When you set out to find a hobby, it’s natural to want to get better at it. When people start golfing, they want to shoot low scores.
Top pros want to improve their handicaps, just like you want to improve your score when you play. Golf can be tricky, though, and one of the biggest challenges can be how to stop topping the golf ball.
If you’re experiencing this particular problem, there’s a good chance you’ve seen it happen on the course. Golfers are all too familiar with that sinking feeling when a shot starts off right and ends going left, smacking the ground, and flying into the rough or the opposite direction. Get golf tips from our professional golf coaches on https://tellmemoregolf.com/.
There is a solution, though. If you’ve been topped a lot and want to learn how to prevent topping hits, here’s how you can do it.
Optimize Ball Position
To optimize a golf ball position, the first step is to ensure the ball is placed far enough back in the stance. It should be positioned around the center or the left heel area for the right handers.
From here, make sure the ball is slightly forward of its normal position and keep the arms and chest level. A narrow stance will also help for this situation. Next, keep your shoulder angle at its usual level.
After setting up the stance, develop a shorter back swing and shift the weight to the left side of the body on the downswing. During the downswing, ensure that a flat or turn right wrist formed to control the face angle and swing path of the club.
Finally, don’t forget to keep both arms straight throughout the swing. Proper ball positioning, along with an altered back swing, will help minimize the potential for topping the golf ball.
Keep Your Head Aligned
The key to stopping a topping golf ball is to keep your head aligned. Your head is the anchor for the swing and it should stand still throughout the swing. This is important because if your head is moving, it is likely that your swing plane is being compromised and you are going to hit a topped ball.
Make sure that you position your head so that it is directly over the ball and your face is square to the desired target. Additionally, you should have your eyes on the ball throughout the entire swing. This will help you understand where the ball is going and help you focus on the target.
Keeping your head aligned with your target is essential for obtaining consistent ball strikes. When it comes to positioning your head, practice makes perfect.
Maximize Hip and Shoulder Rotation
To maximize hip and shoulder rotation when playing golf, it’s important to ensure your body is doing most of the work and not relying on arm strength. Start by taking the club back on a wide arc, keeping your hands low and allowing the turn of your torso to pull the arms along.
As you swing through the ball, stay connected to your core muscles to ensure all the power is generated from the backswing turn. Maintain your posture and keep your weight predominantly on the front foot during the swing.
The best way to make sure this happens is to practice the move and ensure you’re keeping your arms close to your body with as much side-to-side motion as you can.
Stand a Comfortable Distance From the Ball
Standing a comfortable distance from the ball when golfing is a key factor when topping the ball. From this distance, the ball is far enough away that your arms are fully extended yet close enough where you can still strike the ball with power and accuracy.
Poor posture is often a key reason golfers top the ball. Be sure to maintain a good posture throughout the swing and address the ball with your arms slightly bent. This will give you the proper positioning that will be necessary to deliver a square club face to the ball. When teeing off, aim for a neutral grip and tilt your feet slightly outward.
Finally, maintain your balance and swing through the ball with a relaxed, smooth motion. Proper distance, posture, grip, and tempo will give you the best chance to hit your shots flush and produce better results.
Avoid Falling Back
The primary factor in preventing a golfer from topping the golf ball is ensuring that the hands and arms are low to the ground at impact. This is best achieved by taking a full, shoulder-width stance and maintaining that posture throughout the swing.
Keeping the arms and hands low enables a player to hit the ball on the upswing, giving it greater loft and distance. Staying behind the ball and keeping the weight on the left side, particularly in a right-handed player, helps to keep the club head on the upswing during the swing.
Properly utilizing the wrists and the arms during the swing can also help to keep the clubhead low, eliminating the risk of topping the ball. Furthermore, consciously aiming to hit the ball slightly above the center of the ball can prevent the tendency to hit the shot fat.
Shift Your Weight Properly
When you swing, you need to be sure that you are keeping your weight on the inside of your right foot. This will allow you to maintain balance through the entire swing and help keep the club on the correct swing path.
To do this, rotate your hips to the left and immediately shift your weight to your left side. This will also help prevent you from coming over the top of the ball when you swing, as you’ll be shifting towards where you want the ball to go.
On your downswing, transfer your weight back to your right side to complete the move. Doing this will help ensure that you hit the ball with the correct angle of attack, which will lead to a better strike and ball flight.
Make the best out of your game by wearing proper golf gear like womens golf shirts to ensure you are comfortable all throughout.
Learn How to Stop Topping the Golf Ball
On how to stop topping the golf ball is a common issue and can be improved with practice and the correct techniques. With this guide, you can take your golf game to the next level and improve on the course.
Now that you know how to stop top-topping, it’s time to get out on the course and practice what you’ve learned!
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