Instruction
Two reasons golfers get “over the top”
Most golfers know they should avoid coming “over the top” on their downswings. But for golfers who do, the road to fixing it can be a difficult one. That’s because fixing an over-the-top move, which means getting the club more “inside” on the downswing, has two different causes, each with its own fix.
When the golf club comes from too far outside, it is the result of one of two things:
- The upper body “spins out,” opening the shoulders early and forcing the hands out away from the body. This is by far the most common way I see my students getting over the top.
- The shoulders stay closed, the hands come down from the inside, but the CLUB HEAD is swung well outside the hands. This is less common, but every bit as destructive in its effect.
1. The Spin Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfipj0lmN24&feature=youtu.be
In the first example, the correction is actually somewhat easier. I see this spin out move in varying degrees, and it is often the result of yanking the club inside too quickly on the backswing. When the club gets too far inside, or “stuck,” golfers cannot swing down. So what they do is spin their upper body out, which gets them over the top.
I also see a lot of players stand the club up too vertically as they approach impact to avoid shanking the ball. Picture the hands swinging out, away from the golfer, and the shaft on the original angle. Heel hitting and shanking are inevitable.
For this swing flaw — spinning out — I might have my students:
- Learn to keep their back to the target a little longer in the downswing.
- Feel as though the lower body is leading the downswing, a lateral bump of the lead hip, with the torso and staying behind a little in transition.
- Keep the rear elbow in close to the body. I might even have them hit some balls from a closed position to see and feel the inside path.
If, from there, they can begin drawing or hooking the ball a bit, the inside path becomes more natural, and the spin out will diminish over time.
There are a number of good drills for this: Hitting balls with back to target and hitting balls with feet together are two great ones. The one I use more than any is to place an aim stick in the ground behind the golfer (on the same angle as the club they’re hitting). I have golfers swing outside the stick on the backswing, and then inside it on the downswing.
2. Club Head Cast Outside the Hands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1SGz3DAo74&feature=youtu.be
The other, less obvious way golfers get over the top happens when the hand path is actually down, but the club head is thrown outside the hands. A video of this mistake might be misleading, because often the body will be square or even slightly closed to the target — but the club is still too far out. This is why shanking cannot always be corrected simply by geting the hand path to swing in.
This swing is often the result of casting, but not simply casting down — it’s more out. An early release or a cast down will hit fat shots, but it will not necessarily be outside. We see this in players who have wide swings and are often pointed left (short of parallel) at the top, which is called “laid off.” Laid off at the top and wide is a dangerous combination, as the center of the club is really elusive.
The correction is a bit different, too. Here a player might have to feel like the club head is actually stuck, that is, coming from behind the hands in the downswing.
There is a training device I like called the Benderstik, which is a foam ball on a pole that can placed in a variety of places to redirect certain poor swing habits. In this case, the ball would be placed just inside the line of flight and the feeling would be one whereby missing the ball keeps the club head behind the hands longer.
You can also try another drill I use to feel a more inside club head path. Draw a line in the dirt and try making divots in front of the line. The divots must be straight or even point a little right of the target. This can reduce some casting, and again, give a feeling of the club head being more behind the hands.
Tricky business, but if you know what type of over-the-top move you have, you’re closer to making the correction.
If you’d like me to analyze your swing, go to my Facebook page or contact me (dennisclarkgolf@gmail.com) about my online swing analysis program.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Dennis Clark
Mar 20, 2015 at 3:32 pm
Rob, thats a tough one, Id like to see it. But if thats the case, try an aim stick or possibly two, in the ground behind you, up against your butt. Try hitting some balls feeling like you stay against the sticks.
Rob a
Mar 20, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Thanks Dennis, will try that one. I have a couple of other drills too, hopefully between them we can fix it. Thanks again and best wishes, rob
Rob A
Mar 20, 2015 at 8:00 am
That should have been the first post!!
Rob A
Mar 20, 2015 at 7:59 am
Hi Dennis,
Not dissimilar to the last post, I am relatively short – 5ft 6, and my problem is a slight early extension which means I cannot easily hit from the inside, leading to occasional very strange block push/slices. Have you any drills that you could suggest for working on eliminating the dreaded early extension?
Love your articles, always learn something!
Best wishes,
Rob, Scotland, UK
Robert
Mar 19, 2015 at 10:27 pm
Very interesting. I never realized that the 2nd option was coming over the top. I’ve been making that move for years. Not realizing what that was, what I’ve been working on all winter is actually getting rid of that move. Good article. Thanks!
Dennis Clark
Mar 19, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I will post a short video golf doc. Stay tuned.
Golfdoctor111
Mar 19, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Dennis, Can you please explain more details re the benderstick drill? I’m not sure what you are describing ie.When you say the ball is inside the target line…. where is the benderstick ball– in front, behind or above golf ball? How far away? When you say miss the benderstick ball, are you saying with the club head(I assume) or did you mean to miss it with the struck golf ball? Thank you for clarity. Video would be great. Thanks
dcorun
Mar 19, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Found a book by Manual de la Torre and have been practicing his method. Starting the club with a traditional one piece takeaway straight back about a foot and then continue my turn and feel like my right elbow is relaxed. Then finish the backswing and start the downswing with a little hip shift toward the target and then let the arms swing the club freely towards the target and everything else follows to a full finish. Still hit a fade once in awhile but, mostly straight or a slight draw now. No more slice.
Dennis Clark
Mar 19, 2015 at 9:29 pm
Good man Manual. Kniw him and like him. gentleman.
Dennis Clark
Mar 19, 2015 at 7:59 am
Great comments all…Over many years, I have seen students develop an innate sense of how to deliver the club to the ball. When you see someone with out hand path, the club shaft is almost always too vertical. Very few, if any come in with hands low and shaft under (flatter) address plane. Point is the more vertical the shaft, the more out the hands-by necessity. Thx
Dennis Clark
Mar 19, 2015 at 7:46 am
Yea shaft parallel to toe line is a good idea…the lower hand keeps the club outside. Picture your hands on the ground the club head is maximum distance from them. But…you can have high hands and NO forearm rotation, or low hands and a lot of forearm rotation. either way you’re looking to get it in line with hands, as you’re doing on the toe line.
other paul
Mar 18, 2015 at 11:56 pm
My friends that slice set up with shoulders misaligned to their feet. When I noticed, I aligned my shoulders to my feet and have hit straight ever since. When I want a fade I just bring my rear shoulder forward a bit, and voila, a fade. Want some more draw, pull my rearward shoulder back a tiny bit. And voila, a draw. Simple. Works with all clubs. Breaking 80 when the snow melts this year if I can sort out my putter.
Dennis Clark
Mar 19, 2015 at 7:51 am
thats the spirit paul…Ball position directs shoulder alignment Paul. Keep that in mind too.
Rick Altham
Mar 18, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Great article. The swing gyde training aid might also help golfers who cast their club heads outside of their hands.
nabil
Mar 18, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Just asking. Is that Rickart Strongert in the pic above with the ball trajectory ?
other paul
Mar 18, 2015 at 11:50 pm
Hmmmm. I wonder….
Gorden
Mar 18, 2015 at 12:32 am
Worked on a grass range today with your thoughts on squaring up the divots, that helped me keep the left shoulder under better control as I use the single plane swing taught by Todd Graves, which works great if I keep the left shoulder from opening or turning to soon…with focus on the divots instead of what that left shoulder wants to do was a great help.
Dennis Clark
Mar 17, 2015 at 7:31 pm
actually lowering the hands at address puts the club head more outside the hands, not inside…but every swing is different; if you find that it works for you, I’d stay with it. Bottom line is the club arriving at impact from inside and not having to raise the handle to get it there.
Speedy
Mar 17, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Good stuff, Dennis. The rear elbow reminder is paramount, aiding accuracy and power.
Dennis Clark
Mar 17, 2015 at 7:33 pm
yes it is…but remember the elbow in will not ensure inside- in and of itself.
Dennis Clark
Mar 17, 2015 at 6:12 pm
You have to be very aware of club length, it’s easy to get over the top due to too little room to swing from the inside. I think lie angle and length play a greater role under a certain height. Just a thought…Thx
Dennis Clark
Mar 17, 2015 at 4:08 pm
the aim stick is placed on the same angle as the club you’re hitting, and about 3 feet behind you on the same line as your hands. get it?
antonio
Mar 17, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Great article, thanks. Can you elaborate a bit more where and how to place the aim stick in the ground for your most used drill to correct the Spin Out?
Bryan P
Mar 17, 2015 at 11:58 am
Hey Dennis,
nice article! I’ve always been a fade player, and have a really hard time hitting a true draw. I think it may be because my clubs are too long and too upright. I think this because it feels like I have to really get on top of the club to make solid contact, which seems to pull my path way left.
have you seen anything like that? Or is that not something you would expect to see from too upright of lies.
Dennis Clark
Mar 17, 2015 at 4:09 pm
lie angle too upright ball goes left; too flat ball goes right. how tall are you?
Bryan P
Mar 17, 2015 at 4:54 pm
5’4. But I make solid contact with clubs that should be 4ish degrees too upright stock taylormade R7s. PING’s online fitter suggests I would fit into something -1/2 and 1.5 flat of their standard which is much flatter than what I have (not that PING is necessarily perfect).