balls.  This makes me treat each one special and really focus on the mechanics.  If I have more time, I can go to the pitching area and use 4-6 of my own balls, then putt for another half hour.  End result was a much better session.  The individual ball focus is better because that is how you have to play....focused on each ball you hit.

The last bit of cheap advice that is REALLY helping me is to play a lot.  While playing a course about a month ago, I realized that except for the tee boxes, there were very few, if any shots that I had standing on level ground, both east and west and north and south.  Shots are more often in the tall grass, short grass, above the feet, below the feet, tilting uphill or downhill.  Not to mention there are a million types of grasses and lies.  Oh yeah and the sand..........I have learned a lot about the game and course management and it's a lot more fun.

[Dakota Atkinson]

ive played for about 6 weeks and the first 4 weeks or so i hit a lot of fat/thin shots but now unless i lose concentration and rush a shot i make good contact every swing, i just need to hit straight instead of hooking my irons.. i hate when my approach shot lands 10 yards left of the green when i know it could've been right there lol.

[rustyredcab]

When my left arm breaks down, I hit fat and thin shots.

[colin007]

I still do, from time to time. I cold topped a driver yesterday about 100 yards...that felt awesome. You need to realize that most fat AND thin shot come from the same swing flaws.

[bjwestner]

Unfortunately there is no timeline where you stop hitting fat shots.  They can go on forever possibly.  A few weeks ago I was watching the Champions Tour on TV and saw Brad Faxon hit a fat shot.  The mic was on him and you could hear him say as soon as he hit it that he hit it fat as he was talking to himself.

I like what was said earlier about taking your time in practice on the range and not rapid fire.  The one thing that you cannot really practice on the range is the lie of the ball and hitting above/below your feet.  That is where I have some trouble.  I've been hitting a lot of balls on the range and it's easier to hit a solid shot on level ground but unfortunately many shots in a round are not on level ground.

[rclark0809]

I was at the Boeing Classic yesterday is the Seattle area and watched Mark O' Meara hit one thin on the first playoff hole.  He was was hitting his second shot into the par 5 18th.  The ball never left ground and went about 150 yards.  The difference between him and me is, he then stuck his third shot to about 6'.

Ryan

[NuclearMike]

I played my first nine holes 48 years ago.  I hit my last fat shot last Friday.

[Ben]

As others have said, you don't stop hitting fat and/or thin shots. Over time and with experience you simply hit them less often, and to a degree that isn't quite so penalizing.

Keep playing, keep practicing

[BugDude]

24 years and it still happens...just not as often and not as severe.

[Odogesq]

[RIGHT][/RIGHT] I consistently hit fat shots when I started playing golf. The solution was a combination of ball position and stance adjustment.First, I moved the ball forward from center just slightly and narrowed my stance on all shots. Second, I realized that fat shots were more likely to occur when my focus got lazy. E.g., I just swung at the ball trying to hit it rather than take the time to set up all my shots.

[SoundandFury]

Alright, this all makes me feel a lot better. I went to range last night and almost threw my bag into the range and walked off. Thinking about it now, even though my range sessions have (for some godforsaken reason) regressed over the last couple of weeks, Ive played 4 times in that time frame and can only think of 2 truly fat shots (accuracy is a whole different issue of course). I think there's something to be said for getting a small bucket and making each shot count. What I usually do is get a 100 ball bucket, start with about 10 very crisp pw and 8i shots and then start trying to rip off 4i-6i. I usually hit the first couple of those great, 185 with the 6i no problem...then I hit one fat, then a couple topped, and from there it's off to the races, almost like I'm tryin to get even on the blackjack table. Next thing I know I'm sore, pissed off, and wondering how the hell I managed to get worse despite all the hours I put in.

[BugDude]

For me, especially as I have gotten older, had a couple knee surgeries, back issues, a broken foot, etc. I have transitioned to less balls per session and more short sessions.  I like my 15 ball session.  Something like this

2 balls PW, half punch feel shots

2 balls PW, full shots

2 balls 7i, full shots

2 balls 5i, full shots

2 balls 3w, 1 from deck, 1 from tee

5 balls Driver

If I got through all 15 balls with the various clubs with solid contact and results, why beat me brains out any more.  Go to the practice green for 10 minutes and go home feeling great about it.  A day or two later I would do the same thing but switch up the clubs (SW, 8, 6, 4, 3w, D).

If I had a difficult time with anything, I might focus another 5 balls or so on that at the end of the session and call it done.

The key for me was to go through the shots like I really would on the course.  Taking my time, lining up, picking a target, thinking about trajectory or shot shape (imagine a shot on the course you face with that club).  I have found that less volume and more frequency works better for me than more volume of balls or hits less frequently.  More productive use of my time and effort.

Another drill I like is to get a small bucket of balls and choose a six hole stretch on the course to imagine that I am playing and go through the shots on the range as if I am playing the holes.  Visualize, target, shape shots, just like you were playing the holes.  That's practicing like you play.  You don't go out on the course and hit 20 drivers in a row...I hope...so why not practice like you play.  Things to make practice more interesting, more productive, and less easier on your feet, back, or whatever else ails you.

[Ajlepisto]

I've heard some people suggest you warm up with a mid iron, like maybe a 6 or a 7. Then work the reverse way. Down to a 3 and up the chain. I feel like hitting the hard clubs first with the freshest mind helps me.

Also...I think a lot of the reason we top it is due to awkward upper body/lower body relationships. When I'm sequencing right, it's hard to even miss the sweet spot. I think there needs to be some mental clicking and suddenly you will get a lot better. I think figuring out how you learn best would help you. For the longest time I analyzed myself and my shots, and tried to improve the "data." I tried to get better on the course by tracking stats and acting like I was playing a tournament. That hurt me so much.

If I can feel my way though the shots, I don't always hit them nice, but I have more fun and I feel like I'm just watching my body play. This seems to be how I learn, because it keeps me positive, or at least, not negative. Maybe you should mix up your style. Hit fewer balls with clubs you like to start with. Reward yourself after good shots. Or, find somethign new to work on. Work on knockdown shots or something, so you completely focus on something else.

[BugDude]

Sometimes you have to do something radically different to get new results.  I had hit a plateau and didn't break through until I started playing once every other week for a couple months.  No range or practice in between.  That cleared my mind and allowed me to forget the technical junk.  Paralysis by analysis.  I got my head out of the way and just went out and enjoyed playing golf.  Getting creative, focusing more on smart course management and less on technique.  It has been fun.

[dak4n6]

I'm not going to address the time line aspect of this thread (kind of silly), but rather the implied technical part. I fatted and thinned for 15 yrs until I started putting my weight forward. The bottom of your swing is obviously behind the ball. It should be under or just in front of the ball. So, take your CG (center of gravity) and move it to your left about 1 or 2 inches, and keep it there throughout the swing. Cured my fat/thin forever.

Look for the abundant info and discussion on the 'Stack 'n Tilt' on this forum and the net.

[bwdial]

Originally Posted by dak4n6

I'm not going to address the time line aspect of this thread (kind of silly), but rather the implied technical part. I fatted and thinned for 15 yrs until I started putting my weight forward. The bottom of your swing is obviously behind the ball. It should be under or just in front of the ball. So, take your CG (center of gravity) and move it to your left about 1 or 2 inches, and keep it there throughout the swing. Cured my fat/thin forever.

Look for the abundant info and discussion on the 'Stack 'n Tilt' on this forum and the net.

This.

I used to be really plagued by fat and thin shots because of a pronounced sway in my backswing, but since going SnT, it doesn't happen as much.  It still does when I don't get my hips forward, but I'm working that out.