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.
What does it mean to come over the top in golf?
Coming over the top in your golf swing simply means not following the correct club path on your downswing... Instead of swinging down and delivering the club from the inside, your club falls outside of your swing plane, and you end up losing power and/or hitting a nasty slice.
Why do I Keep Coming Over the top of the ball?
The main reason you're coming over the top is due to over-use of your body, and the sequence of motion in your swing is off. The first step to fixing this is taking a look at the initial move away from the ball...
Why do I Keep Coming Over the top of my swing?
Instead of swinging down and delivering the club from the inside, your club falls outside of your swing plane, and you end up losing power and/or hitting a nasty slice. The main reason you're coming over the top is due to over-use of your body, and the sequence...
How do you get out of an over the top swing?
In order to initiate the downswing properly you must resist turning your shoulders and hands forward, which is what happens with the over the top swing error. Rather, focus on your right elbow and initiate the downswing with your elbow dropping down rather than moving forward and out.
How do I know if I'm coming over the top?
If the glove drops out of your armpit in your downswing, then you're coming over the top. As soon as that back elbow moves away from your body, the glove will drop.
How do I know if my golf swing is over the top?
A golfer is said to swing over the top of the ball when the club comes down on a very steep angle from outside-inside. Generally this type of swing creates a a big divot that points to the left of target . The ball flight can be a pull or a pull hook to the left, or a terrible slice to the right.
How do I stop coming over the top in golf?
1:448:19Stop Coming Over The Top! Drill To Fix Your Downswing & SliceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo as long as i keep the shoulder. Still i'm going to rotate into my left arm i'm going to be comingMoreSo as long as i keep the shoulder. Still i'm going to rotate into my left arm i'm going to be coming down from the slot. Now there's another great thing that this video or this drill helps with.
What causes you to come over the top in 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.
Why can't I stop coming over the top?
One of the most common causes of the over-the-top move is when golfers fail to transfer their weight properly. This can lead to what's known as a reverse pivot where the weight stays on the left leg throughout the backswing and then shifts onto the right side coming down into impact.
How do I start over in my golf swing?
2:143:55How to start your golf swing like a pro - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGetting the body to start the swing rather than the hands and the arms taking. Over try that on theMoreGetting the body to start the swing rather than the hands and the arms taking. Over try that on the range to start with once you've got the feel of it.
What does an over the top swing look like?
0:288:54Why 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.
Why do I slice with my driver but not my irons?
The main reason that a driver will slice, but not the irons, is the length of the club. With a golf driver being longer than a golf iron, it is much harder to square the club face and release the club at the proper time. Golfers of all ability levels struggle with this concept.
How do you cure an over the top swing?
One of the best drills to use to fix an over-the-top swing is by taking an alignment stick and placing it in the ground about three feet behind your ball and in line with your target. Then, line the angle of the alignment stick up with your club shaft at address (you may need a friend to help you with this part).
How do you fix over the top?
6:118:06FIX AN OVER THE TOP SWING INSTANTLY (My Secret Tip)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFeel the heel. Okay feel the heel then the club will clear all right so let me go over it againMoreFeel the heel. Okay feel the heel then the club will clear all right so let me go over it again gotta follow this exactly. We've got our ball teed up about six inches inside the ball. And on this
How do I stop being outside in my golf swing?
How to Fix an Outside Swing in GolfTake your normal ball address stance. Line up so that the ball is in the middle of your stance. ... Imagine your ball is sitting on one of two railroad tracks. ... Imagine your feet are on the other track. ... Draw back your club. ... Practice the move.More items...
The mistake
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.
The magic move
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:
What is an over the top swing?
An over the top swing is one that features a downswing in which the clubhead is located outside of the target line as it makes it descent towards the ball. Indeed, as the name of the swing error suggests the clubhead will be situated on top of the target line – generally speaking – and it will travel towards the ball on an outside-in club path, ...
How to correct a swing?
Instead, a square takeaway or even an inside takeaway while you work to get rid of the swing error may be preferable. You’ll then need to make sure the club is positioned correctly at the top of the swing.
How to do a downswing in golf?
In order to initiate the downswing properly you must resist turning your shoulders and hands forward , which is what happens with the over the top swing error. Rather, focus on your right elbow and initiate the downswing with your elbow dropping down rather than moving forward and out .
Can a golf club follow a square inside club path?
Thanks to its location outside or on top of the target line the club cannot follow a desirable inside-square-inside club path. Instead, it will come in towards the ball under an outside-in club path, a path that is strongly associated with slices and one that cannot produce straight shots at the target. It can even lead to shanks.
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.
How To Quickly Fix Coming Over The Top
There are some basic steps you can take to get rid of your over the top golf move. These steps won’t take you long to learn, and you can practice them both at home and at the driving range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the over the top swing and what needs to be done to fix it and get the club in the proper position.
Conclusion
Now that we have discussed what an over the top swing is and how to fix it, the only thing left to do is head to the driving range.
Why do golfers come over the top?
But as a general rule, players come over the top because they make a faulty takeaway to start their backswing. They lift their hands and then turn their shoulders. 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 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.
