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how to avoid coming over the top golf swing

by Prof. Chloe Pfeffer Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The Best Way to Stop Coming Over the Top in Your Swing

  • Stop the Right from Dominating the Downswing. A lot of the material on the website talks about pushing versus pulling,...
  • Pull With the Left. Now let's look at the other arm. If you go to the top with your left arm only and try to swing...
  • The Second Key: Weight Transfer. Getting a proper weight transfer is the...

Part of a video titled The Golf Fix - Stop Coming Over the Top | Golf Channel
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The ball. Up. That's one the keys when you're hitting a driver is to see that ball up. So. We setMoreThe ball. Up. That's one the keys when you're hitting a driver is to see that ball up. So. We set that Club just like this. Turn. It up like that.

Full Answer

Do you have an over the top golf swing?

The "over the top" swing characteristic is easily recognised with a video of your swing and drawing two simple lines. First, draw a line at address through the club and your body known as the shaft plane. Next, when the lead arm is parallel to the ground, draw a line through the club. Play the video and watch the downswing.

How do I stop over the top swings?

Although the likes of Jim Furyk and Ryan Moore have unusual swings, they are essentially own anti "over the top" swings with their excessively steep backswings and flat downswings. Creating a consistent backswing and downswing with a similar path will help eliminate the over the top move in your swing.

How do you come over the top in golf?

Again, for coming over the top there are two simple keys: weight shift, and left arm. Master those and you'll never be able to come over the top again. The slice is a common fault in golf, but is easily fixed with weight shift and using the left arm correctly

Do you pull the club out of the center of the swing?

It's a weak, awkward feeling and you would never do it in your golf swing. At the top with left arm only (left). Pulling with the left shallows the swing (center). An over the top move is awkward for the left arm (right). When you pull with the left arm, the club naturally shallows out.

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How do I stop my golf swing coming over the top?

5:527:13Stop Swinging "OVER THE TOP" In Golf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLittle pressure down club hits the wall shallow shallow shallow shallow. Turn so this will reallyMoreLittle pressure down club hits the wall shallow shallow shallow shallow. Turn so this will really give you the sensation. Of what it's like to lay that shaft down at the top of the swing.

Why do I come over the top golf swing?

Over the Top is perhaps the most common swing fault among high handicap golfers. It occurs due to an overuse of the upper body on the downswing. As a result the club will be thrown on the outside of the intended swing plane with the club head approaching the ball from outside to in.

How do I stop my shoulder from going over the top?

1:083:27Golf - Stop Coming Over The Top| Trail Shoulder Drill - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLeft arm in the air we swing to the top of the backswing. And we try and make sure on our rightMoreLeft arm in the air we swing to the top of the backswing. And we try and make sure on our right shoulder would go under our left arm like so if.

Do any pro golfers come over the top?

Craig Stadler, Craig Parry and many other champion golfers swing this way. Bruce Lietzke made a wonderful career on the PGA Tour with an “in-and-over” move. Their secret was simple: They made one move from the top of the swing.

Is it OK to have an over the top golf swing?

0:448:54Why You're Coming Over The Top In Your Golf Swing + How To Fix It!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what do I see is the main reason for this overuse of your body. Ok too much tension in your arms.MoreSo what do I see is the main reason for this overuse of your body. Ok too much tension in your arms. And you're not letting your arms swing. So the sequence of motion is a little off.

Should I pause at top of golf swing?

4:296:18GOLF BACKSWING: Should You Pause At The Top? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay so thinking into the future just think about the time you're spending up at the top of yourMoreOkay so thinking into the future just think about the time you're spending up at the top of your back. Sign if you need a little more. Time then pause a little longer or hesitate a little longer.

How do I keep my shoulder back in golf swing?

To feel like you're keeping your right shoulder back, make a mini waggle of your arms moving down until your left arm is level to the ground. While the arms are moving down, you also want to feel that your weight has shifted forward. If done correctly, the butt of the grip will be on your target line behind the ball.

Is it OK to come over the top golf?

1:506:203 REASONS YOU COME OVER THE TOP IN YOUR DOWNSWINGYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the over-the-top move in that case is actually something which is useful for that golfer. So theMoreSo the over-the-top move in that case is actually something which is useful for that golfer. So the first thing you need to check is your wrist positions at the top we want your lead risk to be flat.

Does coming over the top cause a hook?

Coming over the top is an error which occurs when you get to the top of the backswing. The next move is supposed to be powered by the lower half of the body and getting it wrong will mess up your swing plane, causing hooks, slices and other common swing issues.

Did Sam Snead come over the top?

1:137:04MSE SAM SNEAD INSIDE OVER THE TOP - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo let's take a closer. Look at this Sam Snead golf swing. Okay guys this swing is considered byMoreSo let's take a closer. Look at this Sam Snead golf swing. Okay guys this swing is considered by many to be the greatest golf swing in history I put it right up there with mr. Hogan.

Does an over the top swing cause a slice?

Like I said, when you come over the top, you club will not make solid impact with the golf ball. Instead, it'll be connecting with the ball from the side. This does a couple things. It puts side spin on the ball, which will typically result in a big slice.

What causes coming over-the-top in the golf swing?

In essence, an over-the-top swing comes about due to an overuse of the upper body when playing a shot. Typically, the plane of the club in the downswing is steeper than, or over-the-top of, the plane of the club in the takeaway, leading to slices if the clubface is open, or pulls if the clubface is shut.

How do I stop my shoulders from starting the downswing?

Instead of turning the shoulders and allowing the arms to ‘throw’ the club over-the-top, try opening the hips before the shoulders and arms move into the downswing.

How to shallow out a golf swing?

You just need to learn to use the left arm correctly, especially at the top of the swing. That will allow you to shallow out.

What makes golf so difficult?

One thing that makes golf so difficult is that it's predominantly a left-arm, left-sided dominant game, and of course most players are right handed. The right arm plays a part in over the top swings. That's not to say the right side and the right arm don't play a huge part in the golf swing.

What arm is the swing at the top?

At the top with left arm only (left). Pulling with the left shallows the swing (center). An over the top move is awkward for the left arm (right).

What arm is the golf club at the top?

At the top with left arm only (left). Pulling with the left shallows the swing (center). An over the top move is awkward for the left arm (right). When you pull with the left arm, the club naturally shallows out.

What arm do you use to change your swing plane?

Today you're going to learn one simple trick with the left arm that, if you do it correctly, will immediately change your swing plane and path, making it almost impossible for you to come over the top.

How does weight transfer work in golf?

Weight transfer from the right side to the left shallows out the pitch of the shaft. This move also pulls the arm down. You're not just going to the top and ripping your left arm down by itself. You're using your body mass, your weight, to change the direction of the club.

What happens if you overdo it?

Of course if you overdo it you'll start coming too far from the inside but, if you're an over-the-topper, coming too much from the inside is a dream come true. You'd probably love to hit a big snap hook, which terrifies a lot of golfers. Using the left arm correctly will allow you to shallow out your swing.

1. Object by the ball

It doesn’t need to be a pool noodle, Clearwarter says. A bottle, headcover or other obstacle can work just as well. Place it just outside the ball and then start hitting (the ball, not the object!).

2. Diagonal pool noodle

You’ll need a friend to help you with this one, but all they’ll need to do is stand there and hold a pool noodle, alignment rod or club at a 45-degree angle. Your goal is simple: To swing under the obstacle on your downswing.

Why do I get over the top in golf?

The first cause that I'm going to discuss here is overuse of the right side of the body and right arm. This is THE most common cause of coming over the top in the golf swing.

Which arm is overused in golf?

This leads to an overuse of the right arm, and as you'll see in the Premium video, this steepens the pitch of the shaft and shifts the swing plane to the left.

Which arm stops you from coming over the top?

In the image on the right, you can see how the left arm stops you from coming over the top due to the musculature you have available on the left side of the body at the top of the backswing.

What happens when you overuse your right arm?

Overuse of the right arm steepens the swing plane and leads to swinging over the top.

How to put a golf club on the backswing?

How to Do It: Place a small stick (as shown in the photo above) a few feet behind the golf ball and a little outside of the target line. Practice taking the club head OVER the stick on the backswing, and then deliver the club on the inside of the stick on the way down.

How to hit the ball with a sidehill lie?

The only way to hit the ball with any success from this kind of lie is to allow the club to follow the slope and work around your body to the top, which will help you discover the feeling of how the arms follow the shoulders to the top, not the other way around.

Why does my ball fly outward?

The over-the-top move that causes this ball flight most often stems from poor sequencing of the body. When your body gets out of sync, it often forces the rear shoulder to ride outward on the downswing, shifting your swing direction in toward your body. Slice city.

What happens when your hips spin out?

Cause and Effect: Anytime the hips race out from under the torso or “spin-out” from the top, the club is usually thrown over-the-top. The longer the club, the more detrimental this move becomes.

How to do the rear foot back drill?

The Rear Foot Back drill gives the arms freedom to “drop” under the plane during the transition, putting you into a better position to deliver the club head into the ball.

Why do my arms lift to the top?

Problem #1: Arm Lift to the Top. Cause and Effect: The arm lift is caused when the shoulders aren’t the lead source of power in the backswing, leaving the arms to lift to the top independently of the torso’s actions.

Can you ruin your score faster than hitting three off the tee?

Nothing can ruin your score quicker than hitting three off the tee after you pump one out of play. And nothing is more frustrating than catching one solid, only to see it put on the blinker and slice hard to the right while losing big distance.

Why do golfers struggle coming over the top?

Golfers who struggle coming over the top often have too much wrist set in their swing, which force the shaft into a vertical — steep — position. That’s why Mark suggests feeling like you’re making a wider arc, with less wrist hinge, which will let the center of mass of the club work from more behind you and less over-the-top.

What is an over the top move?

Before we go any further, it’s worth clarifying, for those who may be unfamiliar, what an “over-the-top” move actually is. It’s when the club moves from outside-to-in on the downswing. Paired with a closed clubface, it can result in a nasty pull hook. Match it with an open clubface, and bingo! Slice time.

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What is swinging from out to in?

Swinging from out-to-in, or “coming over the top” with an open clubface has been the most common problems in golf seemingly since it’s inception, and it’s especially common among golfers who once played baseball. Undoing the tendency to lunge at the ball with your upper body first at the top of your backswing by learning the ideal golf swing sequence is a transition every golfer needs to go through at some point.

When turning on the backswing, do you need to tilt?

Think of a line that’s drawn across your shoulders, like you see on the golfer to the right: When that shoulder line flattens so it’s more in-line with the ground, it puts your backswing in a position where you’re more likely to come over-the-top. The club is so far behind you and your shoulders are so flat that, as you begin to turn, there’s no other way for your club to move but from out-to-in.

How much more tilt does a lower handicap have?

Lower handicaps have more shoulder tilt: About 7 degrees more of it on average, according to GOLFTEC, and usually more. Why is shoulder tilt a good thing? For a bunch of reasons, but among them:

Does golf tilt affect your handicap?

When GOLFTEC studied this, they found a direct inverse correlation between higher handicappers and shoulder tilt at the top of the backswing. In a nutshell: The higher your handicap, the less shoulder tilt you probably have.

Is the downswing rooted in the backswing?

But after analyzing millions of golf swings from hundreds of thousands of golfers in the largest golf study ever recorded, GOLFTEC research shows that the problem plaguing your downswing is actually one rooted in the backswing.

Do you need to turn on the backswing?

Golfers have heard by now that they need to turn on the backswing — and indeed, they do. A big turn creates more power in your golf swing. The problem is what gets lost: You can’t just turn. It’s about how you turn.

Does Max Homa play golf?

Max Homa plays a lot of golf with recreational golfers — and sees even more recreational golf swings every day on Twitter. There’s one mistake he says he sees golfers make in their swing more than any other.

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