Why am I Topping the Golf Ball?
- Club is Too Short. A club that is too short or a stance that is too far from the ball are both issues that are very similar.
- Awkward Stance. An awkward lie or ground condition can also cause a shot to be topped. ...
- Reverse Pivot. The reverse pivot is another leading cause of the dreaded topped shot. ...
- Posture. ...
- Fear of Hitting the Ground. ...
Full Answer
How do you stop topping the ball in golf?
Jun 15, 2020 · Generally, when you top the golf ball, it’s because you are making contact above the equator (top half) of the ball. There are a number of potential causes that could be to blame: Swaying. Reverse Pivot. Poor positioning. Clubs that are too short. Uneven weight distribution. In order to address this fault, it might take some trial and error.
Why do you hit the ground before the golf ball?
Oct 11, 2018 · Director of Instruction at the TruGolf Academy Jon Watts talks you through the 3 main reason you may be topping the ball and how to stop topping for good!SUB...
How to stop topping the golf ball?
2. Maintain correct posture throughout the swing Many golfers, especially seniors, habitually lift up during the downswing. Naturally, this pulls the clubhead upward and away from the ball. As your upper body turns toward the ball on the downswing, keep the left (lead) shoulder down through impact.
How to 'top' a golf ball?
Dec 19, 2011 · This is called "topping" -- also "skulling" or "thinning" -- the ball, and there are several common reasons that it happens. Standing Up In the proper address position, you should bend at the hips...
Why do I consistently top the golf ball?
Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the ball or you catch the ball on the way up, instead of at the bottom point. A lot of things can cause this to happen: A club that's too short. An awkward stance.
How do I stop topping the ball in golf?
1:156:55HOW TO STOP TOPPING THE GOLF BALL - 5 EASY TIPS IN UNDER 5 ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut most of your irons are going to be around about the center if not just a little bit furtherMoreBut most of your irons are going to be around about the center if not just a little bit further forward if you can get that ball positioned correctly and directly under your sternum.
What causes a topped golf shot?
Lateral motion in the backswing moves the swing arc backward. If it isn't then moved forward in the downswing, the low point of the arc is behind the ball, often causing a thin or topped shot.Mar 20, 2013
Why am I topping the ball with my fairway woods?
0:286:09Stop Topping Your Woods - Learn to Hit Fairway Woods Off the GroundYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipProbably common is improper weight shift all right.MoreProbably common is improper weight shift all right.
How do you stop topping hybrids?
2:597:15HOW TO HIT YOUR HYBRIDS - STOP TOPPING SHOTS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWorks great when i'm into the wind trying to hit a low running shot whereas if i want to fly. HigherMoreWorks great when i'm into the wind trying to hit a low running shot whereas if i want to fly. Higher stop it i would use my hybrid club personally. So these are a little bit easier to get airborne.
How do I stop topping the driver?
0:082:51How to Stop Topping Your Driver | Hit More Solid Drives - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHand drop it down scratch the knee of your trail. Leg from there keep that posture. Put the club orMoreHand drop it down scratch the knee of your trail. Leg from there keep that posture. Put the club or your hand on the club.
What causes a top?
Standing too far away from the ball If you stand too far away from the ball at address, it's almost difficult not to top the ball without a heroic move. Reaching for the ball — where your arms often get into a diagonal position — will often lead to a thin shot or a top.Jul 21, 2020
Why am I topping my long irons?
2:378:293 REASONS YOU COULD BE TOPPING THE GOLF BALLYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if the golf ball is positioned too far forward in your stance. Your club will reach the bottomMoreSo if the golf ball is positioned too far forward in your stance. Your club will reach the bottom circle. Too early it will begin to rise you will either thin or your top the golf ball.
What happens if you hit the ball too far left?
If you’ve got the ball too far left (closer to your lead foot) at address, your swing will find its bottom point before it reaches the ball. By impact, the clubhead is traveling up and over the ball, usually clipping it above the equator. If you’ve been topping the ball often, check your ball position first.
What is reverse pivot?
It’s true that the reverse pivot is a leading cause of slicing. It’s also responsible for a large percentage of topped golf shots. Briefly, a reverse pivot is when your weight shifts to the left on the backswing, then right on the downswing and follow-through – the reverse of a correct transfer.
Is the topped shot embarrassing?
Ah, the topped shot. It’s embarrassing, all right. Even worse, the ego damage is compounded by a lousy result, which moves you only a little closer to the intended target.
What happens if you swing too far forward?
If the ball is too far forward in your stance, it's easy to hit it fat. The clubhead reaches the bottom of its swing arc before it gets to the ball. If you adjust your swing so you don't hit the ground, the clubhead will be swinging upward by the time it reaches the ball. When that happens, you have no chance of hitting the bottom half of the ball.
How to get more clubhead speed?
Throwing the Clubhead. Sometimes you try to gain extra clubhead speed by flipping your wrists at impact, but all you do is straighten your wrists before the clubhead reaches the ball. That makes the club reach the bottom of its arc farther back in your stance, instead of in front of the ball. The clubhead then swings upward sooner ...
What happens when you lean toward the target?
If you lean toward the target at the top of your backswing, you'll tend to lean away from the target during your downswing. This changes the bottom of the swing arc. If you manage to avoid hitting the ground before you hit the ball (a fat shot), the clubhead will be swinging upward when it reaches the ball – and that's the recipe for a topped shot. ...
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.
What Causes Topping Shots?
Topping shots are caused by one of the three fundamental causes below. All have to do with the position of the bottom of the swing arc, either vertically or horizontally.
Golf Swing Errors Related to Topping Shots
The following golf swing errors can lead you to topping golf shots. Make sure none are to blame by going through the list and if you find a situation that resembles yours, read on for clues on how to fix and correct the situation.
Address Position Issues Leading to Topping Shots
In addition to the swing errors above, some address and setup positioning errors can also explain why you are topping some golf shots. Review the following for possible clues.
What do topped golf shots look like why they happen
I get asked a lot from golfers "why do I top the ball in golf"? Firstly, you need to understand what an actual topped golf shot looks like. The golf ball is hit on an ascending arc and only catches the top half of the golf ball which results in it trickling over the tee and usually only a very short distance.
1. Maintain your spine angle
The most common reason for topping the golf ball is when golfers come out of their posture or lose their spine angle during the golf swing. What I mean is at set up you should have a nice posture with your back bent at the waist and arms hanging comfortably over the shoulders.
2. Understanding your strike location
Another common way golfers top the golf ball is they perform an over the top golf swing and come in too steep at the golf ball. A steep downswing leads to more of an outside to inside swing path which makes it difficult to strike the golf ball solid.
3. Maintain balance
Having great balance is vital to a good golf swing and poor balance is another reason golfers struggle to stop topping the golf ball. Here's a great drill you can practice at home that ties in with the 1st method talked about above.
Why is my golf shot topped?
An awkward lie or ground condition can also cause a shot to be topped. Most often, when a player is hitting the ball up hill, it can result in a topped golf shot. The reason for this is that a golfer will often lean or fall down the hill after they hit.
How to get a golf ball in the air?
In order to get the ball in the air, you need to hit down on the golf ball, hitting the ball first and then the ground, in that order. If you hit the ball only, you’ll top it and if you hit the ground, then the ball you’ll hit it fat.
What is a topped shot?
This type of shot is referred to as a thin, or a topped shot. Topping the golf ball causes it to stay fairly close to the ground after being struck. Some topped shots don’t travel very far, while others can roll a long distance if you catch it thin as the angle creates topspin.
What does it mean when a club is too short?
A club that is too short or a stance that is too far from the ball are both issues that are very similar . A player that is too far from the ball will be forced to reach an uncomfortably long distance in order to reach the ball.
What is the reverse pivot in golf?
The reverse pivot is another leading cause of the dreaded topped shot. With this move, you never get your weight to the back foot and instead, pivot off your lead foot. This leads to your weight never shifting back, which means it’s can’t get the proper weight transfer on the downswing.
What does it mean to be steady in golf?
A steady position is key to hitting quality golf shots. It might feel like a difficult thing for some players but it’s arguably the best way to swing everything back together. A steady head means that you don’t lift your head, dip your head or sway.
Is golf a mental sport?
Sometimes the yips, shanks, and tops are all mental. As you know, golf is a hugely mental sport that might not have anything to do with your right shoulder, impact position, or getting the right arc. Sometimes, it’s all between the ears.
What happens if you stand too far away from the ball?
If you stand too far away from the ball at address, it’s almost difficult not to top the ball without a heroic move. Reaching for the ball — where your arms often get into a diagonal position — will often lead to a thin shot or a top.
How to get the ball down to the ground?
1. Bad Posture. Good posture is the basis for solid contact. Bowing forward from your hips so that your hands can hang below your shoulders can put you in balance and also get the club down to the ground. Too much knee flex or squatting can often make it extremely difficult to get the club down into the turf, and therefore get the ball into the air.
What is the most common miss in golf?
One of the most common misses is topping or thinning the golf ball. Often, a thin shot can be recoverable, but topping can be a score-killing shot, and immensely frustrating if you don’t know what’s causing it. In simplest terms, in order to get the ball up into the air — and not rolling across the ground — is to hit down into the dirt.
What ruins a golf swing?
Nothing ruins a great golf swing like a loss of balance. Assuming you’re in a good set up to start, it only takes a small loss of balance to cause you to top the ball. A good check of balance is holding your finish until your golf ball lands.
How to improve your swing?
Maintaining momentum to the swing can often be a great help to this athletic movement. 10. Make up your mind and commit. Sometimes, to make a change, you have to commit to making an uncomfortable motion. It’s okay to make the opposite mistake and hit too much ground on the way to improvement.
