Fat shots

Question
I read the question from Scott and your answer about thin shots.  I have the opposite problem.  I'm currently playing to an 8 handicap, so I'm not a total novice.  HOWEVER, on about 10-15% of my iron shots, I hit the ground as far as 6 inches behind the ball.  It's not at all unusual for my divot to actually end exactly where the ball was.  Clearly, this is 180 degrees from the "ball-first-ground second" picture.  If I concentrate on hitting the back of the ball, I generally do even worse - i.e. my future as an earth-moving service looks promising!  My partners don't see anything "wrong" in the swing.  I can't feel anything different.  But this is frustrating!  What am I doing?!

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Steve:

If you start hitting it fat, you tend to get what I call "ball bound".  Instead of making a good swing to a balanced finish, you just try to hit the ball and hope it works out.  I focus my students so much on the target side of the ball.  A good drill I use Steve, which would help you as well, is to put a tee in the ground about 3-4 inches in front of your ball directly on line with your target.  Using a 7, 8 or 9 iron, make some swings, contact the ball first and make sure you also contact and take out the tee in front of your ball.  Can you picture how this would get you swinging more forward towards the target, instead of just trying to swing at the ball?  Make sure at the finish position, your chest and belt buckle face the target, and your right hip is past where the ball was.  For example, if your ball was in the middle of your stance, make sure to check to see if your right hip is past the middle of your stance when you are in a balanced finish position.  This too makes sure you swing to a finish, past the ball, towards the target.  Listen to those words Steve, none of them say anything about your backswing, downswing or trying to just hit the ball.  I would focus you entirely on the target side of the ball.  In no time, your contact will improve and your divots will begin under the ball like they are supposed to instead of 4-6 inches behind the ball.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member