Nice tip... I get it... I got some similar advice from a friend, who is also a PGA teacher, who told me that i should feel as though i'm throwing a ball under hand with my right hand once in my back swing. It keeps my shoulders from rotating outward when they should rotate downward. I have been practicing all weekend and it's starting to feel better, it was wierd at first. The best part is that my striking has improved, now i just need to groove it. Thanks for the reply, i thought i wrote too much and scared everyone away...

I have fought "over the top" for years. For me, grip and posture are not too much of a problem, but I double check my balance. I think proper balance(on the balls of my feet)is the most overlooked fundamental of a proper setup. People can have a great grip and great posture, but poor balance will kill the setup and swing everytime. Once I know the big three are in place, I focus on 1)slowing my swing down 2)taking my arms out of the swing, 3)starting my downswing from the ground up. When I state taking my arms out of the swing, I am referring to not letting my arms take over. Sometimes I take practice swings starting from the 1/2 way position in my backswing (arms parallel to the ground with wrist cocked and club perpindicular to the ground); then I make my swing through the ball focusing on starting the downswing with the weight transfer from my right leg to my left leg. This helps me feel the separation (lower body from arms)and taking the arms out of the swing. When I work my way to a full backswing, I concentrate on a "one piece take-away" using the rotation of my shoulders/core/torso to take the club back rather than the arms. That keeps my arms connected to my upper body but lets the big muscles control the swing rather than my arms and hands. I have to focus on keeping my grip loose and tension out of the arms. This allows me to forget about my arms and focus on the weight transfer and waist/hip rotation letting my torso unwind with my arms and hands following last. Taking the tension out of the arms and hands will allow the release at impact to occur naturally. When I do that, it is impossible for me to "come over the top". The thing you don't want to do is tense up and try to pull or power the club down on your downswing; start your downswing from the ground up (tension free), and let your arms, hands, and club "fall into the slot" and follow your body rotation through the swing. That is the process that works for me. Easier said than done!

Stretch

I don't really know how to explain this, but I'll try, first forget golf, set your clubs down.

Stand up, close your eyes, slowly turn your shoulders left and right, rock back and forth, feel the tension, feel the spot where there is no tension in either direction, stop at this spot, look down, I'm guessing you will be looking at your left foot instead of centered between your feet.

stretch, i have found the best tip or image i can use to stop coming over the top is picturing a plane of glass resting on my shoulders at address( BEN HOGANS PLANE OF GLASS TIP HE WROTE IN HIS 5 LESSONS BOOK) you keep your hands from braking the glass or getting higher than the glass. hope this helps.

stretch, the best tip or tips i can give you since i have had this problem and fixed it. is 1st jack nicklaus give atip for this , when you are at the top of your swing start down keeping your shoulders tuen to the right as long as possible. stay level and just let it go. you have a swing plane problem. also martin hall whos on the golf channel give a tip on groving your swing plane grab a 5 iron and set your left hand grip than take a 4 iron turn the club down and put the 4 iron shaft at the club head in your left hand than put your right hand on the shaft or the 4 iron and 5 iron. you'll have the grip of the 4 iron pointing to the sky.start the backswing keeping the 5 iron head pointing at the target line. when you go back far enough the 4 iron grip will point at the bal, than the target line, than at top it will be pointing the same way as your target line. this sounds involved , but trust me this really helps. good luck!! grove this and you'll never have this problem again.

80% gir...?
Top tour pros only average a shade over 70% gir.

He should be happy. He is hitting more GIRs than Tiger did in 2000 which was the highest recorded. Found this on the internet:

Since the PGA Tour began officially keeping the GIR stat in 1980, the lowest GIR to lead the tour is 70.34-percent by Justin Rose in 2012; and the highest is 75.15-percent by Tiger Woods in 2000. Even the worst golfer on the PGA Tour at hitting greens typically has around a 60-percent GIR percentage over the course of a year.

Guys
Give Stretch a break and stop comparing the Tour guys for a full season.

Stretch was talking about a 3 week time and I'm sure he didn't play every day. He was dialed in and lost it.

Who cares what Tiger or Justin Rose averaged for a season.


We've all had good short runs and "PUFF" it was gone. A TT member asked fo help no ridicule and Tour stats.

I thought that's why we're all here!!!!

Deno

Amen to that Deno. When it's your day, just enjoy it. I've had an over the top swing, all of my life. I don't hit it far but I keep the ball in play. Some days are better than others, that's golf. If I have to twist myself into a pretzel over golf, then I'd find something else to do for recreation. Don't get me wrong, I'm as interested as the next person in wanting to play well, just play YOUR best. That's all you can do.

Yes you need to work on your path, check out this drill...

https://youtu.be/6JhgLZ4chJQ

Stretch,

Do exactly that! Try stretching your arms out at address-as far as they will go. If you are far enough away I'm betting you won't be able to come over the top. Move closer, inch by inch, to the ball until you are comfortable again. I can only imagine your instructor/coach has already recommended this. For everyone: Takes notes on how you personally hit those perfect shots. At least you can refer back to your notes when your swing fails to produce. The range or practice putting greens are studying for the test. Playing the course is the final exam-and it's an open book test!!!

I just looked the date of the original post. 2011? Really? I'm guessing that since "Stretch" has not posted on this thread since 22 August 2011 (over 10 years ago) he has figured out his issues by now. Wow!

Went to see my pro this morning for the same issue. Alignment and tempo. My upper torso and shoulders were aiming left, not at my target. He worked with me for about thirty minutes. Did it help. Not on the front nine. Adjustment but on the back nine, it did help. Much improved iron play. My front left shoulder was facing the target and my tempo was slowed down and I was finishing down the line more than before. Need more time and think it will come around. My PGA teacher payed off.

Finally broke 90 last week. 83, 88 and 81. Guess the lesson paid off. Will keep working on it on the range each morning with my warmups. My TT alignment sticks are helping on the bottom and I am working on the top. Staying focused on the range so I can play on the course and hakuna matata. =) Next issue working with my playing pro on my bunker play.

These seems like a simple drill, especially this winter.

golf.com/.../

I've started using some called "The Swing Plate" to help with the over the top. I use 2-3 times per week at home. I don't hit balls, but just work on my plane to try and train the muscles. I'm slowly getting used to the feel that I am after and starting to see some results in the shots on the course.

Scott, I’m definitely going to look this up as my iron swing suffers tremendously with over the top. Thanks for posting this!

If I get out of whack I use the Nicklaus tolling the bell drill. At top just pull down