Thin shots—also called “topped” shots—are among the most embarrassing mishits in golf. Your club blade catches the upper half of the ball, sending it screaming along the ground or popping weakly into the air. Your playing partners feel your frustration. Your score feels the impact immediately.
The worst part? Thin shots happen when you need confidence most: from 100 yards in, around the greens, or off the tee with irons. But like fat shots, thin shots are completely fixable once you understand the swing mechanics that cause them and commit to targeted practice.
What Causes Thin Shots?
A thin shot happens when the club strikes the ball above its center, typically catching the upper portion of the ball with the leading edge of your club. The result is a low, unpredictable shot that carries much less distance and height than intended.
The primary causes are:
- Lifting your upper body too early: Standing up before impact raises your center, moving the club’s low point above the ball.
- Hanging back (weight on back foot): If weight stays on your trailing side through impact, the low point of your swing never reaches the ball.
- Early extension: Your body straightens out too quickly through impact, raising the bottom of your swing arc.
- Overactive lower body: Your hips drive forward so aggressively that your shoulders can’t catch up, causing an exaggerated “bump and jump” that lifts you out of posture.
- Improper ball position: Playing the ball too far back in your stance makes it difficult to catch in the center of your club face at the correct angle of attack.
- Too shallow an angle of attack: Coming into the ball too shallowly (especially with irons) causes the club to sweep rather than compress the ball.
The irony is that many golfers swing at too shallow an angle trying to avoid fat shots, which actually increases their tendency to hit thin. Finding the right balance is crucial.
How Thin Shots Differ from Fat Shots
It’s essential to understand that thin and fat shots are opposite extremes of the same spectrum: low point control. In fat shots, you hit ground before the ball. In thin shots, you hit the ball before reaching your correct low point, catching it above the center. The solution isn’t simply “hit harder” or “swing differently”—it’s finding the precise low point where you catch the ball at its center.
If you’ve been working on how to stop hitting fat shots and noticed your thin shot percentage increasing, you likely overcorrected your angle of attack or weight shift. The fix is recalibrating, not abandoning what you’ve learned. Both thin and fat shots improve with the same fundamental principle: consistent, repeatable low point control.
Drill 1: The Head-Still Drill (Posture and Lift Prevention)
The simplest way to hit thin shots is to lift your head and upper body before impact. This drill builds the discipline to maintain posture.
Setup: Take your normal stance with a 7 or 8-iron. Have a training partner or coach stand to your side, or use a mirror if practicing alone.
The drill: Make your swing, but focus intensely on keeping your head perfectly still from the start of your downswing through at least 3 inches past impact. Your eyes should stay focused on where the ball was, not watching it fly. Make 15-20 swings with this head position.
Why it works: Your head is connected to your spine. If your head stays still, your spine angle and center remain consistent. This prevents the lifting that causes thin shots. It also keeps your eyes focused on the ball longer, improving strike awareness.
Challenge level: Once comfortable, progress to watching your actual ball flight by turning your head slightly after impact (not lifting your upper body). This separates “keeping your head still” from “keeping your eyes on the ball,” both of which are different skills.
Drill 2: The Tee Drill (Low Point Awareness)
This incredibly effective drill teaches your body exactly where your low point should be—right at the ball.
Setup: Go to your practice range and place two tees in the ground 4-6 inches apart in a line pointing at your target. Place a golf ball on the front tee (closest to the target).
The drill: Make swings aiming to knock out the front tee after catching the ball cleanly. Your club should strike the ball, then the tee. If you hit the back tee first, you’re hitting thin. If you don’t hit the front tee, you’re hitting fat.
Why it works: This drill provides immediate, tangible feedback. You instantly know if your low point is correct. After 20-30 reps, your body learns the exact sequencing and low point location needed. The tee also makes the exercise more engaging and memorable.
Progression: Start with 7-8 irons at 75% swing speed. Graduate to 6-irons, then 5-irons. Eventually progress to hybrid or fairway woods. Each club has a slightly different low point relative to your ball position.
Drill 3: The Pivot Drill (Weight Transfer in the Downswing)
Many thin shots result from hanging back—leaving weight on your rear foot. This drill ensures proper hip rotation without overactive lower body movement.
Setup: Place an alignment stick on the ground 6-8 inches in front of the ball (toward your target). Take your normal stance.
The drill: Make your backswing normally, but in your downswing, think about clearing your hips toward the target and “stepping over” the alignment stick with your downswing pivot. Your body should rotate through impact rather than sway.
Why it works: The stick prevents you from lunging or swaying forward. It forces a rotational lower body move. By “stepping over” it mentally, you initiate proper hip clearance, which puts you in the correct position to catch the ball at its center.
Feel comparison: Make 10 swings focused on rotating around the stick, then remove the stick and hit 10 balls maintaining that rotational feeling. You’ll notice immediate improvement in contact consistency.
Drill 4: The Extension Hold Drill (Feel Proper Low Point Extension)
This drill teaches your body to extend through the ball rather than lifting or collapsing.
Setup: Take a 6 or 7-iron and address the ball. Have an alignment stick or golf shaft lying on the ground along your target line, 6-12 inches in front of the ball.
The drill: Make your swing and hold your follow-through with the club extended down the target line, low and long. Your shaft should point along the target line at waist height for a moment. Hold this position for 2-3 seconds after each shot.
Why it works: A long, extended follow-through is the signature of a low-point strike. By holding this position, you ingrain the feeling of sweeping the club through the ball rather than lifting or flipping your wrists. The alignment stick provides a visual reference for how extended and low your follow-through should be.
Advanced variation: Once you master the hold, try “tracking” the stick—maintaining your extended position as you walk through the follow-through. This makes the extension feel more natural and sustainable.
Drill 5: The Mid-Ball Strike Drill (Ball Position Awareness)
This drill directly improves your ability to catch the ball at its center rather than above or below it.
Setup: Place a ball in your normal position and use a marker pen to draw a line around the equator of the golf ball.
The drill: Make 20-30 practice swings hitting the ball and observing the strike pattern on the club face. Look specifically at where on the face and where on the ball you made contact. You want to see marks at or slightly above the center line you drew.
Why it works: This drill trains visual awareness. You learn immediately whether you’re catching the ball too high (thin) or too low on the club face. After seeing the feedback repeatedly, your body adjusts your mechanics to produce center-face strikes automatically.
Progress marker: When you can consistently strike the ball at the equator line 8 out of 10 times, thin shots have likely been eliminated from your game.
The Complete Practice Plan to Stop Hitting Thin
Structure your practice like this to fix thin shots in 3-4 weeks:
Week 1: Foundation Awareness
- Drill 1 (Head-Still): 2x per week, 15-20 reps focusing on posture
- Drill 5 (Mid-Ball Strike): 2x per week with marked ball, observing strike patterns
- Short game practice with normal swing, building confidence
Week 2: Mechanical Development
- Drill 2 (Tee Drill): 3x per week, 20-30 reps with immediate feedback
- Drill 3 (Pivot Drill): 1x per week, establishing proper hip rotation
- Drill 1 + Drill 5 combined in 1 session
Week 3+: Integration and Refinement
- Rotate all five drills across 3-4 practice sessions per week
- Add Drill 4 (Extension Hold) for 1-2 sessions focusing on follow-through feel
- Graduate to course play with emphasis on pre-shot routine and setup consistency
Mental Cues for Solid Contact
Beyond mechanics, mental cues help prevent thin shots during actual play:
Cue 1: “Compress and Extend” This reminds you that you’re compressing the ball into the ground while extending toward your target. It prevents the lifting motion that causes thin shots.
Cue 2: “Eyes Down” As you begin your downswing, think about keeping your eyes focused down at where the ball is. This prevents the lifting that occurs when you look up too early.
Cue 3: “Low and Long” Visualize your club traveling low and extended through the impact zone. This encourages the sweeping motion that produces solid contact.
Building Consistent Iron Contact
Thin shots are particularly common with irons because they demand precision. These drills directly support your ability to hit irons consistently. The combination of proper weight shift (covered in our guide on fixing fat shots), posture maintenance, and low point control creates the foundation for reliable iron play. Practice all five thin-shot drills, and your iron consistency will improve dramatically.
Why Understanding Swing Fundamentals Matters
If you’re struggling with both thin and fat shots, the root issue is likely in your swing fundamentals like grip, stance, and posture. A weak grip, open stance, or overly upright posture will make both thin and fat shots more likely. Before investing heavily in these drills, ensure your setup is solid. Good grip, shoulder-width stance, and athletic posture are prerequisites for consistent contact.
If you also struggle with other swing issues like fixing a slice, you likely have weight-shift and early extension issues that need addressing. The posture and head-still work here improves your ability to swing on-plane and square the club face.
Thin Shots for Senior Golfers
Senior golfers often battle thin shots due to decreased flexibility and balance. If you’re 50+, check out our golf tips for seniors to see if swing speed, club selection, or stance modifications could help alongside these drills. Shorter, lighter clubs often improve contact consistency for players with mobility limitations.
Other Common Swing Issues
Thin shots often correlate with other swing problems. If you also struggle with fixing a slice, you likely have weight-shift and early extension issues that need addressing. The posture and head-still work here improves your ability to swing on-plane and square the club face.
The Bottom Line
Thin shots are your body’s way of telling you that something in your swing is preventing you from reaching your correct low point at the right time. Whether it’s lifting your upper body, hanging back, overacting your lower body, or improper ball position, the five drills in this guide—head-still, tee drill, pivot drill, extension hold, and mid-ball strike—address every major cause.
The key is consistency. Pick two drills to start, practice them for 1-2 weeks, then expand. Most golfers see significant improvement in 3-4 weeks. Stick with the plan, trust the process, and enjoy the confidence that comes with clean, consistent contact off every club in your bag.
