Thin / Skulled Shot
A low, screaming line-drive that comes off the leading edge and flies much further along the ground than intended.
Why it happens
A thin shot happens when the swing's low point arrives before the ball so the leading edge catches the ball's equator (or above) instead of gliding through just beneath it.
Possible causes in your swing, and how to fix each one
Tap any cause to see its fix. Work through them one at a time, usually one or two are the real culprit.
01
Early Extension (standing up through the downswing)
Losing your spine tilt and rising up during the downswing raises where the club naturally bottoms out, leading to thin contact.
02
Ball too far forward
Catching the ball after the swing has already started to rise leads to thin contact.
Move the ball back toward the center of your stance, then check your divot pattern on the next few range balls, it should start just after where the ball was, not fail to appear at all like it does when you're still catching it thin.
03
Casting
Releasing the wrist hinge too early moves your swing's low point earlier, so the club is already past the bottom of its arc and rising again by the time it reaches the ball, catching it thin.
Practice a pause-at-the-top drill, feeling the wrist angle held a beat longer before swinging down, to build a sense of lag.
04
Tension and a jerky tempo
Gripping too tight creates a rushed, uneven swing that's hard to time consistently.
Soften your grip to about a 4 or 5 out of 10 (where 10 is white-knuckle tight), then rehearse slow, rhythmic practice swings before playing the shot.
Recommended video
GOLF: How To Fix Topped And Thin Shots - Three Sure Fire Fixes
Eric Cogorno Golf
How do you compare to the pros?
Greens in regulation
A Thin / Skulled Shot is one of the main reasons an approach shot misses the green instead of hitting it in regulation.
Sources: PGA Tour greens in regulation stats (season average, about 65 to 68%); Break X Golf amateur data aggregate, 15-handicap band (about 26%).
When to stop self-diagnosing
If you've genuinely worked through two or three of these causes over several range sessions and the miss keeps showing up, that's not a failure since it usually means the real cause is something you can't feel or see in your own swing. A single 30-minute lesson with a certified instructor, who can watch you hit balls, will find it faster than any website. Bring this page along and tell them what you've already ruled out; it'll save you both time.