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 Come Over the top of the swing?
Hold the position at the top of the swing for a count of one before beginning the downswing. Another common reason for coming over the top is that your right elbow -- for a right-handed golfer -- flares out away from the body at the top of the swing.
What is the most common mistake golfers make in their swing?
There’s one mistake he says he sees golfers make in their swing more than any other. “The most common problem I see in the golf swing is golfers sucking the clubhead way inside on the backswing,” Homa says. “then they come over the top and hit a big slice.”
Why is my club falling outside of my swing plane?
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 of motion in your swing is off.
Why do I keep coming over the top on my golf swing?
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 coming over the top with my golf driver?
0:438:19Stop Coming Over The Top! Drill To Fix Your Downswing & SliceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOpen 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.
Why do I keep coming 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 clipFirst of all let's talk about what is coming over the top. So most of us are aware that when we takeMoreFirst of all let's talk about what is coming over the top. So most of us are aware that when we take the club up to the top of our swing we'd like the club to start down pretty much straight down and
How do you stop over the top swing path?
5:347:13Stop Swinging "OVER THE TOP" In Golf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLittle pressure down club hits the wall shallow shallow shallow shallow. Turn so this will reallyMoreLittle pressure down club hits the wall shallow shallow shallow shallow. Turn so this will really give you the sensation. Of what it's like to lay that shaft down at the top of the swing.
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.
How do I stop coming across the golf ball?
7:378:52How 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.
Does coming 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.
Does coming over the top cause a shank?
If you hit a shank—that low, darting shot to the right—first understand the cause. 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.
How do you hit a fade without coming over the top?
5:3511:08How to hit a fade without changing your swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou've just got to be thinking about face. So where is the face going to be pointing at it at theMoreYou've just got to be thinking about face. So where is the face going to be pointing at it at the moment of impact. So. If you start off with the clubface square. And you make your swing.
How can topping drivers be prevented?
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.
How do you hit a fade without coming over the top?
5:3511:08How to hit a fade without changing your swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou've just got to be thinking about face. So where is the face going to be pointing at it at theMoreYou've just got to be thinking about face. So where is the face going to be pointing at it at the moment of impact. So. If you start off with the clubface square. And you make your swing.
Does coming 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 come over the top in golf?
The most likely reason you are coming over the top in your golf swing is you are rushing the transition phase between the backswing and the downswing. Beginning golfers often make the mistake of tensing their shoulder and arm muscles at the top of the swing so they can make an aggressive swing at the ball. This tension can throw the club off plane, causing you to hit an inaccurate shot or top the ball. Solution: Think about relaxing and pausing at the top of the swing. Hold the position at the top of the swing for a count of one before beginning the downswing.
What is a golf swing?
The golf swing is a dynamic motion that follows a sequential, chain-like series of movements. Any break in this chain can have an adverse domino effect on the rest of the swing and cause you to hit an errant shot. A common effect is coming over the top, the club thrown off-plane and out of synch with the rest of the body.
How to play golf with inflexibility?
Rushing the backswing can lead to coming over the top of the ball. Solution: Warm up before playing and stretch after. Before each round, hit at least 50 to 100 shots and perform several dynamic, rotational stretches. After each round, statically stretch your muscles, holding each position for at least 20 seconds to improve flexibility.
Why does my right elbow flare out?
Another common reason for coming over the top is that your right elbow -- for a right-handed golfer -- flares out away from the body at the top of the swing. While the right elbow should play a fairly passive role in the swing, it does a great deal to keep the club on-plane.
Where does the club go in golf?
As a rule, the club will go where your eyes go. Because your eyes are attached to your head, if your head gets ahead of the golf ball, your club will, too. When your head gets ahead of the ball, you will likely come over the top during your backswing and top the ball or catch it very thin.
Who is the writer of Golf My Way?
Golf My Way; Jack Nicklaus and Ken Bowden. Writer Bio. Graham Ulmer began writing professionally in 2006 and has been published in the "Military Medicine" journal. He is a certified strength-and-conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
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.
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 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.
What is a golf swing?
The golf swing is a patient explosion where you have to remain calm early on in the downswing and let the swing happen. Of course you will fire away at the ball, but the speed must come at the ball and many over the top golfers swing too fast early on their downswing and have loss speed by the time they get to impact.
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.
Where does the ball start in golf?
The old way of thinking is that the ball started in the direction of the path and then curved relative to the clubface. However, the reality and what actually takes place is that the ball will start where the club face is pointing at impact and then will curve relative to the swing path.
Which body gets ahead of the lower body?
The upper body gets ahead of the lower body, resulting in a swing path that goes too far to the left. The proper swing sequence starts with the lower body firing shortly before the upper body. Jack Nicklaus tried to have his arms beat the buttons on his shirt to the ball.
Can a slice occur with an open or closed club face?
As a result of these ball flight laws a slice can occur with an open or closed club face. A draw can also be hit with an open or closed club face. The club face will impact where the ball starts and then curve relative to the path. Here are a couple of examples to help you better understand.
Why Golfers Come Over the Top with Their Swing
Many golfers struggle with coming over the top with their swing and have a difficult time trying to correct it. There are many different reasons golfers do this. Knowing why you do this is the first step to correcting the problem. Here are some of the reasons golfers come over the top during their downswing.
Why Golfers Come Over the Top With Their Swing
CURE: Backswing thought – – Swing your hands and arms a little straighter back.
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.
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.
