If you have trouble topping the ball, there's most likely an issue with your spine angle at some point in the swing. Too much movement can make getting back to a solid impact position really tricky. A lot of golfers think that the reason they top the ball is because they don't keep their head down. Instead, they think they pull their heads up.
Drew Danko sent in a self diagnosis of his swing. He thinks that the reason he tops the ball is because he's moving his whole body up too soon, not his head. This is actually a really good observation and one that often goes overlooked.
Don,
Just saw your daily video regarding topping the ball. Let me add another possibility. I find I tend to top the ball when I start a round or at the beginning of practicing. My analysis is that I'm trying to pop up too soon or straightening my left leg too early. Either way my body comes up and I mishit the ball. So, it seems to me it is a timing issue. What suggestions or drills would you offer if my diagnosis is correct?
Drew Danko
Good diagnosis Drew! It really pleases me that you indentified your problem as lifting your body up instead of saying you're picking your head up. As I've already said, that's what most amateurs tend to think.
One reason that Drew is lifting his body up could be that he's aiming out too far to the right. Another could be that he's standing too close and he's trying to get his body out of the way subconsciously. Another common issue is reverse weight shifting, which causes the body to fall backwards.
I must say, I loved reading Drew's evaluation of his own swing. What he's implying is that he's either turning too much or his forward leg is straightening. The forward leg shouldn't be straightening and it should never lock. Over time that can inflict some major damage on the knee. When we make a good transition, the knees should stay level, the left foot rolls over to the outside edge and the front knee stays relatively flexed.
If you feel like your leg is straightening, the first thing you need to check is that you're not aimed out to the right. Also, are you starting your downswing by turning your hips rather than using a lateral shift (the bump)?
Bad alignment, bad weight transfer, and/or turning too much are all going to hurt your swing and most likely cause you to top the ball. You've got to be able to maintain your spine angle throughout the swing. The fewer angles the better.
Check your alignment and get yourself on camera so you can see what's happeing with your downswing and weight transfer. It will help you to actually see what you look like swinging a club as you'll be able to pinpoint the problem areas more precisely.
Drew also asked for a couple drills that would help him. The drill I show is just an easy one to help get the feeling of the bump. Make sure to check the video out as I demonstrate how to do it. It's good to have the sun at your back so you can see your shadow. You should see your weight driving to the outside of the front foot. A rolled foot means the knee stays flexed. A straight leg has a flat foot. You want a little bit of roll in the ankle, so do not lock the knees.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.
Comments
Things that go bump in the night
I am still working on getting the timing down on the bump. I sure do know quickly when I get it wrong. I get to watch the ball go slicing into the trees.
When I get it right, it feels like I didn't do anything. I think it comes back to having the swing down so that you don't have to think about each dot we are trying to connect. It just comes naturally.
Just a point for clarification. The fairway is that area of short grass found between the trees on the left and the trees on the right, not counting ponds, creeks, those round areas with the sand play boxes, and the concrete paths where they want us to drive the carts, correct?
Just checking,
Dick
My Home
I'm not too familiar with "the fairway" but my home is all of those places you mentioned except "that area of short grass".
Most people hear things like "good shot" or "lousy shot" when they play. All I ever hear is "you aren't any good at all unless you are in trouble", "how could you be the person that hit that first shot?" and "what club did you say that was again?"
That is why I no longer play BINGO
Exactly Steve
Some times I think have a bit of that in me too. I think it is because I really plan those shots. I pay attention to what I need to do to get around or over the problem, how hard I need to hit the ball, and what club will do the job best. When there is no "problem", then I just go up there and hit the ball.
The reason I no longer play BINGO is because everyone else gets to take turns yelling "BINGO" at the end of each game, and all I ever get to yell is "Ah crap."
Ploy
It's a good ploy Dick. Lulls oponents to sleep. Nothing does that quite as well as a nice little 140 yard duck hook with a driver off of the tee followed with a second shot 280 yard 3 wood draw to the center of the green.
Anybody can do it the opposite way so what fun is that? LOL
Bingo and "Ah crap"!
hahaha! My Golden Retriever Caddy, has me well trained now! When I hit a less than perfect shot, I am allowed only the mild Down Under epithet of "B*gger"! after it. Then I have to move on. A joke originally when she told me to do so, but it does make a difference on the next shot, no doubt about it. Just that one word "B*gger"! and it is behind me [no pun intended hahaha ; - ] Oh! dear did I just say that?
Now I must shout BINGO on good shots eh?
Have a great day DH in NZ
No Bingo for me!
That's my wife's favorite activity. I like to say OOHRAH! after a good shot.
Fairway
I don't see the problem. I find the fairway a lot. I just wish those guys playing the other direction would stop yelling at me. What makes it "their" fairway? Do they own the place?
Fairway
Robert,
Apologies for my cheeky comment on your forthcoming marriage. We wish you and your intended a long, happy and prosperous life[full of golf success for both of you].
My 17th hole on my last round was like that, a tired old slice onto the 10th fairway. Three of the four ball coming down that hole were on my fairway or right rough short of my fairway. A little banter from all concerned. I chipped through quickly so as not to hold them up, and then hit a sublime wedge to the green. Ho-hum, scrambling at it's best hahaha.
Cheers DH NZ
Apologies?
No need to apologize, or even apologise. There are a couple holes at the course I most often played here in Las Vegas where the best approach to the green was from the right side, but if you overdo the "right" part of that you go into the neighboring fairway. I often played the 7th fairway on the second hole and vice versa.
Things that go bump in the night
Hi Dick,
If the bump isn't there, I too know only too well what the immediate punishments are. With an 80% swing speed, the results are usually not too ugly, but speed it up and Hello World!
In the fairway much more often than I used to be, but still a work in progress. With my left knee misbehaving at the moment, this drill for the bump could not have come at a better time. Will see if it allows me to practice it after phase two of brekkie [heh heh heh naughty auld me ; - ]
Cowboy in a kilt, how about a high up German Politician in a kilt then?
Google or search for the name: David McAllister, Governor of Lower Saxony in Germany. He and I have a swag of co-incidences together, though until I saw an article in the UK press two days ago, I never knew he existed. Weird, but fascinating. He is a future leader of Germany. Kilts rule hahaha. DH in NZ
Moneys worth
Dick,
Just think how much more scenery you get to take in than the scratch golfers. You get your moneys worth. As Surge admits, he plays boring golf. All those manicured fairways and greens.
Unlike you I never served in the military however my dear old Dad used to say I played army golf, "left, right,left right." I have to admit, one of the greatest reasons it is so much fun to watch Phil Mickelson play is the radical recovery shot. Here he and other famous friends demonstrate the 'recovery shot'.
"Phil the thrill"
http://www.fmzik.com/video_O5R-W2SovE4_2012-Shots-of-the-Year:-No.-10---Phil-Mickelson.html
http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0S00Mx1I.pQtgwAZgH7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBrc3VyamVwBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQD...
Feel the fun:)
spine angle
I especially like the "drill" at the end that showed the "lateral shift" or bump that really isolated the lower 1/3 of the through swing.
Raising My Body
I commented recently that I had this problem as well, until I concentrated on having that outward pressure on my knees. That fixed my premature popping up. Doing everything in proper sequence finally got me hitting straighter and longer. Naturally, right as it got cold out! Now I am chomping at the bit to start playing again. So, I will be hitting the golf dome and perhaps one of those golf simuators, in preparation for a trip to Mobile Alabama in February for what I hope are several rounds of golf!
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The Game
Well good luck to you then.
Personally, until a few weeks ago it was just another NC game to me. Wanted to win but not much more than that.
After all of the vile, disgusting things their fans have been saying about the South (that have nothing to do with football) I have absolutely no use for them, and absolutely no respect for them anymore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGHi9D8_wgs
10 point favorites?
Is that the line still? Seems like I saw that last night it was Alabama by 10.
Let's hope it's a good game. likely will be. Being from Las Vegas I don't put much faith in game predictions. I remember when Jimmy the Greek had the Baltimore Colts favored by 21 over the Jets in 69. Broadway Joe took 'em out. Hmmnn.... speaking of Alabama- Joe Namath.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-02/sports/ct-spt-0103-namath-alabama-legends--20130103_1_joe-namath-super-bow...
I don't gamble but I always enjoy a game where both sides seem to put their hearts into it.
Bigger-Faster-Stronger
Did not see that one coming, not by that margin.
When #32 (Mosely-Bama) grabbed the ND running back, executed a perfect Greco-Roman gut wrench and throw, that was a defining moment. Tossed him like a rag doll. Alabama : Bigger-Faster-Stronger. The Tide could have run it up well past 50 points if they had chosen to. "Ducks would have been a better match-up", said Mr 20-20 Hindsight.
Steve Smith and Tide fans....you can rest well. Wow, that's a pretty good 'Bama team. Some NFL-ready players, and once again, you will just have to find a way to cope with the burden of that "problem".
#2
#2 deleted
Will not hide it..
I'm an Alabama Engineering Grad :)
Elbow Bump
Yeah, my problem is often swing around my body and watch the ball go into the trees to the left. It was getting better near the end of the season, because I started consciously thinking about using my right elbow to push my hips forward. I tried thinking about the forward bump as my first move, but it messed with my swing sequence a little too much.
Swinging for the fences, as Dragonhead blogged, also seemed to help, because my swing sequence and follow-though stay more on track---up the tree.
And, like Cowboy in a kilt, I long to be on the short grass more often. I dislike being known as the one who knows how to get out of trouble better than anyone else.
Whatever it is, I am chomping at the bit to get back on the course. As soon as the temps get above freezing at night and the snow melts (currently one foot deep), I'm going to try and pick-up from where I left-off.
Shouldn't like it but I do
We play rounds sometimes in our Saturday game when the wind is blowing just as hard as it is in Maui today, and sometimes compounded by cold weather, or rain, or snow.
Funny thing is that we have nerve enough to get mad at ourselves for not hitting what we think are "easy shots" on those days, like 100 yards into the island green.
It does me good to see that the pros can't hit that shot all that well either, and it's not even cold there.
Spine Angle
Dear Don, I think we are addressing probably my biggest problem with spine angle, but my problem starts with my inability to roll over on my left foot and keep a flex in my knee,because of a very fragile knee. After video was taken of my swing it was obvious that I was straightening my left knee. Is there a way around this problem?
I am very pleased with the Peak Performance Swing, thank you for all the great information.
Steven
Rolling
There are two things that I will never let happen if I can help it on a golf course, or anywhere else. One is letting my left ankle roll over and the other is letting my left leg completely straighten. There aren't enough ligaments and nerves left in either one to keep either from continuing on to hyperextension and injury.
There is only one way to assure that the ankle is not going to roll over if you swing very hard and that is to flare the left foot to 45 degrees or more. Chances are that you are going to do it anyway by lifting your heel in the backswing and placing it back down flared. It's just a natural protection mechanism for me. So I might as well just go ahead and flare it extra from the start.
Everybody's left leg straightens some by impact but most good players still keep the spine angle down so one doesn't necessarily equate to the other.
See DJ:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE4Nad6wzUI
Even though both legs are fairly straight at impact it's not smart to snap the leg straight for anybody (see Tiger Woods).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0o9kticdmI
dj at sony open
hi. i see DJ is down to play in next weekends Sony Open. while its great to see and we all hope he does well, i thought he had lost his card, how come he;s able to play and will he playing in other tournaments?
re DJ at the Sony
He did not lose his Tour Card, just has been shuffled down the order a long ways.
If his number becomes eligible then he can play. Also asking for a spot by contacting the tournament host is a way to get in. Being a past winner at the Palm Springs event is another way to get in.
The way the Tour is set up a couple of top ten finishes could earn enough money to move up enough positions at the first reshuffle to be able to pick and choose most of the tournaments for the rest of the year.
dj
cheers sgw. i thought by missing the cut at the tour school meant he went down a level, glad he can still play top tournaments.
DJ rank
I just found a list on the PGA site and he is at 209. The 25 from the Web.com and 25 from the Tour School dropped him down from his final ranking on the 2012 list.
Fully Exempt vs. Eligible
DJ missing the top 125 on the money list last season and having to withdraw from Q School means that he is not one of the fully exempt Tour players who can pick their schedule in advance.
As SGW noted, he has to basically put his name on the list as wanting to play, and if enough of the fully exempt players opt not to play a tournament, then he will get in. He can also get a certain number of Sponsor Exemptions and if all else fails he can try to qualify on Monday if he really wants to play an event.
I think he can become fully exempt again by winning a tournament at any point. Also moving up the money list for the year would make it progressively easier for him to get into more tournaments, so a good start to the year would go a long way.
Striker
Watching Steve Stricker today. I we have commented many times about how Steve Striker so often reminds us of the PPGS swing. Interestingly, today i think he looked more Surge-like than ever. 3/4's, vertical and no wrist break at all. Super quiet lower body, especially right now because of his ailing left leg. He is really pre-loaded right. Odd thing is he is currently kind of staying PLHR because of favoring the left leg and not wanting to put too much weight on it. What a quiet and accurate swing. interesting to watch him if you get the chance.
Striker?
Just a typo, Steve Stricker.
thanks
Thanks SGW
Bigger-Faster-Stronger
Did not see that one coming, not by that margin.
When #32 (Bama) grabbed the ND running back, executed a perfect Roman-Greco gut wrench and throw, that was a defining moment. Tossed him like a rag doll. Bigger-Faster-Stronger: The Tide could have run it up past 50 point if they had chosen to. "Ducks would have been a better match-up", said Mr 20-20 Hindsight.
Steve Smith and Tide fans....you can rest well. Wow, that's a really good 'Bama team.
Over
I honestly knew it was over after the first drive (and that seldom happens).
I could tell by the look on the Notre Dame player's faces that they knew they were overmatched when they couldn't stop Lacy up the middle, and that was supposed to be their strong point.
Saban is just too good when he has a month to prepare for a game. They make good teams look bad (and have 4 years in a row) and none of them a close game.
If it happens once it might be luck but it's safe to say after 4 years he's just better than everybody else.
Also Scott Cochran our strength and conditioning coach is simply the best. Our team may not always win but they are always the biggest and strongest team on the field.
ROLL TIDE!!
Steve:
After tonight's drubbing of the "Fighting Irish"; I make a motion to change the 'Bama nickname from "Crimson Tide" to "Crimson Tsunami"!!
And to think -- We have to play you guys, LSU and Texas A&M again next year!! OUCH!! To say nothing of a probably resurgent Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss!
Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG
Amos
National Champions Again
"They've got a name for the winners in the world. I want a name when I lose. They call Alabama The Crimson Tide. Call me Deacon Blues."
(Steely Dan).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A0wGO3c2T8
Right on Steve
Congrats on Bama's big win. Because I work week ends I didn't watch a lot of College football this year. Wow, what a power house. ND was just out gunned by a better team. Bragging rights for one more year :)