How to Stop Coming Over the Top
Few phrases in golf instruction are heard more often than, "You're coming over the top."
It's a common diagnosis, but rarely is it explained in a way that helps golfers understand what it actually means—or, more importantly, how to fix it.
As a PGA Professional, I've seen golfers spend years trying to "drop the club into the slot" or force an inside swing path, only to become more frustrated. The truth is that coming over the top is usually a reaction to something that happened earlier in the swing, not the root cause itself.
What Does "Over the Top" Mean?
An over-the-top move occurs when the club begins the downswing on a path that is too steep and too far outside the intended swing plane. Instead of approaching the golf ball from the inside, the club cuts across it.
For right-handed golfers, this often produces:
Slices
Pulls
Pull-slices
Weak contact
Loss of distance
Inconsistent ball striking
While these shots may differ slightly, they often share the same underlying movement pattern.
Why It Happens
Many golfers assume the problem starts in the downswing. In reality, several factors can contribute.
1. A Poor Setup
If your posture, alignment, or ball position is incorrect, your body will instinctively make compensations during the swing.
Good golf swings begin before the club ever moves.
2. An Overactive Upper Body
One of the most common faults is beginning the downswing with the shoulders instead of allowing the lower body to initiate the movement.
When the shoulders spin open too early, the club is forced outside the target line.
3. Trying to Hit Too Hard
Many golfers attempt to create power with their arms.
Ironically, this usually produces less power because it destroys sequencing and makes solid contact far more difficult.
4. Poor Weight Transfer
If pressure never shifts correctly into the lead side, the body often compensates by throwing the club outward toward the golf ball.
Again, the over-the-top motion is simply the result.
The Real Goal
Rather than trying to "swing from the inside," focus on creating better sequencing.
A quality downswing generally follows this order:
Pressure shifts toward the lead foot.
The lower body begins rotating.
The torso follows.
The arms respond naturally.
The club approaches from a much shallower position.
Notice that nowhere in this sequence are you consciously trying to force the club underneath the plane.
Good movements create good positions.
A Simple Practice Drill
One of my favourite drills is the pause drill.
Make a slow backswing.
Pause briefly at the top.
Begin the downswing by gently shifting pressure into your lead foot.
Allow your arms to fall naturally before accelerating through impact.
Hit short shots at first.
The goal isn't distance—it's learning proper sequencing.
What Not to Do
Avoid these common mistakes:
Trying to force the club behind you.
Dropping your hands excessively.
Tilting dramatically away from the target.
Swinging unnaturally slow during real rounds.
Searching for a single "magic move."
These often replace one swing fault with another.
Remember: Ball Flight Is Feedback
The golf ball never lies.
If you're consistently slicing, pulling, or making weak contact, your club path and clubface relationship deserve attention. Rather than chasing symptoms, identify why your body feels the need to move over the top in the first place.
Once you improve your setup, sequencing, and balance, you'll often find the over-the-top move begins to disappear naturally.
Final Thoughts
Golf improvement isn't about collecting swing tips—it's about understanding cause and effect.
Coming over the top is one of the most common swing faults, but it's also one of the most misunderstood. Instead of searching for quick fixes, focus on building solid fundamentals and allowing the swing to develop in the correct order.
The result won't just be straighter shots. You'll develop a golf swing that is more powerful, more repeatable, and far easier to trust under pressure.
-- Brian
Comments