How to stop swinging from over the top?

Question

Played my first round of the golf season a few days ago. For some reason, I'm coming over the top on my downswing which resulted in me hitting accross the ball. The predictable result was sidespin & a weak slice.

Can anyone suggest some good drills or tips to help stop from coming over the top?

Answer 1

widen your stance will help alot. keep your right elbow against your side (right handed). and if you've ever played baseball, swing like you want to hit the ball to right field, (right handed). that one works the best for me.

Answer 2

The drill with the head cover under your left arm pit is one of the best drills, IMO.  

Two swings thoughts to think of is this.  Firstly, try to keep your right elbow tucked in and feel as though you're almost slapping your right pocket with your right hand on the down swing.  This will force you to come more inside.  

Secondly, on your down swing, when the butt of the is pointing directly downwards in the ground, feel as though your hands are moving straight down.  This will create lag (which is essential for power) and again, force you to come more inside.

Another great drill is this.  Stand with your left foot in front of your right foot.  Almost like you're standing with your backside facing your target.  Take a few practice swings (and even try hitting some balls) like this and it will force you to release the club and will be very difficult to come over the top.  

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Aim: Not a factor.



Grip: Too much tension in the hands at set up.

Ball position: Check it is in the middle of your stance.

Stance: Not usually a factor.

Body alignment: Not a factor.

Posture: Make sure you flex your knees at set up so you are comfortable over the ball. It may be you are to upright through the swing. (See above).

Swing: You may be lifting your body away from the ball on your follow through or your left arm bends at impact. That's down to too much tension. Keep it soft.

Golf coach tip: Finish with your right shoulder lower than your left in the follow through. Feel like your right shoulder is driving into the ball. Go out and practise taking divots too. (See above)

and 4 slice.

Aim: Your clubface could be too open.

Grip: Your hands may be twisted too far round to the left of the grip, known as a weak grip. As you swing through the ball the blade is naturally opening.

Ball position: The ball could be too far forward in your stance causing your shoulders to open.

Stance: Your stance may be too narrow causing you to be unstable and rely too much on your arms through the forward swing rather than your hips.

Body alignment: Your feet, hips and shoulders are probably aiming too far left of the target causing you to swing your club on an 'out to in' swing path. (See above).

Posture: You may be standing too far from the ball.



Ball too far forward in stance  

Swing: In the first part of the backswing the club goes too much to the inside. The left arm goes too much across the chest. The arms have got nowhere to go so they lift and go over the top, like a figure of eight almost. (See above).

Golf coach tip: Hit shots from a side hill lie with the ball above your feet. This will get you swinging along the correct target line rather than in, up and over.

Answer 4

Try to flatten a bit your takeaway swing as well as your downswing, whilst maintaining the same swing plane. This could ensure your clubface is almost perpendicular to the ball at impact. Do not come down too fast on your downswing except at the point of impact on the ball.

Keep your head down until after impact keeping in mind you will end up with a good 'follow-through' in your swing..

Answer 5

im answering this Q, not copying and pasting random things like the other people. if your coming over the top ur slicing as u mentioned, im only 14 but i shoot in mid-low 40's so i know what im talking about. you may be picking the club up, your backswing path is to far outside. or your swinging your backswing inside then looping at the top. to fix it, swing your backswing close to ur body and low. then while swinging forward swing out after the ball(if there was a clock on the ground and your ball was placed at 12 oclock, swing out at 1 oclock). it will give draw spin. if your slicing then try closing your clubhead when setting up to hit the ball.

hope i could help

Answer 6

Casting, eh? There's no fast and easy cure, that's for sure.  What I'd try first is go to the drining range and put a headcover under your left arm (if you're a righty, opposite if you're a lefty) ... if you cast, you drop the head cover - plain and simple.  If you don't, I means you're swinging on plane.  The idea is to NOT find it on the ground after your swing. It's a good drill and may help.

Answer 7

Main cause for that is your downswing sequence is out of order.  Try to let your hands drop straight down before you get handsy.  Your losing the angle between the club and your arms too soon.  The only way to recover is to come over the top.  A good swing thought is to feel your hands propelled at the back of the ball  hope this helps.

Answer 8

The most common reason golfers slice is called "drifting."  1   Most slicers have no clue they do this nor as to what or why this is. It is when your body slides sideways toward the target before making contact.  Normallly this is due to weight shift onto the forward side before contact trying to get "extra" power. Before you change anything about the turning element of your swing try to see if that is what the problem is. The drill for this is easy all you have to do is focus completely on keeping your head still and go from 75% backswing to 75% followthrough any further and your head has to move. Another drill is to hit balls when kneeling. This will make you turn and also make it impossible to drift.

2   If thats not the problem then it may be this which is the second most common swingflaw in regards to the slice. You may stand too close to the ball. The next time you are out at the range try to get the feeling of your arms hanging naturally or maybe even pushed out a little with a straight back bent at the waiste and athletic legs. As you say this was your first round of the year and often times the golfer believes that they gain some kind of innate ability of more control by making their swing stance and address more compact. This is wrong and is very common.  A drill for this is to place a club on the ground oriented on the target and use it as a line in the sand, keeping you away from the ball.

3   The last most common reason for an outside-in swing or "over the top" is that you are not turning your shoulders and just lifting your arms. Try to start your swing with your forward shoulder. If you are right handed try to just have the feeling of both arms relaxed but rigid and your left shoulder pushing the entire assembly back and just turn on your straight spinal line and make sure to turn all the way through when you swing. A drill for this is to just swing and keep your neck and head with your shoulders. Just a light slow swing is all you need and you will have the feeling of looking forward and backward forward backward etc. just keep swingin on and on until you feel as if your chest points back and your chest points forward.

But always remember that no matter if you are out to in or in to out, your left elbow controls the look of the club face and makes it open or close.    

All three of these points for the most part cover why a golfer slices. If I was to guess without even seeing you play I would have to guess point number 2.  You probably are just rusty from the off-season standing way too close to the ball. If your hands at address are between your legs, you are way too close and will slice or hook 100% of the time in compensation. Just take a couple of practice swings before moving up to the ball.  Feel the path your hands take and then address and take your shot.

Answer 9

1)  Try taking the club back long, online, and low.  (YOu are probably picking the club up, which is causing you to take the club back on the outside).

2)  Be sure to povit around your spin and keep your head behind the ball.  (If your head is not still and you are sliding your hips and head into the ball, your club head will be open at impact.)

3)  At the top of your backswing, "Drop" your hands "Then" fire your left hip.  (If you fire your hip and shoulder first, and do not drop your hand quick enough, you cannot help but come over the top.)

Take it back long and low, stay behind the ball, and drop your hands will help you to bring the club on the inside.  It will be awkward the first couple of swings, but stick with it and you will see positive results.

Answer 10

If there was an easy answer we'd put a lot of people out of business.  Personally what works for me is to not be thinking about my hands and arms during the swing, and to key on starting my downswing by turning my left hip.  If I think about my hands and arms (trying to consiously bring them on an inside path) I start the downswing with the hands and come over the top even more.