The “coming over the top” golf swing is a ubiquitous and frustrating fault that plagues countless golfers, leading to inconsistent contact, dreaded slices, and a significant loss of both distance and accuracy. As Jim Roy, a former PGA and Champions Tour player, expertly demonstrates in the accompanying video, this common issue stems from a breakdown in the kinetic chain and an improper initiation of the downswing. Consequently, the club traces an undesirable path, making solid, powerful strikes challenging to achieve consistently. This comprehensive guide will delve deeper into the biomechanics of this persistent swing flaw, explore its underlying causes, and provide an expanded analytical framework for the drills Jim Roy introduces, offering a robust pathway to rectify your “over the top” tendencies and cultivate a more efficient, inside-out golf swing.
Understanding the ‘Coming Over the Top’ Golf Swing Fault
Fundamentally, the “coming over the top” motion describes a golf swing where the club, during the downswing, moves outside the intended target line, subsequently cutting across the ball from an outside-in trajectory. This deviation occurs prematurely from the top of the backswing, often characterized by the clubhead “jetting out” and moving away from the body. As Jim Roy rightly points out, once the club assumes this exterior position, it becomes exceedingly difficult to recover to a correct swing plane.
The repercussions of this swing fault are manifold and detrimental. An outside-in club path inevitably imparts sidespin on the golf ball, most commonly resulting in a pull or a slice. Furthermore, the steep angle of attack that typically accompanies this path often leads to poor contact, such as fat shots where the club hits the ground before the ball, or thin shots where only the top half of the ball is struck. This inconsistent striking diminishes effective energy transfer, significantly reducing ball speed and overall distance. Moreover, golfers often compensate for this errant path by “backing out of the shot,” which further exacerbates issues with balance, power, and consistent ball flight.
Deconstructing the Root Causes of Coming Over the Top
Rectifying the “over the top” move necessitates a thorough understanding of its primary instigators. Several factors, often interconnected, contribute to this prevalent swing flaw, each disrupting the intricate sequence of motion required for an optimal golf swing.
Over-reliance on the Upper Body and Incorrect Sequence
A significant contributing factor is the golfer’s instinct to initiate the downswing by overpowering the shot with the upper body and arms. When players attempt to “hit it hard from the top,” they frequently engage the shoulders and arms too early and aggressively. This premature engagement bypasses the proper sequence, where the lower body should initiate the downswing, allowing the arms to drop and the club to fall naturally onto the correct plane. Instead, the arms and shoulders “throw” the club outward, creating the characteristic steep, outside-in path. This excessive tension in the arms further inhibits a fluid, athletic motion.
Imperfections in the Takeaway Phase
The initial movement of the club away from the ball, known as the takeaway, sets the foundation for the entire swing. Many golfers, as observed by Jim Roy, tend to take the club excessively inside the target line too quickly during this phase. This internal club path often pulls the arms too close to the body, creating an acute angle at the top of the backswing. Consequently, the golfer’s natural inclination upon initiating the downswing is to compensate by pushing the club outward, attempting to create space or reach the ball. This compensatory move directly leads to an over-the-top motion, demonstrating how early swing faults can cascade into significant problems later in the sequence.
Anxiety and Tempo Disruption
Beyond mechanical issues, psychological factors such as anxiety and impatience can profoundly impact swing mechanics. Anxious golfers often rush the transition from backswing to downswing, leading to a loss of tempo and rhythm. This haste typically manifests as a sudden lurch or “over-firing” of the upper body, compelling the club to jet out prematurely. The desire to generate immense power from the top of the swing, rather than allowing the club to naturally load and unload, frequently bypasses the crucial moment where the arms should ideally fall into the slot.
Advanced Drills to Eliminate the Over-the-Top Move
To systematically dismantle the “coming over the top” habit, a multifaceted approach incorporating targeted drills is essential. Jim Roy’s recommended exercises are highly effective for cultivating the correct feel and establishing new, more efficient motor patterns. We will now elaborate on these drills, providing deeper insight into their biomechanical benefits and practical application.
The Right Foot Back Drill: Cultivating an Inside Path
This drill, credited to golf luminary Craig Harman and utilized by Jim Roy himself, is exceptionally potent for establishing an inside-out club path. By positioning the right foot back so its toe aligns with the left heel, the golfer creates a physical barrier and an invaluable “vision room.”
From a biomechanical perspective, this altered stance inherently promotes a superior weight shift. During the backswing, the golfer’s weight naturally shifts into the right heel. As the downswing initiates, the imperative is to shift weight into the left foot first. This specific sequence, facilitated by the restricted right foot, encourages the hips to rotate more effectively and prevents the upper body from dominating the initial downswing movement. Furthermore, the open stance provides the necessary space for the arms to drop vertically into the slot, fostering a shallower attack angle and a powerful inside approach to the golf ball. Consequently, this drill actively discourages the outward throwing motion of the club, making it easier to achieve the desired draw ball flight Jim Roy exemplifies.
Feet Together & Pause Drill: Synchronizing Arms and Body
Another highly effective method for correcting an over-the-top swing involves hitting shots with the feet held closely together, coupled with a deliberate pause at the apex of the backswing. The primary objective of this drill is to quiet the body and, crucially, re-educate the golfer on how to initiate the downswing with the arms rather than the shoulders or hips.
With feet close together, the body’s capacity for excessive lateral movement or aggressive rotation is significantly diminished. This restriction forces the golfer to rely more heavily on the arm swing and wrist hinge during the backswing. The subsequent pause at the top serves a critical function: it allows gravity to work, encouraging the club to “fall” into the correct downswing plane. This brief cessation of movement provides an opportunity for the golfer to consciously initiate the downswing with a controlled arm drop, rather than an impulsive, body-driven lunge. This fosters improved rhythm and timing, promoting a sensation of the club slotting naturally onto plane, thus preventing the outward “throw” often associated with the over-the-top move.
Ball Above Feet Drill: Leveraging Terrain for Intuitive Correction
Practicing on an uphill lie, with the ball positioned above the golfer’s feet, offers a unique and intuitive method for ingraining an inside-out swing path. This natural terrain adjustment inherently simplifies the sensation of delivering the club correctly.
When addressing a ball above the feet, the golfer’s posture subtly adapts, placing them in a position where the natural tendency is to swing more around the body and less steeply down. The inclination of the ground encourages a swing path that feels like it’s “swinging up into the hill” on the downswing. This upward, sweeping motion is the precise opposite of the steep, downward, and outward path characteristic of the over-the-top move. By exaggerating this sensation through concerted practice swings and actual shots, golfers can develop a powerful muscle memory for approaching the ball from the inside and fostering a shallower attack angle. This drill provides immediate, visceral feedback, helping golfers understand and feel the correct delivery path without complex technical thoughts.
Refining Your Takeaway: The Foundation for an Inside Approach
Beyond these specific drills, a foundational aspect of correcting the over-the-top movement lies in perfecting the initial takeaway. Jim Roy emphasizes the importance of checking this critical phase. A helpful visual aid involves tracing a semi-circle with the left hand, arm, and shoulder, aiming towards the middle of the right foot. This guideline ensures the club remains on a proper plane early in the backswing, neither too far inside nor too far outside.
A correct takeaway ensures that the clubhead, hands, and arms move together in a connected manner, establishing the appropriate width and maintaining the club on the target line for the initial segment of the backswing. When the club is taken back efficiently and on plane, it naturally positions itself for a more favorable top-of-swing position. This optimal setup significantly increases the probability of an effortless, on-plane downswing, where the arms can drop and the club can approach the ball from the desired inside path, negating the need for compensatory movements.
Ultimately, correcting the “coming over the top” golf swing is an achievable goal through diligent practice and a precise understanding of swing mechanics. By quieting the body, allowing the arms to initiate the downswing, and ensuring a correct takeaway, golfers can transform their ball-striking consistency and trajectory. The drills championed by Jim Roy – the right foot back, feet together with a pause, and the ball above feet practice – provide practical, actionable steps to transition from an outside-in club path to a powerful, controlled inside-out approach, thereby eradicating the dreaded over-the-top move and unlocking a more effective golf swing.
Swing Plane Q&A: Your Questions On Fixing ‘Over The Top’
What does ‘coming over the top’ mean in a golf swing?
It means your golf club moves outside the intended target line during your downswing, cutting across the ball from an outside-in direction.
What problems can an ‘over the top’ swing cause?
This swing fault often leads to slices, inconsistent contact with the ball (like fat or thin shots), and a significant loss of both distance and accuracy.
What are common reasons golfers ‘come over the top’?
It often happens when golfers use their upper body and arms too early in the downswing, or if the initial club movement (takeaway) is incorrect.
How can I start to fix an ‘over the top’ swing?
A good starting point is to practice your takeaway to ensure the club moves back on a proper path, which helps set you up for a better downswing.
