Topping the ball is one of the most frustrating misses in golf. A little slice or hook still advances the ball and hitting it thin isn’t always disastrous. Even a fat shot can sometimes travel a decent distance. But topping? That’s a whole different problem.
A topped shot is inevitably penalizing, embarrassing and, let’s be honest, it just feels terrible. If you’ve found yourself asking, “Why am I topping the ball?”, we’ve got you covered. Here are the common reasons and some fixes to help you stop topping the golf ball.
Improper weight shift
In the golf swing, your weight typically starts balanced between your feet. On the backswing, the weight transfers to the trail foot; on the downswing, it should transfer to the lead foot. If you are topping the ball, your weight could be hanging back on your trail foot, causing an upward strike.
The fix
Practice weight transfer drills like the step drill where you are sure that your weight is transferring to your lead side at impact. Try to get to that balanced finished position with all of your weight on the lead side.
Flipping your wrists at impact
If you are still trying to lift the golf ball off the ground, it could be causing your topped shots. The goal is to hit the ball first, then the ground, and this will get the ball up in the air. Flipping the wrists at impact to try and force the ball up causes excessive wrist extension in the lead wrist which causes the club to rise and strike the ball about halfway up.
The fix
Don’t exaggerate your wrist hinge in your golf swing as it can leave you with a cupped lead wrist at impact. Aim for a flat or even slightly bowed lead wrist position. Stop trying to help the ball up in the air. It doesn’t work.
Incorrect ball position
Ball position is a simple fix for many problems in the golf game. If your ball position is too far forward, it may be past the low point of your swing arc. You may hit the ground first and catch the ball on your upswing.
The fix
Practice your ball position on the driving range. Use a “T” setup with two alignment sticks to check the location of the ball between your feet and see how forward or back of center it’s getting. For more about ball placement in the golf swing, check out our complete guide.
Early extension
Early extension is when you stand up or over-rotate your hips towards the ball during the downswing. When you extend early, your spine angle is altered and becomes more upright. As your spine angle increases, the club moves higher which can cause you to strike halfway up the ball and top it.
The fix
Use the wall drill. Stand with your backside against the wall. Take some practice swings (without a club!) where you ensure your backside stays on the wall instead of letting it pull away as it would with early extension.
Reverse pivot
The reverse pivot happens when you reverse the direction your weight is supposed to transfer in the swing. Instead of moving weight to the trail side in the backswing, you move it to the lead side. When this happens, you typically move weight to the trail side as part of the downswing. It is the reverse motion of what you should be doing. The reverse weight shift changes the swing arc and causes a top.
The fix
Practice shifting your weight while taking practice swings, even without a club. Practicing in front of a mirror can help you see if your weight is moving towards the front foot, causing your head and upper body to move that way as well.
Lifting the head too early
Amateur golfers love to tell each other to “keep your head down.” I’ve seen too many golfers take this advice too far and have it cause issues in their game. I’ve always felt like the better thought is to keep your head steady throughout the swing.
If that doesn’t work, try thinking about the club staying in the impact zone a little longer. In other words, give the club and the ball plenty of time to interact. With proper posture, tempo and swing dynamics, you’ll never lift your head too early.
The fix
Never exaggerate the “keep your head down” concept as it can restrict rotation through the ball. Instead, focus on keeping the head steady and giving the club time to interact with the ball. Also, see if releasing a little tension in your hands and forearms helps you stay more stable through impact.
Final thoughts
Work your way through these reasons why you may be topping the ball. It’s great to get a golf lesson, take a video of your swing and see if deeper issues are causing you to top the ball. You’ll notice that topping the ball is often related to improper weight movement and sequence in the swing. Make sure you know what proper impact position looks like and understand the correct technique of getting the ball up in the air.
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