topping balls

[elliottlale]

whats the main reason for people topping a ball? everytime i try hit my hybrid off the mat, it seems to go 30yds straight over the grass......
no video, so apoligies for vague question

 

[brendy]

Do you have the ball quite far forward in your stance? might be worth moving it towards the middle a little.



As always, speak to a pro who can be present to watch and give advice.

 

[G_Mulligan]

You could be lifting your head up during the swing.

 

[richart]

whats the main reason for people topping a ball? everytime i try hit my hybrid off the mat, it seems to go 30yds straight over the grass......
no video, so apoligies for vague question

Getting too steep, and the body in front of the ball. I can top a ball and still take a divot, but the divot is way in front of the ball.

 

[bobmac]

There's a huge difference between a top and a thin.
A top is when the ball is driven down into the ground and bounces down the fairway. (angle of attack too steep)
A thin is when the ball is struck on it's equator and it never gets above 10 ft
It sounds like a thin to me, but without video, it's just a wild guess but I'd say you're hanging back on it and trying to help it up into the air and leaning back

 

[Swinger]

If its not lifting the head before you have hit it you must be jumping at impact.

 

[Smiffy]

It sounds like a thin to me, but without video, it's just a wild guess but I'd say you're hanging back on it and trying to help it up into the air and leaning back

I concur with my learned friend

 

[drawboy]

mate, I sympathise with you, I do exactly the same with my fairways.I've had lessons galore and I can't be cured of this affliction. I know what I do,I drive the ball into the ground because I lean back at impact and get too steep. It only happens on the course if I go to a range I can sweep the ball no problem.I've taken the fairways out of the bag and now just play an iron to leave 80yrds and pitch on. If I get close it's 4 if not I'll take 5 but it's better than the embarrasment of a top.

 

[Chrimbo]

It sounds like a thin to me, but without video, it's just a wild guess but I'd say you're hanging back on it and trying to help it up into the air and leaning back

I concur with my learned friend

That's exactly what I was prone to doing.

Rather than using the loft of the club your trying to scoop the ball up so you end up leaning back and with that your head comes up.

To address the head issue a good drill is to use half swings but keep that head down and looking at the spot where the ball was even after you have hit the ball.

For the scooping all I can suggest is not to try to hard and let the loft of the club do all the work.

 

[TriggerTech]

Sweeping motion simples