Why can’t I Come Over the top in my golf swing?
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. Tuesday Tip!
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.
What is the most important move in the golf swing?
Fix: Learn the most important move in the golf swing if you are coming over the top. As soon as you reach the top of your backswing, pause. Exaggerate dropping the the club head directly down a foot or so. It will carry your hands and your arms straight downward as well. Another way to think about it would be to drop your trail elbow.
What is swing from out-to-in in golf?
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.
How do you fix a golf swing over the top?
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.
Can an over the top swing cause 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.
Can you swing over the top?
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.
Can you play golf with an over the top swing?
This is one way to play golf. 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.
Why do I keep 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 stop hitting from the top?
4:266:42STOP "Hitting from the Top" FOREVER [Simple Golf Swing ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo allow the club. To fall and you'll hear some tour pros say they feel like the club's falling thisMoreSo allow the club. To fall and you'll hear some tour pros say they feel like the club's falling this is probably what they're talking about club starts falling and then I'm gonna hit.
Does coming over the top cause a shank?
It often comes when the clubface is too open on the backswing, which causes you to loop the club to the outside coming down—called swinging over the top. This re-routing can move the hosel closer to the ball, leading to a shank. It also can cause a shift onto your toes, another shank producer. Here's what to check.
What does a steep golf swing cause?
The club gets more vertical in the downswing and creates a negative angle of attack, resulting in hitting down on the ball severely and taking bigger divots.
How do I stop topping the golf ball?
The three things you need to do to correct the issue of topping the golf ball is:Keep your head still throughout the backswing. ... Next, you need to make sure you take a divot at impact. ... Finally, in order to create that divot, you'll need to shift your weight forward to your front side throughout the downswing.
What is over swinging?
An overswing is when the club shaft goes beyond the point where it is parallel with the ground at the top of the backswing.
Why is the over the top swing bad?
Another issue with an over the top swing is that it fails to generate much energy and as a result can’t transfer much power onto the ball.
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 .
What is the inside square inside club path?
This is in contrast to a better swing that sees the clubhead traveling from inside of the target line during the downswing on what is known as an inside-square-inside club path, where it will be square to the target at impact and continue moving along the golfer’s body during the follow through.
What happens if you put a golf club on top of the target line?
They will incorrectly position the club on top of the target line and in doing so will interrupt much of the energy flow generated by the coiling of the shoulders and hips.
Where is the clubhead on a swing error?
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, which is far from ideal in most circumstances. This is in contrast to a better swing that sees the clubhead traveling from inside of the target line during ...
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 happens when you swing a golf club over the top?
Without the right (dominant) hand on the golf club it is nearly impossible to push the club out away from your body and come over the top during the transition from backswing to downswing, which is precisely what happens during an over the top golf swing.
What are some mistakes you can make in golf swing?
There sure is a lot to learn about the golf swing. The good news is you’ve come to the right place! Beginners (and even more advanced golfers) often face several challenges when attempting to improve their golf swing. One common swing mistake many golfers make is an over the top move that usually occurs during the transition from their backswing ...
What Causes an Over-the-Top Move?
One of the most common causes of an over-the-top golf swing is a backswing that is too far ‘inside’. When a golfer takes the club back too close to his body (inside), the natural tendency is to compensate by extending the right elbow away from the body during the transition from backswing to downswing.
What is a medicus swing trainer?
It’s basically a driver with two adjustable hinges that allow the club to ‘break’ whenever the golfer does something wrong during the backswing or downswing.
What happens when you execute a backswing without a Medicus club?
When a golfer can execute the backswing without the Medicus club breaking, they have achieved the proper swing plane and will no longer feel it necessary to compensate with an over-the-top move during their downswing. By simply executing a downswing along the same path they performed their backswing, the Medicus will remain intact and their slice will be eliminated.
How does dropping the golf club behind him affect the golfer?
The instructor demonstrates how dropping the golf club behind him at the top of his backswing alters the tendency that golfers with an over the top move have to extend the arms away from the body and force the club downward from this position.
Why does my right elbow slice in golf?
We now understand that an over-the-top golf swing happens when we push our right elbow away from our body during the transition from backswing to downswing. It is one of the most common causes of the golf slice.
Why does my golf swing come out over the top?
The swing becomes a little bit of a loop and then the swing comes out over the top. This often comes from opening the hands too much. Now there are exceptions to every situation and there are some professional golfers that have played at a high level that start the club too far inside including Raymond Floyd and Nancy Lopez.
Why do golfers cut their swings to the left?
Other golfers will have too much lift in their arms, causing their swings to get very steep and vertical, they will then cut across the ball and swing to the left. Instead of being patient and allowing the hands to drop, they often pull down too hard with the hands at the start of the downswing.
What does it mean when a golfer hits a pull slice?
With the traditional pull slice, a shot hit by many high handicap players, the ball will start left of the target line and then curve to the left. This means the clubface is closed relative to the target line. Let’s say the club face is 3 degrees closed. Then let’s say that hte path is 6 degrees left of hte target line. We have the following:
What degree is the clubface open?
Clubface: 2 degree open. Swing Path: 3 degrees to the right. This means the ball will start to the right and then curve away from the path, resulting in a slight push draw. In this example if the clubface was 1 more degree open at 3 degrees open and and match the swing path the shot would be slight push to the right.
What is the shot that many golfers desire to hit?
THe shot that many golfers desire to hit is the push draw. I know growing up, I would watch all of the good golfers at my golf course and see them hitting a draw that would start to the right and curve back towards the target. Here are the numbers on a push draw and n example.
Why do golfers drag their clubs so far inside?
In an effort to get the swing to be more rounded and swing more in to out, some golfers will drag the club too far inside on the backswing, resulting in feeling trapped in there and the only solution is to swing out over the top.
How many degrees to the right to hit a golf club?
This helps you keep the club on an in to out path and have the club face aiming straight which should produce a club face that is around 1 to 2 degrees right or open and a swing path that is 3 to 4 degrees to the right. Like magic, you can start to hit the draw.
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.
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.
Why is pushing with the right wrong?
One of the problems of pushing with the right is that it changes the pitch of the shaft, which steepens the plane and causes you to come over the top.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
What Causes An Over-The-Top Move?
One Arm Swing Drill to Fix An Over The Top Golf Swing
- This is a very simple drill that works. For right-handed golfers, hold the golf club with ONLY your left hand and SWING using ONLY your left hand. Concentrate on using only your left arm and the rotation of your body to bring the club back. As you start your downswing, you will be forced to begin this part of the swing by pulling or leading with the left hip due to the fact that you are onl…
Golf Swing Trainers For Over The Top Golf Swing
- While I feel that the golf swing drills presented above are totally sufficient and very effective for fixing an over the top swing, there have been some training clubs developed over the years that can help improve a golfer’s swing.
Conclusion
- We now understand that an over-the-top golf swing happens when we push our right elbow away from our body during the transition from backswing to downswing. It is one of the most common causes of the golf slice. Using a couple of very simple swing drillsis really all it takes to stop coming over the top – these drills are simple and do NOT take a l...