Why Do I Hit Behind the Golf Ball?

Are you facing the problem of hitting behind a golf ball? Then worry not because you are not alone. At some point in life, every golfer comes across this problem. The main reasons for hitting behind a golf ball are incorrect posture and stance, improper weight transfer, and faults in golfers’ equipment. There are other factors also that contribute to hitting behind a golf ball. With some drills and practice, you can overcome your shortage.

Hitting behind the ball, also known as hitting fat, can result in a loss of distance and accuracy, causing frustration and disappointment for golfers. However, this issue is a common problem that many golfers face and is solvable. This article will explore the reasons why golfers hit behind the ball and provide some tips on how to fix it.

Reasons for Hitting Behind the Golf Ball

There are several reasons that make you hit behind the golf ball. Let’s find out:

1. Improper Weight Transfer

One of the main reasons why golfers hit behind the ball is improper weight transfer during the swing. Golfers need to shift their weight from the back foot to the front foot during the downswing to hit the ball correctly. However, if the weight is not transferred correctly, the club head can hit the ground before the ball, causing the shot to be hit fat. This issue can also occur if a golfer tries to scoop the ball up into the air rather than hitting down on the ball.

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2. Incorrect Posture and Stance

Another reason why golfers hit behind the ball is due to incorrect posture and stance. If a golfer stands too far away from the ball or leans back too much during the swing, it can cause the club head to hit the ground before the ball, resulting in a fat shot.

In addition, if a golfer’s spine angle changes during the swing, it can cause the club to approach the ball at the wrong angle, leading to fat shots. Moreover, moving your hips forward during the impact will result in a fat shot.

Also, it is important to consider the upper body and lower body positions. Do not slide your head forward while taking a shot. Moreover, keep your leading hand straight and your upper body upright to deliver the perfect shots.

3. Faulty Equipment

Another factor that can contribute to hitting behind the ball is the golfer’s equipment. If the club is too long, too heavy, or has an incorrect lie angle, it can cause the golfer to hit behind the ball consistently.

How to fix the above issues?

Follow these steps to fix the problem of hitting behind the ball:

Work on the Fundamentals of the Golf Swing

So, what can a golfer do to fix this issue? Firstly, it is important to work on the fundamentals of the golf swing, including weight transfer, posture, and stance. A golfer should ensure that they are shifting their weight correctly during the swing and that their posture and stance are correct. A golf coach or instructor can help a golfer identify any issues and provide feedback on how to improve.

Practice, practice, and practice

Secondly, a golfer can practice hitting down on a ball rather than trying to scoop it up into the air. This technique can help prevent hitting behind the ball by ensuring that the club head makes contact with the ball before the ground.

Ensure Suitable Equipment

Lastly, golfers should make sure that their equipment is suitable for their swing. Getting a custom club fitting can ensure that the golfer’s clubs are the correct length, weight, and lie angle, helping to prevent hitting behind the ball.

How to stop hitting behind the Golf Ball

Below are the drills practiced with a 7-iron to ensure you do not hit behind the golf ball.

1. Stay Centered

When we start moving the body right or left laterally, the bottom of the golf club hits anywhere between three or four inches behind the ball or three to four inches in front of the golf ball. It results in inconsistent shots. So, how to become consistent? Make sure you are centered. As soon as your body starts moving away from the golf ball, you will be hitting the ground way behind the golf ball.

For the first drill take another golf club and place it in the center of your stance and a few inches away from the ball. This serves as your center marker, where you want to stand centered. Moreover, keep your sternum over the golf ball in the backswing. Do not move towards the right, as it can disturb your stance and result in a fat shot. Get a video of yourself from the front view to see what you are doing and ensure you are not sliding. This staying center drill will make sure you hit the ball first and then the turf.

2. Old Towel Drill

Take a pretty thin towel and place it behind a golf ball flat on the ground, roughly 2-3 inches away from a golf ball. In drill number one, we made sure to keep the body-centered. Now in drill two keep your body centered and make sure to rotate around the left-hand side to avoid hitting the towel. This is a classic drill to make sure you do not hit behind the golf ball.

You will move the towel if you put too much weight on your left leg during the drill. When you move the towel, you get instant feedback that you have swayed from your path and hit behind a ball.

3. Chase the Ball Drill

Set up your golf ball as you usually do, but roll the ball 2-3 inches forward before you are hitting. Then return your golf club back to the starting position. Now the ball’s new position encourages the body to move to left as you are coming down to striking the golf ball. Now you are going to move your weight more around the left-hand side to make contact with that golf ball.

his drill can be weird for you at the start as the ball is so far ahead. But it will help you hit a golf ball more aggressively and will bring consistency to your swings. Ultimately by practicing the above 3 drills, you will not hit behind the golf ball.

Note: Perform all the above drills with 7-iron.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hitting behind the ball is a common problem that golfers face, but it can be fixed with the right approach. By working on the fundamentals of the golf swing, practicing hitting down on the ball, and ensuring that their equipment is suitable for their swing, a golfer can reduce the number of fat shots they hit and improve their game. Moreover, practicing the above drills with a 7-iron will help you get the right stance, and you will be able to avoid fat shots.