Solutions for Swinging Over The Top
From Dave Phillips On January 29, 2024
The dreaded "Over-the-Top" move is one of the more common problems to afflict golfers and something that golf instructors address every day on the lesson tee. Over-the-top refers to a downswing pattern... where the club is swung above the shaft plane line established at set-up, as observed from behind the golfer. This results in an attack angle that is steeper than ideal and a swing path that moves from outside the golf ball to inside, cutting across the ball and producing either a pull or a slice. The over-the-top motion is frustrating because its steepness leaves little room for error. Thin and fat shots can be common and even when you make ball-first contact, you often deliver a glancing blow that results in weak, high shots that curve excessively.
Titleist staff member and TPI co-founder Dave Phillips has seen his share of over-the-top moves and in this video he shares the main cause - not dissociating the hips and the shoulders during the downswing. In an ideal kinematic motion, the downswing is initiated by the lower body, but in an over-the-top swing, the shoulders and hips turn back to the ball together. To fix it, Dave has two solutions.
1. For players who are physically able to turn their hips independent of their shoulders, place a head cover directly behind the ball and use it as a visual barrier. As you start your backswing, try to make the club head work over the head cover as you move the club away from the ball. As you shift and start the downswing, feel like your shoulders remain closed, chest facing behind the ball as your arms drop. This will promote more of an inside-to-out path and shots that draw.
2. For players who have difficulty dissociating the movement of the pelvis and torso, try a one-plane swing. Bend from the hips a little more at address. At the top of the backswing, feel like your lead arm is below the line of your shoulders. This flatter backswing will get your arms swinging deeper, further behind your body. From this position, although your shoulders and hips still turn back to the ball together, you'll swing the club on a flatter, more shallow plane that will approach the ball from an inside path and promote shots that draw.
Titleist staff member and TPI co-founder Dave Phillips has seen his share of over-the-top moves and in this video he shares the main cause - not dissociating the hips and the shoulders during the downswing. In an ideal kinematic motion, the downswing is initiated by the lower body, but in an over-the-top swing, the shoulders and hips turn back to the ball together. To fix it, Dave has two solutions.
1. For players who are physically able to turn their hips independent of their shoulders, place a head cover directly behind the ball and use it as a visual barrier. As you start your backswing, try to make the club head work over the head cover as you move the club away from the ball. As you shift and start the downswing, feel like your shoulders remain closed, chest facing behind the ball as your arms drop. This will promote more of an inside-to-out path and shots that draw.
2. For players who have difficulty dissociating the movement of the pelvis and torso, try a one-plane swing. Bend from the hips a little more at address. At the top of the backswing, feel like your lead arm is below the line of your shoulders. This flatter backswing will get your arms swinging deeper, further behind your body. From this position, although your shoulders and hips still turn back to the ball together, you'll swing the club on a flatter, more shallow plane that will approach the ball from an inside path and promote shots that draw.
The dreaded "Over-the-Top" move is one of the more common problems to afflict golfers
...
and something that golf instructors address every day on the lesson tee. Over-the-top refers to a downswing pattern where the club is swung above the shaft plane line established at set-up, as observed from behind the golfer. This results in an attack angle that is steeper than ideal and a swing path that moves from outside the golf ball to inside, cutting across the ball and producing either a pull or a slice. The over-the-top motion is frustrating because its steepness leaves little room for error. Thin and fat shots can be common and even when you make ball-first contact, you often deliver a glancing blow that results in weak, high shots that curve excessively.
Titleist staff member and TPI co-founder Dave Phillips has seen his share of over-the-top moves and in this video he shares the main cause - not dissociating the hips and the shoulders during the downswing. In an ideal kinematic motion, the downswing is initiated by the lower body, but in an over-the-top swing, the shoulders and hips turn back to the ball together. To fix it, Dave has two solutions.
1. For players who are physically able to turn their hips independent of their shoulders, place a head cover directly behind the ball and use it as a visual barrier. As you start your backswing, try to make the club head work over the head cover as you move the club away from the ball. As you shift and start the downswing, feel like your shoulders remain closed, chest facing behind the ball as your arms drop. This will promote more of an inside-to-out path and shots that draw.
2. For players who have difficulty dissociating the movement of the pelvis and torso, try a one-plane swing. Bend from the hips a little more at address. At the top of the backswing, feel like your lead arm is below the line of your shoulders. This flatter backswing will get your arms swinging deeper, further behind your body. From this position, although your shoulders and hips still turn back to the ball together, you'll swing the club on a flatter, more shallow plane that will approach the ball from an inside path and promote shots that draw.
Titleist staff member and TPI co-founder Dave Phillips has seen his share of over-the-top moves and in this video he shares the main cause - not dissociating the hips and the shoulders during the downswing. In an ideal kinematic motion, the downswing is initiated by the lower body, but in an over-the-top swing, the shoulders and hips turn back to the ball together. To fix it, Dave has two solutions.
1. For players who are physically able to turn their hips independent of their shoulders, place a head cover directly behind the ball and use it as a visual barrier. As you start your backswing, try to make the club head work over the head cover as you move the club away from the ball. As you shift and start the downswing, feel like your shoulders remain closed, chest facing behind the ball as your arms drop. This will promote more of an inside-to-out path and shots that draw.
2. For players who have difficulty dissociating the movement of the pelvis and torso, try a one-plane swing. Bend from the hips a little more at address. At the top of the backswing, feel like your lead arm is below the line of your shoulders. This flatter backswing will get your arms swinging deeper, further behind your body. From this position, although your shoulders and hips still turn back to the ball together, you'll swing the club on a flatter, more shallow plane that will approach the ball from an inside path and promote shots that draw.
21
Videos
Filter:
- Alex Buckner
- Brad Faxon
- Dan Whittaker
- Dr. Mo Pickens
- Matt Leach
- Matthew Johns
- Sophie Walker
- Cameron McCormick
- James Sieckmann
- Mark Blackburn
- Michael Breed
- Trillium Rose
- Jonathan Yarwood
- Dave Phillips
- Brandon Stooksbury
- Justin Parsons
- Layne Savoie
- Dr. Rob Neal
- Dr. Greg Rose
- Skip Guss
- Jason Baile
- John Kostis
- Jennifer Hudson
- Ryan Hager
- Corey Lundberg
- Tom Patri
- Driver
- Fairway
- Hybrid
- Utility Iron
- Iron
- Wedge
- Putter
- Fundamentals
- Shot Shaping
- Anti-hook
- Anti-slice
- Alignment
- Tight Lie
- Long Rough
- Bunker Play
- Consistency
- Distance Control
- Trajectory
Solutions for Swinging Over The Top
From Dave Phillips On January 29, 2024
The dreaded "Over-the-Top" move is one of the more common problems to afflict...
Ball Flight Practice Station
From Dave Phillips On January 29, 2024
Not everyone has the luxury of owning their own launch monitor, but Titleist...
Three Postures in Golf
From Dave Phillips On November 22, 2022
Whether you're a beginner golfer or a plus handicap, it's never a bad idea to...
Tune Up Your Golf Game
From Dave Phillips On April 29, 2022
Spring is in the air, and for many of us that means it's finally time to start...
Flat Shoulder Plane Swing Fault
From Dave Phillips On December 01, 2021
The ability to maintain posture is important in golf swing mechanics, because it...
Early Extension Swing Fault
From Dave Phillips On August 25, 2021
The biggest and strongest muscles in your body are found in your lower body. In...
Great Players Create S.P.A.C.E.
From Dave Phillips On April 28, 2021
The best players in the world create SPACE in their swings so that they can...
Dave's Favorite Drill
From Dave Phillips On March 31, 2021
Drills are a great way to improve your golf swing. Rather than ask you to think...
Golf and Lower Back Pain
From Dave Phillips On February 10, 2021
If you play golf and you suffer with lower back pain, the cause may be a common...
Your Cure for Casting
From Dave Phillips On February 10, 2021
TPI co-founder and Titleist staff member Dave Phillips explores casting. This...
Titleist Tips | Driver Fairway Finder
From Dave Phillips On December 03, 2020
When you play a tough golf course, the most important club in your bag can often...
Titleist Tips | Justin Thomas' Driver Fairway Finder
From Dave Phillips On November 19, 2020
In major championship golf, players often say that the most important club is...
Titleist Tips | How to Escape from Major Rough
From Dave Phillips On September 16, 2020
What separates a major championship from a typical tournament on the PGA TOUR...
Titleist Tips | The Importance of Your First Putt
From Dave Phillips On September 16, 2020
In a typical round of golf, hitting the green with your approach shot is cause...
The Step Change Drill
From Dave Phillips On June 10, 2020
Is your tendency to come "over the top" in your downswing? With this drill from...
Tune Up Your Game For The New Season With TPI - Part 2
From Dave Phillips, Dr. Greg Rose On April 10, 2020
Spring is in the air, and for many of us that means it's finally time to start...
Attack Angle and a Better Golf Model for Gaining Distance
From Dave Phillips, Dr. Greg Rose On April 10, 2020
As golf club technology and fitting tools have evolved, a new recipe for...
The Umbrella Drill For Speed Control On The Green
From Dave Phillips On March 24, 2020
Dave Phillips introduces a putting game that helps develop speed control.
Distance by Optimizing Spin Loft
From Dave Phillips, Dr. Greg Rose On March 24, 2020
TPI co-founders Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips discuss ways to increase your...
Maintaining Swing Posture
From Dave Phillips, Dr. Greg Rose On March 24, 2020
TPI co-founders Dave Phillips and Dr. Greg Rose highlight Adam Scott’s ability...
Choosing the Right Wedge Bounce for Your Course and Your Game
From Dave Phillips On March 24, 2020
The turf on these tight lies is grainy and can often grab the leading edge of...
No results
Titleist Instruction Newsletter
Titleist Tips: Make the Most of Your Golf Practice Time
One of the coolest things about the game of golf is the fact that we play the same game as the pros. Most of us will never take batting practice in...
Morgan Hoffmann: #ProvingIt
On Dec. 4, 2017, Morgan Hoffmann penned an article for The Players' Tribune, an online media platform that provides first-person content written by...
Iron Selector Tool
This iron selection tool starts the fitting process by suggesting a recommended and alternative iron set. The next step is to experience a...