How To Not Miss Golf Ball

Is at that place anything worse in golf than topping a shot?

Whether it happens with a driver, fairway wood or an atomic number 26, in that location isn't much more of an embarrassing shot, wouldn't you agree? The but thing relatable to this golf shot is the "S" word, which might be even worse, so I won't blazon the full 5-letter word as I don't want to put the curse on any golfer.

As you probably know, one of the most common problems that amateur golfers struggle with is making consistent contact. Typically, this means that the clubface does non come into direct contact with the golf brawl as something has happened on the backswing, downswing or transition.

A common fault is that golfers tend to catch as well much turf first, therefore hitting the ball likewise high on the face up. This is known as a fat, or heavy, shot.

The other miss, which I'll focus on in this article, is when the lodge face only makes contact with the ball, and non the ground, and too low on the club face. This type of shot is referred to equally a thin, or atopped shot.

Topping the golf ball causes it to stay fairly close to the footing afterwards being struck. Some topped shots don't travel very far, while others can roll a long altitude if you catch it sparse every bit the angle creates topspin.

Hitting this shot might also create an uncomfortable vibration through the shaft and grip into a player's hands. If you've ever striking a "stinger" shot on the lesser grooves when information technology'south cold out, I'thousand sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm sure, at some point in your golfing adventures, y'all've posed the question, "Why am I topping the golf ball?" I'll give you all the answers here in this commodity.

It's fairly common miss and luckily, relatively easy to prepare. If you're tired of hitting one of the most embarrassing shots in the game, keep reading to learn how to finish topping the ball.

Why am I Topping the Golf Brawl?

When it comes to topping the ball, information technology can feel like a real head scratcher, especially if happens in the middle of the round. But if yous know the "why" behind the shot, it volition brand it much easier to learn how to diagnose and fix your error.

Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the brawl or y'all catch the ball on the mode up, instead of at the bottom indicate.

A lot of things can cause this to happen:

A society that's too short
An bad-mannered opinion
Weight leaning the wrong direction
A swing arc that travels upward
Incorrect posture throughout the swing
Contrary pin
Fear of hitting the ground
A Chicken Wing Follow Through

Club is Too Brusque

A guild that is too short or a stance that is too far from the ball are both issues that are very like. A player that is too far from the ball will be forced to reach an uncomfortably long altitude in order to reach the ball.

This is a difficult position to maintain throughout the swing. Besides, at the same time, a club that is too short will also force a player to reach for the ball.

Think, a skillful golf swing starts with the right equipment. The game is hard enough every bit it is, so make sure that all of your clubs are helping, not pain your chances of shooting lower scores.

Awkward Stance

An awkward prevarication or footing condition can besides cause a shot to exist topped. Most oft, when a player is hit the ball up colina, it can result in a topped golf shot. The reason for this is that a golfer volition often lean or fall down the hill after they hit.

This momentum going down the hill means that the player has a swing that has too much of an upward arc. An upward arc in the golf swing with weight leaning backwards, instead of forwards, volition lead to a topped golf game shot. In this example, you want to adjust your shoulders to slope instead of keeping shoulders level.

Reverse Pin

The reverse pivot is another leading cause of the dreaded topped shot. With this move, you never get your weight to the dorsum human foot and instead, pivot off your lead foot. This leads to your weight never shifting dorsum, which means it's can't get the proper weight transfer on the downswing.

And if you do this move, yous volition go out the bulk of your weight on your backside and striking upward on the golf ball. This leads to the dreaded miss.

To go back on rails and set your poor weight transfer, brand certain that you have a solid base at address position. You want to brand sure your feet are wide and your knees are in a flexed position. This will help get about of your weight back and allow the proper arc into the brawl.

Also, don't forget to cheque your weight distribution at setup with irons and fairway woods. Usually, people who do a reverse motion have likewise much weight on the lead foot, making it hard to twist back. Instead, you want l-50 for the majority of lies.

Posture

If you suffer from thin or fat shots, chances are your posture and spine angle change throughout the swing. But to make consistent contact, you need to maintain right posture throughout your entire swing.

This is a pretty easy fix one time you lot video your swing and watch your spine bending. To brand it easy, download a free app and draw a line downward your spine to see how it changes during your swing.

Ideally, y'all want to:

Keep your knees flexed (not bent), in an athletic position
Bend at the waist
Maintain a straight dorsum
Allow your arms to hang loose

Posture is crucial in getting the right arc for all shots! If yous're setup correctly, your swing arc tin lesser out as well early with irons and fairway woods.

The drills in the follow department will help y'all keep your posture consistent and so that y'all can make much better contact. Remember, and so much of the game happens earlier your swing, focus on the fundamentals before assessing anything else.

Fear of Striking the Ground

Finally, the fear of hitting the basis can also event in a topped golf shot. If yous've been through a menstruation of hit a lot of fatty, or heavy, golf shots, where you catch too much basis, that tin can lead to overcompensation. Doing this often makes people over-right and start hitting the top of the golf ball.

How To Stop Topping The Golf game Brawl

No thing what your common error is that leads to topping the golf game ball, they tin all be corrected fairly hands with a couple different changes to your swing.

Think of Your Swing equally a Pendulum

The first big affair you want to exercise is imagine that your golf swing is a pendulum. Your golf club is the swinging arm, with the pinnacle office of the grip being the stock-still point. If your fixed-point stays nonetheless throughout your golf swing, you will bottom out at the same bespeak every time.

In a golf swing, your caput is the stock-still-signal. Then, if you keep your head nevertheless throughout the entire golf swing, your club should render exactly to the indicate where yous started your golf swing.

Understanding your swing arc will help you lot a ton. To larn more than about bottoming out your swing arc, check out our total post here.

Hit Downwardly To Go Up

The next matter you need to know though, is how a golf ball gets in to the air. A lot of people believe that hit under the ball (where the gild starts at address) will become the ball in the air.

Unfortunately, that is not truthful. Y'all must hit downward for it to go up!

In order to get the ball in the air, you need to hit down on the golf game ball, hit the brawl get-go and then the ground, in that order. If you lot hit the ball just, you'll pinnacle it and if you striking the ground, then the ball you'll striking it fatty.

So, back to the pendulum idea.

You lot desire the bottoming out signal of your golf swing to move slightly forward and down before bear on. The key to doing this is getting your weight moving forward on to your front foot during the downswing.

The quicker you can motion your weight forrard, the improve chance you'll take of hitting the ball and then the ground with a descending blow. Retrieve, your lower body leads the downswing.

The three things you lot need to do to right the issue of topping the golf ball is:

Keep your head still throughout the backswing. If you can do that, it maintains your fixed-signal longer. Golfers who acme the ball often let their head sway backwards in the backswing; resist this temptation. This volition assistance impact, get the correct arc, and affluent the golf ball.
Adjacent, you demand to make certain you have a divot at bear upon. This can exist a little frightening for people who had a previous problem with hitting the brawl fat. Make sure that your divot occurs afterwards the golf ball is struck.
Finally, in society to create that divot, you'll need to shift your weight forward to your forepart side throughout the downswing. If you can make sure that you have a divot and finish on your front side, yous'll e'er make solid contact.

Steady Head = Fewer Topped Shots

A steady position is cardinal to striking quality golf shots. Information technology might feel like a hard thing for some players but information technology'due south arguably the best manner to swing everything back together. A steady head means that you don't lift your caput, dip your head or sway.

Instead, you want to go along your head as still every bit possible throughout the backswing and downswing.

Every picayune motility is going to brand it more hard to return the lodge to the desired position. Also, if you sway your head back to the right (if y'all're right-handed), this also makes it more difficult to go back to square.

Of course, the head will movement slightly through the swing but the less you move information technology, the easier it will exist to foursquare the club at bear on. Keep your head steady for the all-time results!

Adjust Your Easily

The concluding move to adjust at setup is your easily. So many golfers take their easily back at accost instead of a slight forward press.

Merely remember, to hit downwardly on the ball you need to accept the right swing arc. To accept the guild abroad, have a slight forward press in your hands, with any club.

This is one of the easiest ways to stop topping the ball as it gets your hands and wrists in a dandy position. It will permit you to effortlessly hitting down on the ball instead of trying to help it upwardly in the air.

How to Stop Topping the Ball with Fairway Woods

Now, all of the information above applies to irons and fairway woods or hybrids every bit well. You may have noticed, though, that hitting fairway woods solidly is significantly harder with the same tips.

There are a lot of very good golfers who struggle to hit fairway woods then if you struggle with this topped shot, know that yous aren't alone.

And then why is information technology harder to hit the fairway wood off the deck?

First, the lower the loft of a golf club, the more hard it is to hit off the ground. For case, a three-wood is usually between 13-16 degrees loft while a 5-woods is 18-20 degrees. This is why most amateurs prefer to hit higher lofted woods than lower ones, especially from a tight lie.
Next, and perhaps the reason why the first is true, is that fairway woods crave a much shallower angle of approach. Meaning, the clubhead, while still traveling downward towards the golf ball, is not going downwards along an angle as steep as you would with a normal iron swing.

In this section, I'll talk almost how to cease topping the golf ball with fairway woods. In society to make sure yous give yourself the all-time possible take a chance of not topping your fairway woods, there are a couple things you can do.

Brawl Position to Prevent Topping

First, make sure your brawl position is correct at address. If yous tin can take away anything from this mail it's this; brawl position is key to hitting fairway forest from the turf!

The tendency for most golfers with a fairway wood is to put information technology all the way off your forepart human foot because it appears easier to go far the air. Simply this will make you hitting it on the way up and thus, thin or top information technology.

Instead, put the ideal brawl position will be about 1-2 ball lengths behind the inside of your front foot. This will permit your club to catch brawl first and then ground easier. Then, basically, move information technology back in your stance a lilliputian more than well-nigh people do.

Exam ball position at the range and come across how much of a deviation information technology makes when it'due south off your left foot, below the logo of your shirt, and in the middle of your stance. After a few balls, you'll quickly observe the right position based on the results.

Remember, you want to hit downwardly on the ball and still brand a slight divot even with a wood. If you need a visual example, there probably isn't annihilation better than Henrik Stenson's iii-wood in wearisome-motion.

how to stop topping the golf ball with fairway woods

Cull the Right Lie or Pay the Price

To make make clean contact with a fairway wood off the deck, make sure you have a good lie. Fairway woods in full general are not meant, or designed, to be hit out of the rough or another tough prevarication.

That being said, if you're a scratch golfer or consistently shoot in the 70s, y'all might get away with a hairy lie. Simply in general, you lot want to hit a higher loft wood when you're in the rough. Or, have the longest atomic number 26 or hybrid you tin can hit out of a difficult lie and keep the fairway wood in the pocketbook. I understand that's not a sexy answer, but it'south truthful.

Just if you insist on hitting a 3-wood from the rough, make these 2 adjustments:

Make sure to open the confront slightly at address equally the hosel will likely shut as the rough rotates information technology.
Grip the club slightly harder (non a expiry grip) to keep the clubface square.

Also, brand sure no problem is short of your target in case you get it heavy from the rough!

Focus on Tempo

Another top reason that golfers fail miserably with fairway woods is they swing manner too difficult!

Why?

Usually, because they know that they have plenty club to get to the green and potentially, set themselves up for an eagle putt if it'south a par-5 or a baboon putt on a long par-4. Only in order to hitting quality fairway wood off the turf like Henrik Stenson, tempo is key!

Don't try to kill it! If you practise, normally near golfers grip it way besides tight, add extra tension and creates a negative chain reaction, Information technology leads to a poor weight shift, totally throw of the timing of shoulders and arms and more.

To stop topping the ball from the deck, piece of work on mastering your tempo and have plenty of club! Quit trying to kill it.

Depression and Slow Takeaway

Finally, continue your guild head low to the ground, especially on the style back. You don't desire to get too quick with your wrists and easily with lifting the social club caput in the air. Since the angle of attack is a lot shallower than an atomic number 26, yous want to simulate that set on angle with your takeaway.

So, think "low and slow" in the backswing and you'll exist able to return the club in that same way more ofttimes.

If you practice these things, you'll observe exactly how to stop topping the golf ball with fairway woods.

Drills to Stop Topping the Golf Ball

Now that I've addressed all the issues with topping the golf ball, in this department, I'll requite yous some drills to stop topping golf ball. Practice these to brand sure you don't top the ball anymore.

Drill to Stop Topping #1: The Withal Caput Drill

First, have a friend stand in a safe spot, but outside the golf ball you are addressing.
And so, have them remainder the grip-side of their club on the top of your caput.
Take a swing and have them keep the club in the same spot the entire time.
Your head should keep touching the grip of your friends club the unabridged fourth dimension, until you hitting the golf game ball.

If yous're able to practise that, then you are successfully keeping you "fixed-point" still throughout the backswing.

Y'all can as well practice this drill on your own by resting a rule volume or yardage volume on the height of your caput. As you lot can imagine, it's not nearly every bit piece of cake to exercise alone.

But if yous tin can keep the book on your head through the entire swing, then that'll give y'all a pretty good idea that your head is staying yet. Like near of the drills on this list, don't swing with 100% endeavour. Anytime you're training new habits, get slow at first to get the correct feeling.

Try to keep the same level throughout the whole swing. You can also practise this move at home while looking at the mirror to fix the problem of a head dip.

Drill to Stop Topping #2: The Tee Drill

With this drill y'all will accept ii tees and push one all the way in the basis almost ½ inch outside the golf ball.
Push the other tee all the way in the ground near ½ inch in front of the golf ball.
And so, hit a golf ball with 70% endeavour.
Your divot should take out the tee that is in front end of the golf ball.
Your divot also should start at, or slightly later, the tee that was exterior of the golf ball. Recall, you want to striking the brawl, then the turf non the other mode around.

This drill is great for making certain that your order path and angle of set on are correct. If the divot does non take out, or break, the front tee, it ways you are not getting enough of your weight moving frontwards.

You aren't moving your "stock-still-point" forward enough in the downswing. If there is no divot at all, then you lot know that y'all need to be swinging down at the ball into the ground more than.

Drill to Stop Topping #3: Stand on Club Drill

Finally, in order to help you lot feel your weight moving forrad better,

Lay a order downwards on the basis, parallel to your back foot.
Then, stride on the shaft of the social club with the outside one-half of your dorsum foot.
Hit some shots with half of your pes on that club.

This drill volition become yous to feel a niggling scrap of your weight moving forwards because yous should be leaning that style to begin the swing. In order for this drill to work, don't try to hit at 100% effort or particularly long clubs. Instead, shoot for 50-70% of your total swing with a mid to short iron.

You'll besides want to make sure you can "tap" your back human foot toe subsequently yous stop the shot. If your weight is on your forepart side, then you should be able to residual, while borer the back toe on the ground.

Drill to Finish Topping #4: Visualization

Sometimes the yips, shanks, and tops are all mental. As you know, golf is a hugely mental sport that might not take anything to do with your right shoulder, affect position, or getting the right arc. Sometimes, it'southward all between the ears.

To assistance ameliorate this shot (or whatsoever shot), do a quick visualization before you lot hit the shot. Standing behind the ball, imagine the shot going only as you want. Think about making make clean crisp contact and watching the ball soar at your target.

If you aren't visual and more than kinesthetic, imagine the feeling when the ball takes flying. Feel how smashing information technology will experience when y'all make contact with the middle of the social club. Non but can this work to terminate topping fairway woods, but whatever shot that you lack confidence from.

Equally Jack Nicklaus said, "I never hit a shot, non even in practice, without having a ver sharp, in-focus picutre of it in my head." The more you lot practice this drill, the easier it will become. The best part is that you can exercise this at your firm, office or earlier your shot. Train your mind for succcess using the ability of visualization.

FAQs

How do I stop topping the golf ball video?

While all these golf tips are helpful, sometimes it's best to larn by watching and doing.

Hither are some of the most watched videos to explicate the process and avoid the mutual mistakes mentioned above:

3 Reasons You lot Could Be Topping the Golf Brawl
Acquire How to End Topping Your Golf Shots

How do I terminate trying to kill the golf ball?

As I mentioned above, trying to kill any shot hurts your golf. Whether you're topping golf ball with irons or or woods, assailment and trying to hit it extra hard hurt your game.

Instead, brand sure you take enough of club, specially with a wood, to keep a smooth tempo and to cease topping the ball! Not only will this aid your impact position, but I bet you'll feel less force per unit area to swing hard.

Remember, swinging harder doesn't necessarily mean better. Consistency > distance!

What are other fixes?

If this feels too overwhelming to accost on your ain, rent a swing bus that you lot trust to help you improve. don't forget, the best players ever like Tiger Wood, Jack Nicklaus, and Phil Mickelson all become help, so you should as well.

Like Jack Nicklaus said, "Don't be too proud to accept lessons, I'm non."

Final Thoughts

As you lot can tell, there are quite a few reasons why almost golfers end up with this dreaded miss. Whether it's the wrong accost position, incorrect weight shift, or something else, all tin can lead to this mutual but infuriating miss. Luckily, if you analyze your swing and examination out these drills above, you can help your game tremendously and start making meliorate contact with every society in the bag.

Remember, throughout the swing, you want to go along your head in the relatively aforementioned position equally you lot did at adress position. So, y'all desire to make sure the club is the right position between your feet.

Movement the ball dorsum considering if information technology's besides far in the forepart of your stance, y'all will catch the ball on way upward from your swing and virtually miss the ball. This is peculiarly truthful with a iii-wood or 5-wood. Move it back in your stance!

Finally, don't forget to have it "depression and slow" on the way back. Not to mention, from the top of your backswing, you want try to keep your tempo so you accelerate most at touch on. If you go too quick when you starting time your downswing, information technology's piece of cake to mess upward your entire swing sequence.

While information technology sounds similar a lot to evaluate, it's likely you're already doing most of these correctly; it'due south commonly only one reason. Only once you fix it, y'all can stop topping the brawl and commencement hit better shots.

Do you accept another drill or tip that you've used to forever get rid of the common cold meridian? Please permit us know in the comments!

Source: https://theleftrough.com/how-to-stop-topping-the-golf-ball/