Irons · Tip
Two Fixes for Topped Irons
Part of our irons programs for topped or thin, uneven lies. Build a program with it
Topped irons often come from two simple things. First, your weight at setup. Put a little more on your lead side, about 55 to 60 percent. Second, your lead wrist. When you try to lift the ball, your lead wrist cups at impact. Then the club rises and you catch the top of the ball. Keep that wrist flat through impact. Let the loft get the ball up. You don't have to.
Step by step
- Set about 55 to 60 percent of your weight forward.
- Check your posture.
- Stop trying to lift the ball.
- Keep your lead wrist flat at impact.
- Let the loft do the work.
Why it works
A topped shot happens when the club bottoms out too early or rises before it reaches the ball, so the leading edge hits the top half. Weight a little more on your lead side moves the low point of the swing forward, toward the ball. A flat lead wrist at impact keeps the club from rising and keeps the loft on the face, so the ball is lifted by the club and not by a scoop.
Common mistakes
- You shift so much weight forward that you lean the whole body toward the target and lose your posture.Keep it to about 55 to 60 percent, and keep your chest over the ball with the same spine tilt you started with.
- You try to help the ball into the air by flicking your hands at impact, which cups the lead wrist.Think of hitting down and through, and let the loft on the club send the ball up.
- You stand up out of your posture during the downswing, so the club rises with you.Hold your knee bend and hip height until after the ball is gone.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts low to medium and climbs on its own, with no skipping along the ground.
- You see a shallow divot starting at or just after where the ball was.
- Your lead wrist looks flat, not bent backward, in a slow-motion phone video from down the line.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice small half swings with a mid iron from a good lie, and hold your finish to feel the weight on your lead side.
Harder: Hit full shots from a tighter lie, or mix clubs between shots, while keeping the same weight and wrist feel.
Common questions
Why do I top my irons?
The most common causes are weight staying back and the club rising before impact. A cupped lead wrist or standing up in the downswing can also lift the club's low point above the ball's equator.
How much weight should be on my lead foot for iron shots?
A little more than half works well, about 55 to 60 percent. That helps the club reach the ball on a slightly descending path.
