Driving · Lesson
Test Your Body Before You Fix Over the Top
Part of our driving programs for slice, push or pull, topped or thin. Build a program with it
Many golfers fight over the top with swing tips. But sometimes the body is the real cause. Try this test. Hold a club across your chest in golf posture. Turn your hips toward the target. Keep your shoulders still. Can you do it? If not, your upper body will take over in the downswing, whatever you think about. So train the movement first. A minute or two a day helps. Then add it back into your swing.
Step by step
- Hold a club across your chest in posture.
- Turn your hips while your shoulders stay still.
- Practice that slowly every day if it's hard.
- Rehearse starting down with your hips.
- Move into half swings, then full ones.
Why it works
Over the top means the shoulders and arms start the downswing, so the club moves outside the ideal path. The downswing starts with the lower body turning toward the target. If your hips cannot turn while your shoulders stay quiet, the upper body takes over to create speed. Training that separation first gives your swing a movement it can use, so you are not trying to fix the path with a thought.
Common mistakes
- You let the shoulders turn along with the hips during the test.Slow down and keep your chest pointing at the ball while only your hips rotate toward the target.
- You stand up or lose your posture as you turn the hips.Keep your spine tilt and knee flex the same from start to finish, and use a mirror to check.
- You slide the hips sideways toward the target instead of turning them.Think of rotating around a post, so your belt buckle turns to face the target without your hips sliding.
How you'll know it's working
- You can turn your hips toward the target with the club across your chest staying pointed at the ball, and you can do it with no strain.
- Your divots stop pointing left of the target, and your pull shots happen less often.
- Your downswing feels like it starts from the ground and hips, and your arms feel quieter.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Do the test without swinging, and put your back against a wall or hold a chair to feel the hips turn on their own.
Harder: Do the hip turn at a faster pace, then hit half shots with the same sequence, keeping your shoulders quiet at the start of the downswing.
Common questions
Why do I keep coming over the top even when I think about my path?
Your body may not be able to separate the hips from the shoulders. If it can't, the upper body starts the downswing no matter what you think about.
How often should I practice the hip turn drill?
A minute or two a day is enough. Short, regular practice builds the movement better than one long session, and you should stop if it hurts.
