Tip no. 21 - Curing the Fat / Duff
with Pachesham Golf Academy

Few shots in golf are more frustrating than a big, fat duff. All that effort and care, then you hit behind the ball, take a huge divot and the ball goes nowhere... Work on these simple tips next time you're on the range, and start hitting the ball crisply and cleanly.

There are several reasons why these shots occur: • Gripping the club too loosely or tightly • Playing the ball too far back or too far forward in the stance • Leaving your weight on the right side at impact • Actively moving the lower half of your body too quickly through the golf shot leaving the club to come down on a steep downward swing • Un-cocking your wrists (or releasing) too early on the down swing and trying to lift the ball into the air is also a common cause of the duff shot.
• A simple drill to help correct these faults is by hitting some shots with your feet and knees together, remembering to hold the club firmly but not tight - about 5 on a scale of 1-10. • Move the body weight to the left from the top of the backswing through impact, release the wrists as late as possible, by driving forward with the right hip and hand and get the feeling of driving into the back of the ball with the club still descending.

THE COMPLETE ONE MINUTE TIPS, WITH   No. 1: Common Ball Flights - your golf ball is your teacher! No. 2: The Set Up - grip, stance and posture No. 3: The Straight Shot - getting the basics right No. 4: The Fade - for a gently-curving, soft-landing shot No. 5: The Pull - trees down the left? No worries! No. 6: The Hook - commonest fault in lower handicappers No. 7: The Pull Hook - eliminate this destructive shot No. 8: The Draw - for a penetrating, powerful ball flight No. 9: The Push - water to the right? No problem! No. 10: The Slice - cure this curse of the high handicapper No. 11: The Push Slice - fix it and keep out of the thick stuff No. 12: The Swing - backswing and downswing explained No. 13: Distance - tips for hitting it further No. 14: Pitching - master this basic scoring shot No. 15: Chipping - turn three into two around the green No. 16: The Lob - loft it and stop it close - like 'Lefty'! No. 17: Bunker Shots - no need to fear these any more! No. 18: Putting - tips and drills to end those three-putts No. 19: Awkward Lies - uphill, downhill and sidehill shots No. 20: The Thin or Top - fix this infuriating fault No. 21: The Fat or Duff - cure it and hit the ball clean! No. 22: Plugged Lies - don't give up, get out! No. 23: The Shank - how to cure 'the unmentionable' No. 24: Club Selection - some distance guidelines No. 25: Basic Rules - every golfer should know these No. 26: Course Management - learn to play the percentages For more help, see your PGA pro, or contact: Pachesham Golf Centre, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BP For all Lesson Enquiries Email: lessons@pacheshamgolf.co.uk Tel: 01372 843453 - Web: www.pacheshamgolf.co.uk Copyright ©Pachesham Golf Centre 2011, reproduced with permission