If you’re a player who often comes “over-the-top” during the golf swing, you know all too well about the issues that arise with doing so.
Since your upper body gets thrown out of whack as you come down through impact, you probably either slice or hook the heck out of the ball — which only adds frustration (and plenty of strokes!) throughout a round.
An over-the-top golf swing is a common problem among amateurs, though, so it’s important to find easy-to-use nuggets that can correct it from happening.
One simple way is by using a tee in the grip of your golf club, according to GOLF Top 100 Teacher Trillium Rose. In the video above, Rose shows how (and why) it actually helps you learn the correct way to keep your club on plane. So take a look and try it for yourself!
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Stop coming over-the-top by doing this trick
When a player comes over-the-top, it means the club’s grip is pointed more vertically than horizontally. When this happens, the club is often unable to get back on the right path, and mishits occur as a result.
But Rose says that using a tee in the club’s grip is a good way to create checkpoints against doing this, and provides a visual tool to make sure you’re swing isn’t leaning off-plane.
“I’m going to put a tee in the butt-end of the grip,” says Rose. “As you bring the club back, [angle it] as if this were a flashlight, where it will be angled outside the ball.”
Maintain this same club position as you come down through impact, ensuring your ‘flashlight’ is aimed on the outside of the golf ball.
When you don’t feel or see this angle, your club is still in the wrong position.
“If you’re over-the-top, that means the club is getting vertical,” adds Rose. “That means the flashlight is pointing down towards your feet or the grass; and that’s not good.”
But by using a tee in the grip, Rose says you’ll be able to work on dialing in your swing fundamentals — which will lead to better and more consistent ball-striking.
“This is a simple image to feel like your club is in the right spot in the transition so that you don’t go over-the-top,” she says.
