Pretty good over the top move. Do you know what causes it? And more importantly, do you know how to fix your swing plane?
Swing plane
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Is all about understanding how to fix the inside stuff, not the outside stuff you see.
When most golfers have a golf swing that comes over the top and produces those giant pull-slices, the way they're typically taught to fix it is with some sort of visual or mental cue. The one you've probably heard most often — and probably paid good money for — is: "You're swinging over the top, so just pretend you're swinging down the first baseline."
If that worked, everybody would be fixed already. But of course it doesn't work, because it doesn't change anything in your actual swing mechanics. It doesn't address what's fundamentally broken.
All that tip accomplishes is getting you to take the club way outside and then try to drop it inside, manipulate it with your hands and wrists, and then produce a big flip at the bottom. None of that works to fix swing plane. You have to fix what's actually broken. We've talked about pushing versus pulling and how that causes you to come over the top, but there's another critical factor: understanding the true fundamentals of swing plane correction. When working on your swing, never try to take the club away outside and loop it under. You'll never get real results from that approach — you'll just be learning how to time a big hand-flip at the bottom.
The right way to fix swing plane is to understand the inside determinant of swing plane. Remember: everything with rotary swing starts from the inside out. We have to look at how the body is moving first — not the club. Here's the secret: as soon as you fix your body, the club fixes itself. You'll never be out there practicing drills trying to put the club on a certain plane or path ever again. Instead, you'll make tiny adjustments with just your body, and that will fix swing plane automatically. Use an AI swing analyzer to see exactly where your body positions are breaking down and causing the over the top move — the data removes all the guesswork.
The first thing to address is your spine angle. At address, you need what's called axis tilt. All that means is: if you held a club up through your sternum and belt buckle, and slid your hips toward the target until the club touches your lead knee, that's tilt. You're simply tilting your spine angle away from the target. What that does is immediately preset a predetermined swing plane before you even start moving. Most golfers set up with no axis tilt — or even reverse tilt — because they're so trail-side dominant. They want to get the trail hand on top of the club in a powerful position, so they get their head in front of the ball at address. The ball goes way back in the stance, the hands are forward, the head is forward, and the spine is upright. This is an incredibly common setup position — and I guarantee you, no matter how much you try to manipulate that golf club, you're still going to swing over the top.
But watch what happens when you add axis tilt: your swing plane changes immediately. As you start the downswing with proper tilt maintained, the shaft automatically drops into a shallower, more powerful path. All you're doing is changing the angle of your spine. Remove that tilt and the shaft steepens — you come over the top. Add it back and the plane corrects itself without any conscious club manipulation.
So as you change the angle of your spine by shifting your weight correctly, the club responds. The hands and arms don't need to move independently — they stay in the same position relative to the chest. The only thing that changes is the spine angle, driven by a correct weight shift.
The first fundamental you'll learn is how to properly shift your weight, because weight shift doesn't just build power and momentum — it creates the swing plane. As you learn to shift your weight and understand the position your spine should be in, you'll never swing over the top again. You'll never chase random tips about swinging down the first baseline or looping the club inside on the way down. That approach is broken. Fix your body first, and the club takes care of itself. The GOAT Drill system gives you a structured, rep-by-rep framework for ingraining the correct body rotation and weight shift sequence — the foundation for a proper swing plane that holds up under pressure.
How to Fix Your Swing Plane
Learn to correct your swing plane and eliminate the over the top move for better golf performance.
1
Understand Swing Plane Basics
Begin by grasping the fundamentals of swing plane. Realize that correcting your body mechanics is essential for fixing the swing plane, rather than relying on visual cues.
2
Establish Proper Spine Angle
At address, create axis tilt by positioning a club through your sternum and belt buckle. Slide your hips toward the target until the club touches your lead knee, ensuring your spine is tilted away from the target.
3
Shift Your Weight Correctly
Learn to shift your weight properly during the swing. This weight shift is crucial as it not only builds power but also determines the swing plane, helping to prevent the over the top move.
4
Maintain Proper Tilt During Downswing
As you start your downswing, keep the axis tilt intact. This will allow the shaft to drop into a shallower path, correcting your swing plane automatically without needing to manipulate the club.
5
Use AI Swing Analyzer
Utilize an AI swing analyzer to identify where your body positions may be breaking down. This tool can provide valuable data to help you make necessary adjustments.
6
Practice Consistently
Incorporate the GOAT Drill system into your practice routine. Focus on rep-by-rep training to reinforce correct body rotation and weight shift, solidifying your new swing mechanics.
What is the main cause of an over the top swing move?
An over the top swing move is primarily caused by improper body mechanics rather than visual or mental cues. Most golfers mistakenly try to fix their swing by focusing on the club's path instead of addressing the underlying issues with their body movement. To effectively correct this, one must understand the inside determinants of swing plane and the importance of maintaining proper body alignment.
How can I fix my swing plane without relying on visual cues?
To fix your swing plane effectively, focus on adjusting your body mechanics rather than manipulating the club. The key is to establish the correct spine angle, or axis tilt, which helps preset a proper swing plane before you even start your swing. By making small adjustments to your body positioning, you can allow the club to naturally find its correct path.
What role does spine angle play in correcting swing plane?
The spine angle, or axis tilt, is crucial for establishing a proper swing plane. When you tilt your spine away from the target at address, it sets a predetermined swing path, allowing for a more effective downswing. Without this tilt, many golfers end up swinging over the top, as an upright spine leads to improper club positioning throughout the swing.
Why is weight shift important for swing plane correction?
Weight shift is fundamental to correcting swing plane because it influences the angle of your spine and, consequently, the club's path. By shifting your weight correctly, you can maintain the proper spine angle, which automatically adjusts the swing plane without requiring conscious manipulation of the club. This allows for a more natural and powerful swing motion.
Learn the 3 Tour Pro Consistency Secrets You've NEVER Heard!
Watch part 2 now to see how you're moving your body in the opposite direction of the pros!
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