To stop an over-the-top golf swing, players must initiate the downswing with a lateral shift toward the target before rotating. This proper sequencing shallows the club path, preventing the common slice and promoting a powerful, in-to-out strike on the ball.
Many amateur golfers struggle with an over-the-top motion, which typically results in weak fades or slices. The root cause is poor sequencing at the start of the downswing. The natural but incorrect instinct is to unwind the upper body and rotate as quickly as possible from the top. This action throws the clubhead outside the hands, forcing an outside-to-in path through the ball. In contrast, skilled ball strikers reverse this order. Their first move is a lateral pressure shift into their lead side, which is then followed by body rotation. This allows the club to drop onto a shallower plane for a more effective strike.
To train this feel, instructor Greg Phillips of the Titleist Performance Institute uses a simple drill with alignment sticks. “A lot of times I’ll put down alignment rods or I’ll put down clubs out here [right of the target],” Phillips says. He then instructs the player on the objective. “I want you to line up straight, but I want you to pretend like you’re going to hit it [off to the right].”
This setup encourages the body to shift pressure correctly along a diagonal line toward the target before unwinding. It naturally promotes an in-to-out club path without conscious manipulation. The fundamental flaw for most players is a simple one. As Phillips notes, “You’re twisting early,” The solution is equally direct. “And I need you to have a little bit of lateral.”
By focusing on a distinct lateral shift before initiating rotation, a player can correct the sequencing that causes the over-the-top move. This change promotes a shallower angle of attack and a more powerful swing path, leading to more consistent ball striking and the elimination of a slice.
