Over the Top 101

Swinging Over the Top is a pattern that most golfers find themselves doing at some point in their golf career. Helping golfers work around the issue certainly makes up a large portion of my working week in the coaching studio.

The 'over the top' pattern can be extremely difficult to change because there are often some fundamental golf swing concepts that are making the pattern too 'stable'.

1. Movement Sequence

We work hard on Golf Coach ACCESS to build an effective Movement Sequence and there are two large sections of the site that will give you a deeper dive into this pivotal aspect of the swing.

Please visit the 'Swing Dynamics'and 'Sequencing and Lag' sections for a deeper dive into Kinematic Sequencing.

The Separation between the upper and lower half of your body is massively important! If you are struggling with an 'over the top' move then I would like to bet that there is little separation in transition. If the two segments unwind together then it is highly likely that the arms will swing the club over plane.

2. Swing Shape Concept

The Circle Drill features highly in my work, especially with higher handicaps. It gives us the overall concept of a circle while also helping with swing radius and a method of releasing the club. 

3. The Ability to Square the Face

This is massively overlooked in my opinion and as it is often the spanner in the works that prevents a golfer from swinging on plane. Put simply, if this golfer were to swing from the inside without an effective release pattern then the shot will be a big push-slice into the trees. Hence, the pattern doesn't change.

To break this circle I would de-stabilise the current pattern with the Extreme Strong Grip drill found in the Side-on Mechanics course. In this new task, the golfer no longer has to fear the ball going right, they actually have to fight a hook. Almost always, they do this by finding a better plane.