Mis-Hit Diagnosis - Topping the Ball

Here are some quick tips for golfers who often top their shots. Topping the ball might also be thought of as a really bad thin shot, and the checkpoints below also apply to hitting the ball thin.

These quick tips are from instructor Roger Gunn of GolfLevels.com.

What Happens
The ball runs along the ground without getting airborne. This is caused by the club making contact above the equator of the ball.

Topping - Quick Tips

Grip: Not normally a factor.

Set-up: Shoulders could be pointing well right or well left at address. This puts the bottom of the swing in the wrong place.

Ball position: Look for a large deviation from the norm. A driver's ball position should be around the left heel (right heel for lefties), moving progressively farther back until it reaches the middle of the stance with short irons.

Backswing: The club may be deviating from its gentle arc on the backswing, tracking a path that's either too much inside or too much outside. Posture should remain constant without raising up.

Downswing: No effort should be made to lift the ball into the air by pulling your arms up through impact. Check to make sure the circle of your swing is in the right place by making practice swings to see if you can hit the ground slightly after contacting the ball.