Topping the ball: Topping the ball is
when you hit the top of the ball sending it
along the ground a relatively short
distance.
Why does this happen?
There are 3 aspects of the swing which are
responsible for the majority of these topped
shots.
They involve the posture and are related to
the legs, the hips and the arms
Legs - Hips - Arms:
The Legs:
The legs should maintain the same degree of
flex during the backswing and forward swing.
Proper motion:
As the shoulders cause the hips to turn, the
legs should maintain the same degree of flex
as shown in the photo.
Improper motion:
This shows the right leg straightening
during the backswing. This can cause
numerous problems ranging from poor weight
transfer to a possible tilting of the upper
body.
The Hips:
The address position (tilt of the upper
body) must be maintained during the swing.
The upper body (the spine) which is guided
by the shoulders, should rotate around a
fixed axis.
Proper motion:
The angle of the upper body (or tilt) is
maintained during the backswing.
Improper motion:
This shows the upper body straigtening
during the backswing, one of the key causes
in topping the ball.
The arms:
Instead of maintaining the radius during the
backswing, if the left arm bends, this will
reduce the size of the arc, possibly causing
the ball to be topped during the forward
swing.
Proper motion:
The proper motion should show both arms
extended at impact ensuring good contact.
Improper motion:
This shows both arms bent in the impact zone
resulting in a topped shot.
Happy Golfing!!!
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