If you’re struggling with slicing the ball or losing distance off the tee, there’s a good chance you’re coming over the top on your downswing. But don’t worry – the old school drill known as “Stop Coming Over The Top” can help you fix this common golfing error. In this blog post, we’ll break down the drill and give you tips on how to successfully implement it into your training routine. Let’s get started and improve your swing!

Stop Coming Over The Top (Old School Drill)

Introduction

Golf is a fun sport that relies on consistency and precision. One of the most common issues that golfers face is a swing that comes over the top, leading to erratic ball flight, slices, or hooks. The over the top golf swing is caused when a player hits with their arms, sending the path over the top, cutting across the ball. This article focuses on a simple drill that can help amend an over-the-top swing, resulting in better and more consistent ball flight.

Understanding the Over the Top Swing

The over the top swing affects your ability to play good golf as it causes slice or hook shots, loss of distance, and inconsistency. The problem with the over the top swing is that it leaves the clubface open or closed at impact causing the ball to veer off its intended trajectory. This type of swing occurs when the club moves in an out-to-in motion across the ball, creating sidespin that affects the flight.

The Old School Drill

The simplest drill for correcting an over-the-top swing involves looping the club in the opposite direction. The loop creates a more shallow angle of attack that approaches the ball from the inside instead of the outside. To perform this drill, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Take your club and start your backswing. As you reach the top of your backswing, pause there momentarily.
2. Start the downswing by moving your hips and legs toward the target.
3. Start to loop the club outwards and away from your body, allowing the clubhead to drop behind you.
4. The club will eventually come to the ball on a shallower plane from inside the target line, instead of outside.

Practicing the Drill

Creating a habit of looping the club when practicing swings is essential to correcting an over-the-top swing. The old-fashioned drill takes practice, but it is a super effective drill that stands the test of time. Keep in mind that the goal is to approach the ball from the inside, so players must feel the clubhead moving to the outside during the downswing before coming back inside the target line.

Benefits

By looping the club and attacking the ball from the inside, players will correct their over-the-top swing resulting in better contact with the ball. The shallower angle of attack helps create a more prominent impact position, leading to better ball flight and more distance. Players who commit to practicing this simple drill will start to see improvements in their swings in a relatively short period.

Free Resources

Interested golfers can obtain free samples of the Body Swing book and video series. These resources offer more in-depth and insightful tips on improving your game while covering the basics of golf for beginners.

Conclusion

Correcting an over-the-top swing is a significant step towards becoming a better golfer. The old-school drill of looping the club in the opposite direction during the downswing is a proven and effective drill that can help any golfer struggling with their swing. The key to success is to practice this drill regularly, create a habit of looping the club, and approach the ball from inside the target line.

FAQs

1. What is an over-the-top swing?
   An over-the-top golf swing is caused when a player hits with their arms, sending the path over the top, cutting across the ball.

2. Why is an over-the-top swing bad?
   The over-the-top swing affects your ability to play good golf as it can cause slice or hook shots, loss of distance, and inconsistency.

3. What is the simple drill to stop coming over the top?
   The drill for correcting the over-the-top swings involves looping the club in the opposite direction, leading to a more inside approach to the ball.

4. How can I practice correcting my over-the-top swing?
   Creating a habit of looping the club when practicing swings is essential to correcting an over-the-top swing. Practicing regularly is crucial to perfect this drill.

5. How does correcting my over-the-top swing help my game?
   By correcting the over-the-top swing, players will create a more prominent impact position, leading to better ball flight, distance, and consistency.