How do i stop coming over the top????

Since i started playing golf my shot shape has always been left to right, at first it was a major slice but gradually straightened it out a bit.
However no matter what i do i cant stop coming OTT, takeaway is good and position at the top of the backswing is good but as soon as i start the downswing i come over the top everytime.
A straight drive for me is still about a 10yard fade but a bad one can be a massive slice, when i do try to swing inside out on the ball it hits the hosel and goes about 20yards to the left.
What can i do to correct this?

With a lot of hard work! I have actively been at it for almost 8 months now and I still don't have the path going in-out yet and I'm working with pros..

Take a cardboard box with you to the range.  (a shoe box would work)   Set it past the ball (just off the toe of the club at setup) on your target line a couple inches past the ball.  Make swings so you don't hit the box.  You will automatically do things that help you avoid the box naturally.  Pay attention to the feeling you get.  You will probably feel you are swinging to right field.

This is one of my favorite drills of all time.  It helps if you hit too far in to out also.

Good luck!

I focused on my right shoulder or trail shoulder. If my shoulder comes out toward the ball then I was doomed to come over the top. If I feel like I keep my shoulder from popping out and feeling of going more down and under my chin it really helps come from the inside.

Could be a lot of things. I recommend filming your swing and creating your own my swing thread here,

http://thesandtrap.com/f/4180/member-swings

check out this thread for guidance on filming your swing,

http://thesandtrap.com/t/38240/my-swing-video-threads-rules-please-read

+1

Another +1, I've been taking lessons and working to correct the same issue and my instructor always starts our lessons with this drill. The other thing for me (and might not apply to your situation) is working on only taking 3/4 length swings. I have a tendancy to over-extend my backswing and, as a result, have a very difficult time getting it back on the correct plane in my downswing. My other problem (again, might not apply to you at all) but the other culprit for me is often lack of body rotation, I tend to get very "armsy" and vertical with my swing which makes it difficult to attack the ball on an inside path. 2 other drills that have helped me are setting up with my feet only about 3 inches apart, ball in the center of my stance, then drop my right foot back a few inches and take 3/4 shots with a mid-iron (even though your foot is back, you still want to keep your body square to the target line at address). The other is the old headcover under the right armpit drill, again with a 3/4 swing and mid-iron. For both drills, I use a shoe box set up per the above quote. Most recently, he's had me also putting a credit card in my glove to help promote a flatter wrist since I tend to cup my wrist at the top of my backswing which also gets me off plane and coming back over the top on my downswing.

One thing that is also a good learning exercise is to over do what you are trying to accomplish.  You likely think you are coming way inside but you are not.  Go to the range and try and come way inside.  Try and hit a big push or a big push hook.  That will get you on an inside out motion.  Start with partial swings.  After you master the big push and /or push hook.  Start dialing it back to a nice push draw.

I believe the quote would be I ask for a mile and you give me an inch.  Try for a mile and a half.

What you are suffering is the most common flaw.  I have been through that with driver, now my flaw(s) are either a big push or a hook.  That does not happen on the same day and I know how to correct it.  I never hit a slice and only occasionally a baby fade.

YOU CAN DO IT!

All good advice.  From Erik's book, practice slow swings and then gradually build up speed.   My local pro had be buy a couple of yoga blocks to take to the range.  They work the same way as the cardboard box, aren't destroyed when they get hit and with two, you can visualize a gate to swing between.

Practice drill: Put a small towel under your right armpit. Swing without the towel coming out. Will make your backswing flat, but it will definitely stop you from coming over the top. Vijay Singh does this drill a lot, using his golf glove instead of a towel.

I was having the same problem. One of the drills my course pro had me do was after I took my stance and setup to the ball to bring my right index finger over the front of the grip (kinda like holding a cigarette). He said that finger can influence the downswing and doing that takes it out of the equation. It worked like a charm. It's not meant to always hit like that but as a drill to get the feel of the swing.

I didn't have a huge over the top swing but enough to cause me to come across the ball.

This used to be my #1 nemesis.  I tried lots of things but this video is the one that helped me the most.

Shoulders slightly closed at setup ,At setup keep hips toward target which to gives your hips room to rotate ,this also allows room for your right shoulder to drop and come to ball on an inside path as you fire the hips at top of backswing .As important is spine tilt it should be slightly towards back foot and at impact and follow through your head should feel like its out over the area behind the ball ,like laying your head on a pillow this keeps you on plane in the follow through and keeps you from jerking your left shoulder out,and your center of gravity behind the ball .Another thing that helps me is keep left shoulder as high as possible on backswing and rotate right shoulder toward shoulder blade or toward your back not up ,Hope this helps not an expert just know this works for me

I just don't take a full swing anymore...simply put... I personally would go to the range and start with some good slow swings...to make sure you are turning your body vs using your hands to swing the club... this is coming from a guy who basically had to learn to play the game twice

I think i default to ball and concetrate on hittinh it rather than swinging my divots aim off to the left with my irons also, il look into trying to get a video uploaded thanks for all the suggestions.

Coming over the top can be caused by many reasons and not initiating your lower body first in the downswing can definitely be one of them. It sounds like you know that's your issue so let's keep our focus on that for now.

As most feel their backswing is a progressive wind up in the order of club head, hands, arms, shoulders, core, hips and knees, your downswing should feel like it happens in the opposite order. The first thing I would have you focus on is your weight transfer and making sure it is getting to your front foot in time. If you put your focus on your weight, feet, knees and hips, hopefully your upper body will become reactive and not proactive (firing over the top).

There are several drills you can do to accomplish this but I would start with the "Stepping drill." Assuming you are right handed, swing to the top of your backswing and then step your left foot back against your right. Then step with your left towards the target and after you have planted it with your weight on it (making sure your weight is on it is critical) then swing your arms down.

You will find it's a bit difficult to coordinate at first with most golfers wanting to swing down with their arms and club before they have stepped and transferred their weight.

Try this out without a ball and then when you feel it's running smoothly, practice hitting balls with the drill.

is the box on the outside of the ball or on the inside...?...I'm having trouble visualizing this....

Thanks

Sinn

Two easy things worked well for me (I still slice from time to time but that's a lack of focus on my part) when I use them.

One was my backswing or takeaway: while I am coming back with the club, once my right arm starts bending I allow my right wrist to also starting bending back; in one video I heard it described as "holding a platter of dishes). Now on the downswing make absolutely sure you are fully releasing the club. Sometimes before I swing I let the club swing back in forth in front of me to simulate the release. Initially you have to deliberately release the club which can feel weird but it works and it adds power too.

The last thing that I have to remember every single time I swing the club is to swing a nice easy swing. Stop worrying about distance and what the guys at the range are hitting. Take a nice easy relaxed swing, (don't over rotate either) platter at the top and release at the bottom. And no peeking! You're swinging with your torso and hips remember, not the arms.

I can tell you that getting the platter move down and then whipping through the release changed my trajectory almost immediately. I went to the range and this did it right there and then, slice gone.

The above link is a good example of the wrist action I mentioned by Herman Williams.

Remember to take a nice easy swing and stop trying to rip the cover off and you'll be fine.