1. I have found with a good number of players who are plagued with hitting the ball fat, they are gripping the club incorrectly... usually right hand too clockwise on the club
2. A good number of folks who hit the ground early, break their leading elbow on the backswing causing a player to cast the club... casting can cause a golfer to drop his back shoulder, thereby dropping the "swing circle"*
3. Dipping, or moving your body lower in your golf swing motion can drop the "swing circle" and cause the player to hit the ground early
4. Rolling the back foot, or collapsing the back ankle on the backswing can cause a player to get stuck on his right side, thereby hitting the ground early
5. If the assent of the club is too steep on the backswing, (thereby not following a cricular motion) the tendency is generally for the descent to be too steep, thereby hitting down into the ground with too sharp a descending blow 
6. If a player moves too much laterally in the backswing this can cause him to move off the ball... if you don't get back, fat or thin shots are usually the outcome 
7. If the "swing circle" is too long, sometimes the player will cast the club and hit the ground early.  Can you see the clubhead at the top of your swing with your eye?
8. A good percentage of golfers who hit the ball fat do not have the club secured in their hands at the top (at the transition point) of the swing.  (Up to down)
9. Poor posture can cause all kinds of problems including fat shots... Easy... get a golf book and copy (via a mirror) the posture of a great professional.  You can do it! 

 

*  I define "swing circle" as the circular path of a club during the swing motion.  The historic "black light" motion photo of Bobby Jones above I think illustrates it very clearly.  If the circular movement of the club is lowered (during the swing), the outcome most commonly will be hitting the ball fat.  Simply put, if the "swing circle" is lowered or dropped (for any reason) there is not enough room for the club to pass which will in turn cause the golfer to hit the ground early.

 

 

 

 My "Hoola hoop analogy" I think somewhat defines the raw physics.  If we were to consider the hoop as the "swing circle" or the path of the club, look what happens when it is lowered just a few inches. 

 

 

I thought it might be novel to make a comparison of a golf club from the 1920's to where it is today.  The Oakwood Golf Club is located in Grand Bend , Ontario.  Grand Bend is located on the shores of Lake Huron and is famous for it's beautiful beaches. 

  

  

Established in 1922 the golf club has complimented this holiday destination community and is now part of the Oakwood Resort.  Please note the cars next to the clubhouse.

In researching their web-site I thought the captions below were worth sharing... a most fascinating market strategy and presentation. 

  

*  The course is a challenging 5,356 yards, and there is not one sand trap to contend with - which only adds credence to the natual layout and individuality.

*  Over time, the mixture of poa and bent grass has created a carpet like cushion that entices you to discard your shoes and walk barefoot.

*  Although the putting line is generally true, the greens are understandably quite slow and a few rounds are helpful to find the putting touch.

 

In March of each year I travel to Portland, Oregon to visit an annual Antique Golf Show held at the beautiful Riverside Golf Club.  Their Head PGA Professional, Pat Sutton (an avid collector and good friend) hosts the event; at the show both golf collectors and dealers present a large variety of golf memorabilia.  This year I acquired a large collection of early, original 20th century photographs of famous players.  In the collection was a number of photos of Walter Hagen, one of the most famous golfers of all time.  

Hagen combined all the assets needed to achieve great fame... he was a splendid golfer, a most charismatic handsome gent, plus a great showman.  His record of achievement in the game is one of the very best: 

*  Hagen's beginnings in the game were as a caddy at the Country Club Club of Rochester  (The Home of Eastman Kodak) 

*  Turned professional in 1912... a famous year... the same year as the sinking of the Titanic

*  Won 75 Professional events, of which 45 were on the PGA Tour

*  Won 11 Major Championships... 2 U.S. Opens, 5 PGA Championships &  4 British Open's  (3rd Highest of all time)

*  In year 2000, Golf Digest ranked Hagen as the 7th greatest golfer of all time

"I never wanted to be a millionaire.  I just wanted to live like one."  Walter Hagen

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