Golf Tips » June 2001: How to Finally Stop Coming Over the Top

In my September 2000 golf tip I emphasized the correct position at the top of the backswing in order to prevent “coming over the top”. This month I’m adding a second part to this article due to the confusion of most golfers regarding the start of the downswing.

Once you are in the correct position at the top, the very first move of the downswing is a small lateral slide of the hips towards the target. This will automatically let the hands drop down vertically

Seen from the back you will notice that in picture #1 I have started the downswing with the lateral slide causing the hands to drop down vertically. In picture #2 I have started by rotating the hips, causing the hands to move away from the body in the classical “over the top” move.

From the front view, by comparing pictures #3 and #4 you’ll see that the hips have slid laterally about 6” towards the target without turning the hips!

This is the critical issue here. The moment you turn the hips too early or turn them at the start of the downswing the hands will move “out” and “over” causing an outside to in swing resulting in a pull or a slice (depending where the clubface is at impact) as in picture #5.

From the back view once again, in picture #6 see the correct position of the hands in relation to the body and also the clubhead in relation to the hands. Notice the hands are fairly close to the right thigh and the clubhead is behind the hands. At this point the hips have still not turned out of the way. It is only from this point that the body starts turning (rapidly) Compare that to picture #7 when the downswing was started with the rotation of the hips.

In picture #8 I am at the impact position and ready to deliver the clubhead squarely to the ball. The clubhead path should travel along the target line for as long as possible.

In the March 1998 golf tip I spoke about the dagger drill. Practice this drill and pay attention to the lateral hip slide and that dreaded “over the top” move will be a thing of the past.