Thin Shot
Also known as: blading, hitting it thin, skulled shot
A thin shot is when the leading edge of the club catches the ball near its equator rather than below it — the opposite of a fat shot — producing a low, skimming ball flight.
Thin shots happen when the club rises too early through impact, making contact higher on the ball than intended. Common causes are early extension (the golfer standing up), hanging back, or a clubhead that overtakes the hands. A "heavy" thin (bladed) shot with a wedge can result in the ball traveling nearly full distance on a straight, low trajectory — potentially dangerous near bunkers or water.
Example
A player hits a sand wedge that rockets off low and runs through the back of the green — "skulled" or bladed, the leading edge caught the ball at its midpoint.
Related terms
- Low PointLow point is where the clubhead reaches the bottom of its arc through impact. Controlling it — keeping it at or just ahead of the ball with irons — is the basis of pure contact.
- Early ExtensionEarly extension is thrusting the hips toward the ball during the downswing, which causes the golfer to stand up out of posture and forces compensations at impact.
- FlipA flip is when the hands flick or scoop under the ball at impact rather than the shaft leaning forward — it adds loft, kills compression, and is a defensive reaction to poor sequencing.
- Attack AngleAttack angle is the vertical direction the clubhead is moving at impact. Negative means hitting down on the ball; positive means hitting up.
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