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how to avoid coming over the top in golf

by Toby Mosciski Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Stop Coming Over The Top

  1. Taking the club away too flat or under the swing plane
  2. Stranding the majority of weight on the left (forward) leg at the top of the backswing
  3. Creating a narrow swing arc
  4. Leaving the clubface open at the top

Part of a video titled Stop Coming Over The Top! Drill To Fix Your Downswing & Slice
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Open i'm actually going to keep my left shoulder in place you'll see that my when i come over theMoreOpen i'm actually going to keep my left shoulder in place you'll see that my when i come over the top my left shoulder would be pulling back this way i'm going to keep my left shoulder stable.

Full Answer

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

Why do some golf clubs come over the top?

Many right handers allow the right arm to dominate the downswing, causing the club to come over the top Check out our NEW Golf Swing Training Program! Get Your Free Membership to Finish Watching "" Right Now!

Why do I Keep Coming Over the top of the ball?

If the club face is open, you’ll hit slices all day. The most common mistake that causes someone to come over the top is just an incorrect chain of movements. The arms, hands, and clubs move towards the ball too soon, when they should fall down more to start the down swing. There are lots of different ways to stop coming over the top.

Why does my golf ball fly over the top?

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. There are a few very common reasons that lead to poor sequencing.

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How do I stop going over the top in my golf swing?

5:347:13Stop Swinging "OVER THE TOP" In Golf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLike i have here but this is simple simply back yourself up until you're about a hands width awayMoreLike i have here but this is simple simply back yourself up until you're about a hands width away from the wall with your buttocks flip the club around so you're actually holding.

What causes coming over the top in golf?

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.

Why can't I stop coming over the top?

3:077:08HOW TO STOP COMING OVER THE TOP - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you're looking to fix it over the top the first thing you have to do we look at the cause look atMoreIf you're looking to fix it over the top the first thing you have to do we look at the cause look at the root cause of why that's happening in your golf swing. The problem is if you've got an open

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.

Why do I swing over the top?

1:046:203 REASONS YOU COME OVER THE TOP IN YOUR DOWNSWINGYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo number one reason why a golfer would come over the top is because the clubface at the top of theMoreSo number one reason why a golfer would come over the top is because the clubface at the top of the swing.

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 stop topping the golf ball with irons?

5:308:21How To Stop Topping Golf Shots - 3 Simple Steps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTowards the target you're getting your weight to your lead. Side. Really early what that does itMoreTowards the target you're getting your weight to your lead. Side. Really early what that does it allows you to hit the ground but it means that that contact will be target side of the ball which.

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 you cure an over-the-top swing?

To cure an over-the-top swing, you need to fix your club path in the downswing, changing it so that it comes down beneath, or identical to, the path you took it away on. The best way to do this is to implement some drills, such as using an angled alignment stick to redirect your path, while filming your swing to monitor progress.

How do I stop my shoulders from starting the downswing?

To stop your shoulders from starting the downswing, it’s important to work on using the lower body and its rotation to transition correctly into your shot. 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.

Do any pro golfers come over-the-top?

There are a few pros who do occasionally come over-the-top, but the movement is usually extremely slight and their hand-eye coordination is good enough to make the action perform well.

Final message

In general, an over-the-top swing is going to be damaging for your golf game.

What does it mean when you come over the top in golf?

Coming over the top is a dreaded swing issue that can wreak havoc in your golf game. You never know when it is going to strike but, when it does, it’s important to be able to recognise it and fix it. This is a problem that many golfers will face in their life, if you’re going through it now then you’re not alone.

What happens when a golf club goes up and out of the swing plane?

When you get this wrong, the club actually comes up and out of the swing plane during the downswing. This creates a swing path that becomes very steep into the ball which can cause hooks and slices. The inconsistency of the flight makes this flaw so difficult to manage.

What are the characteristics of an over the top swing?

As I said above, one of the characteristics of the over the top swing is how steep an attack into impact the swing has. You will also see that the hands make the first move at the start of the downswing, this is one of the biggest clues.

What does a golf coach do?

Having a qualified golf coach have a look at your swing and give you strategies to help you fix your swing.

What is a drop in golf swing?

This is a small move at the top of your swing that can derail everything on the downswing. You get to the top, your next move should be led by the lower half of your body which makes the club “drop” into the plane. This takes the club on a nice path into impact and beyond.

How to get your golf swing on plane?

1. Head cover/towel drill. There are a few tricks you can use to get out of this bad habit. One great tool is your golf towel or a head cover which you tuck under your arm (right for righties, left for lefties). This puts a focus on you keeping your arms in sync with your body and helps you get your swing on plane. 2.

What does "coming over the top" mean?

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.

What Causes It?

To truly understand how to stop coming over the top in golf, we need to identify what is causing it. This issue is usually caused by an inability to set up proper spine tilt and rotate the body under the ball.

6 Ways On How To Stop Coming Over The Top In Golf

There are numerous ways that you can fix this issue so that you can start buttering those irons! The first step will be identifying if you are at risk for coming over the top or if there are clear signs of already doing it during your swing. The next thing to do is to start at the address.

How to Stop Coming Over the Top in Golf – Conclusion

Here’s a brief summary of all the things that you should do if you feel like you’re coming over the top in your golf swing:

How to come over the top in golf?

A universal solution to coming over the top would be to learn to drop the club and your hands at the top of the backswing. However, if you can determine which problem you are doing, that solution will be easier to do by fixing the backswing if needed.

What does "coming over the top" mean?

For a short description, just to make sure everyone is on the same page, coming over the top simply means that one’s downswing is too steep or vertical.

How to fix a backswing swing?

That way, when you are at the top of the backswing, you will have some room to drop the club and shallow the plane of the downswing. Use of the momentum of the golf club to your advantage.

What happens when your arms swing too flat?

If their arms swing too flat, they have no where to drop the hands and club “into the slot”. Therefore, their downswing goes the only place that is has room, away from the body and over the top compared to a good downswing. This is completely dependent on the golfer’s natural golf swing.

What is the first move in the downswing?

You have a great backswing, but your first move in the downswing is to come over the top. Your backswing could be spot on, but once you start your downswing, your hands and the club come too steep and you swing out-to-in instead of in-to-out.

How to start a downswing in golf?

So if you are a right handed golfer, drop your right elbow directly downward to start the downswing. This is contrasted with what people that swing over the top do. At the top of the swing, they throw everything (the club, the hands, the arms, the trail elbow) towards the ball. It makes sense.

What happens if you aim too far right?

If you aim too far right, your body knows it and you will (without even thinking about it) try to save the shot and pull the ball left to get back on target. This will led to an over the top swing after a while.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

What is a good weight transfer?

A good weight transfer shallows out the swing plane - the pitch of the shaft. It's as simple as being loaded up on the right side, and then shifting your weight back to the left.

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.

How to straighten your body?

Straighten your upper body to an upright position without changing the position of your arms, cocking your wrists or straightening your knees. Keep your lower body and hips in their original address position. Your hands will be around waist high and the shaft roughly parallel to the ground, perhaps pointing up slightly.

How to do a one piece takeaway?

In a proper takeaway, you turn your shoulders to start the backswing, then bend your right elbow (for a right-handed golfer) to get to the top. This is called a one-piece takeaway.

How to swing a one piece golf club?

Make your one-piece takeaway. Don't straighten, turn and bend – just swing the club from address to the waist-high position.

How to play golf with your arms?

Take your normal setup position, with your knees slightly flexed, your upper body bending over from the hip and your weight over the balls of your feet. Your arms should hang straight down from your shoulders, with your triceps resting lightly against your chest. Hold your club with your regular grip.

How to do a squat on the backswing?

Return to the position your body would have been in if you had simply turned your upper body to this position on your backswing. Let your left elbow (if you're right-handed) move slightly away from your side. It should point straight down at the ground.

Why do golf magazines have drills?

Almost every golf magazine offers drills to eliminate that nasty "over the top" move that plagues weekend golfers.

Who is Mike Southern?

He is the author of the instructional golf book "Ruthless Putting" and edited a collection of swashbuckling novels. Southern was trained in electronics at Forsyth Technical Community College and is also an occasional woodworker.

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