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.
Full Answer
Is your golf swing over the top?
There are a couple of potential causes of an over the top move. As is the case with most issues in your golf swing, solving this problem is all about understanding cause and effect. By working backwards through your swing, you should be able to locate the issues that are leading to the end result of an over the top move.
What does finish high mean in golf swing?
Also Known As: “Finish High”. This swing thought encourages you to adopt a “standing tall” position when you finish your swing at the follow through. This is in contrast to finishing low, with your elbows and hands below the level of your shoulders. As the name strongly implies this swing key promotes a high finish.
What happens when you come over the top of a golf ball?
The results speak for themselves when you make this move – you lose lag, you lose power, and you swing across the ball from outside-in at impact. It is possible to hit a push with this kind of swing, but most people see their ball flight turn into a slice after coming over the top.
What is an over the top move in golf?
As you can tell from the title of this article, the content below is going to be focused on fixing one specific swing fault – the over the top move. This is a swing fault which affects millions of golfers, and it is the main cause of the dreaded ball flight known as the slice.
What does over the top mean 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 do you come 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.
What does coming over the top look like?
0:003:36The Golf Fix - Stop Coming Over the Top | Golf Channel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first thing that we're talking about when we're coming over the top is what is over the top wellMoreThe first thing that we're talking about when we're coming over the top is what is over the top well basically over the top is when the golf club in the downswing is spending. Its energy going out.
How do I fix coming over the top?
1:448:19Stop Coming Over The Top! Drill To Fix Your Downswing & SliceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWell if you're coming over the top if you're getting steep a lot of times what will be happening isMoreWell if you're coming over the top if you're getting steep a lot of times what will be happening is you're sliding forward and your body is going to bust through that wall.
How do I stop my golf swing from going 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.
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.
Can 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.
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.
Why should you shallow the golf swing?
When you begin to shallow out your golf swing, you can generate so much more power and hit the ball much more consistently. Shallowing the club will also help with driving distance and most likely accuracy as well.
Can you swing over the top of a swing set?
2:237:45Learn to swing ALL THE WAY AROUND the swing set! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe found it the swing that lets you go completely upside down all the way around just like youMoreWe found it the swing that lets you go completely upside down all the way around just like you always dreamed in in elementary school you think you'll be able to do it.
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 coming across the ball?
7:258:52How To Stop a Slice - 2 Drills To Stop Cutting Across The Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother way of helping the legs become a little bit more active all the hips become a little bitMoreAnother way of helping the legs become a little bit more active all the hips become a little bit more active through impact drag that left hip back but keep very important keep your shoulders square.
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:
Why does the shaft square off?
The shaft and clubface are able to square off because the butt-end of the club, at just the last millisecond, is going to be pulled sharply upward through impact. The fulcrum of the club movement prior to impact is not at the butt-end of the club. It’s actually a few inches below the right hand nearer to where the grip meets the shaft.
Which shoulder moves upward in a downswing?
Here’s a surprise: the left shoulder moves upward very early in the downswing. It is an axiom that two opposite ends of any rotating motion must move opposite one another. So as the body rotates into the downswing, the hands move opposite the left shoulder.
How to sustain shoulder rotation?
The key to sustaining your shoulder rotation is developing a well-architected and balanced finish. From the top of the backswing, you can then just swing through to a balanced finish, and let the ball just get in the way. While we’re here I want to point out two other things.
Where is the weight of the shaft supported?
Balances neatly into the plane formed by the left upper-arm and forearm where the weight of the shaft is supported along the left upper-arm. The portion of the shaft just beyond the grip should come to rest near the colic at the top of your head.
Which wrist is flattening?
The right wrist must re-hinge at the finish, which allows the back of the left wrist to flatten and puts the left hand more “on-the-forearm” to help support the weight of the shaft.
What is the best way to keep your left shoulder from moving?
The beauty is you don’t have to think about pulling the grip up through impact. Swinging to a properly architected and balanced finish is the most simple and best means to keep the left shoulder to moving upward and rearward.
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.
Why do amateur golfers rush through their swings?
Countless amateur golfers rush through their swings, either because they are trying to swing as hard as possible, or because they are nervous about the outcome of the shot. Either way, rushing is only going to put you off track and out of position when you get down to impact.
What is the ideal backswing for golf?
The ideal backswing is one that has plenty of width, with your hands reaching back well away from your body as you turn to the right (for a right handed golfer). Unfortunately, many golfers make a backswing that is far too narrow, with the hands quickly coming in close to the body during the takeaway phase of the swing.
What happens when you make a narrow backswing?
When you do make a narrow backswing, your hands will be very close to your head at the top of the swing. From there, they only have one choice – to move up and away from your body. There simply isn’t room to drop the club to the inside after a narrow backswing, so an over the top action is your only option.
Can you play golf if you don't play at a high level?
While golf can be fun even if you don’t play at a high level, it’s frustrating to be stuck in neutral without any improvement in your play.
How to feel the right movement in golf swing?
To feel the right movement, take some deliberate, half-speed swings, making sure to rotate through and finish with your back foot turned up on its toes.
How to make solid contact in golf?
A big key to getting the bottom of your swing in the right place—which is how you make solid contact—is to complete your turn through the shot. That means getting your belt buckle to move around and point to the target. You can try to fake it and flip your arms up and around after impact, but to do it right, you need to keep turning ...
What does it mean when you can't tap your toe?
You should be able to lift that foot off the ground for a second and tap it back down ( above ). If you can't, it means you didn't get all your weight through. A great added benefit of this toe-tap drill is that it helps with your timing ( watch the video below ).
