Mel’s new Faults and Fixes Series helps you diagnose your own swing problems by observing Mel demonstrating what not to do when you’re taking a swing. You can now identify your problems with Mel’s Faults and Fixes – Full Swing in this month’s Mel in Motion video golf tip!

Cause for the “Fat” shot

The “fat” shot or hitting behind the ball is one of the most common shots in golf. The cause is starting the downswing with the arm and not the lower body. As a result, the bottom of the arc is reached too soon. If you pay attention to your hips after hitting a fat shot, you will notice that your hips are not turned all the way through with the hip facing the target.

Cure for the “Fat” shot

Make sure you start the downswing with a lateral movement of the hips. This shifts the weight from the back foot to the front foot. After the lateral movement, the hips start to rotate, so after the shot is hit, the hips will be all the way around.

Cause for the “Thin” shot

The main cause for a thin or topped shot is the bottom of the arc is not in the same place as you started.

The thin shot has two separate causes.

• The “chicken-wing.” When the lead arm bends through impact, you change the bottom of the arc—a topped or thin shot results.

• “Picking up the head” or changing your spine angle. When you raise, you “change the spine angle,” and you again raise the bottom of the arc—a topped or thin shot results.

Cure for the “Thin” shot

Make sure the two aspects mentioned earlier do not occur. Practice keeping the lead arm straight through impact. Start with short shots and build-up. Practice keeping the spine angle constant through impact. Again, start with short shots and build up.

Cause for the ball going to the right

When the ball travels to the right of the target (for right-handed golfers), it is because the clubface is open at impact. When this occurs, you also add loft and a weak shot is a result.

Cure for the ball going to the right

The cure is what I call the release. This is when the bottom hand crosses over the top hand through impact. This move helps square the clubface to hit the ball straight.

Cause for the ball going to the left

When a golfer attempt the release, sometimes they allow the clubhead to move around the body, causing the ball to go to the left. (for right-handed golfers.)

Cure for the ball going to the left

The cure for this is to make sure the clubhead moves to the target through impact. I call this “Releasing down the line” The combination of the release and the clubhead moving towards the target will almost always result and a straight shot.

So now you have the tools to understand your swing flaws and the ability to fix them. Refer to Faults and Fixes – Full Swing each time you are having difficulty with your swing.