Most golfers slice, and the common swing fault that causes a slice is an over-the-top swing. That’s when the club goes back and up on an inside path then, on the downswing, loops around and over to the outside. That means the club face hits the ball moving from outside to inside of the target line, adding right-to-left spin that makes the ball fly sharply left-to-right. Try these drills, most of which can be done at home, to put you on the right path.
Broom Edge Drill
Turn a broom so that the thin edge is facing your target. Swing the broom like a club. If you feel wind resistance in the backswing or downswing, you’ll feel air resistance from the broom head not following the proper plane. Swing the broom for five minutes a day to build muscle memory.
Three-Ball Drill
On the range, line up three balls equidistant from each other over 3 feet, lined up 45 degrees to the right of your target line. Work on hitting the middle ball until you can repeat a slight inside-to-outside swing path. An over-the-top swing will cause you to hit the ball in the front or back.
Golf Bag Obstacle
This drill reverses your over-the-top loop. Place your golf stand bag so that the clubs are pointing at the ball and within reach of the club in your hand. On the backswing, loop the clubhead to the outside of your bag and up. On the downswing, bring the clubhead to the inside of the back and down to your ball. Do the drill slowly without hitting the ball, then after about 20 repetitions, move the back and try to repeat the move with a shot.
Toe Up
You can detect if you’re over-rotating your wrists on your backswing with this drill. Take your club back and stop when the shaft is parallel to the ground. The toe of the club should be pointing straight up. If it’s fanned open and pointing skyward, you will likely slice the ball.
Pause at the Top
Timing is critical in the golf swing, so to keep your shoulders or hips from spinning open too quickly, practice swinging with a second-long pause at the top. That will help you feel the proper swing path and make it easier for the club to drop to the inside on the downswing.
Member Comments
edgewoodooo July 2
You are the one of a thousand golf teachers who advertise that you can fix an over the top golf swing. Obviously, it's a very difficult thing to do for most folks. There is one guy who will teach you how to do it right at overthetopgolf.com.