Stop Coming Over the Top in Your Golf Swing Today

Learn how to stop coming over the top in your golf swing with simple techniques that improve your swing plane.

Watch the full 2-minute video lesson

Understanding the Over the Top Swing Fault

If you're like most golfers, you may find yourself struggling with a common issue known as coming over the top during your swing. This results in weak shots and often leads to slicing the ball. To effectively address this problem, it's crucial to grasp two fundamental components that can help you shallow out your swing plane.

Identifying the Cause

The primary issue lies in the way the shaft is positioned during your swing. When the shaft is steep, the tendency to come over the top increases, leading to an out-to-in path that produces that dreaded slice. The root cause of this steep angle often stems from an overactive right side of the body, specifically the right arm and shoulder.

Many golfers make the mistake of relying too heavily on their right side to generate power. This can manifest as a heave of the right arm towards the ball, which disrupts the natural flow of the swing and results in a steep shaft angle. Instead of leveraging the more powerful right side, you need to engage your left arm more effectively to help create a proper swing plane.

Shallowing Out the Swing Plane

The key to avoiding the over the top move is to allow the left arm to guide the downswing. By initiating your downswing with your left arm, you can maintain a shallower angle, making it less likely for the shaft to become steep. This adjustment helps to ensure that your swing path becomes more consistent and effective.

Practice Drills for Improvement

Start by making practice swings using only your left arm. This exercise encourages you to focus on the left side's role in your swing, helping to establish a more balanced and effective swing plane. As you become comfortable with this motion, you'll likely notice a reduction in the steepness of your shaft and an improvement in your overall swing mechanics.

Conclusion

By understanding the mechanics behind the over the top swing fault and focusing on your left arm’s role in the downswing, you can make significant strides in achieving a more effective golf swing. It’s essential to remember that many golfers struggle with this issue due to their natural right-side dominance, but with practice and awareness, you can train your body to adopt a more balanced approach.

Key Takeaways

Understand the mechanics behind coming over the top to effectively address the issue.
Utilize your left arm to initiate the downswing for a shallower swing plane.
Practice using only your left arm to reinforce proper swing mechanics.

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