Quick answer: The ground contact or the divot starts behind the ball; on video, the low point of the arc falls before the ball.
What it does to the ball
The ground steals the energy: a huge loss of distance and a short ball with no predictable spin.
Root causes (by frequency)
Weight that never transfers to the lead side on the downswing
A backswing sway that shifts the low point
An early wrist release (casting)
How to fix it
Shift the pressure to your lead foot BEFORE the club comes down: the divot must start at the ball or after it
Drills that fix it
The chalk line · 15 min · 20 reps
Move the low point in front of the ball Draw a line on the ground perpendicular to the target and make practice swings trying to have the ground contact start right at the line or beyond it, never before. Once you repeat it 5 times in a row, put balls on the line and repeat.
The untouchable towel · 10 min · 15 reps
Kill fat contact with instant feedback Place a folded towel 10 cm behind the ball. Hit balls without touching the towel: it forces you to come down with the weight left and the low point forward. Start with half swings and lengthen little by little.
Frequently asked questions
What is "Fat contact" in the golf swing?
The ground contact or the divot starts behind the ball; on video, the low point of the arc falls before the ball.
What does fat contact do to the ball?
The ground steals the energy: a huge loss of distance and a short ball with no predictable spin.
How do you fix fat contact?
Shift the pressure to your lead foot BEFORE the club comes down: the divot must start at the ball or after it