The three cures for topping the ball!
The three cures for topping the ball!
Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC. We conduct 1, 2, and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.
Golf Blog by the Mel Sole Golf School.
When a student hits the ground 2" behind the ball, he/she will inevitably look at me and say, "I lifted my head." My answer is simple. "If you lifted your head, wouldn't the bottom of your swing arc be higher than when you started? If you hit the ground, it means that your arc is lower than when you started. So you did not lift your head." "Oh, I didn't think of it that way." is the usual reply. As Sam Adams of Pro Golf Now explains, this is the most common golf myth out there. "Lifting your head" is overrating the cause! In the picture below, it looks like Harvey Penick agrees with that!
One of the most common misconceptions among golfers that are looking up causes a multitude of bad shots. I have checked with golf professionals worldwide on social media, and none of them have ever had a student who actually “looked up” on a shot.
There are three major reasons for topping, whiffing, or thin golf shots. Of the three, none are looking up or not keeping your head down.
The number one reason for these three shot types is that golfers raise on the backswing.
This changes the spine angle, and the head is now further away from the ball than when you started. Unless the golfer drops the head the same distance on the downswing as they raided on the backswing, the bottom of the arc will be different.
The number two reason is what I call "the chicken wing."
This is the lead arm breaking down through the impact zone. If your arm is straight at the address and bent at impact, you change the bottom of the arc. It will be higher, and topped shots will result.
The number three reason is the changing of the spine angle on the downswing.
