Bottoming out w/ Over-the-top vs. on plane swing

[kfowler]

I've been working on correcting a life long over-the-top swing. I've really improved staying on plane and have seen a great improvement in my driver and hybrids. However, I've been dismal with my irons of from SW to 6-iron. I've been duffing a lot of shots and just not hitting it clean.

Today I went to the local soccer fields to practice and first checked where my divots were. They were to the left of the ball so I knew I was hitting down on the ball and pinching it. However, I noticed that the club face was striking the ball at toward the top. Now in my old over-the-top swing, I have been lining up with the ball on my left side more toward my left foot.

So I tried moving the ball back in my stance to about center and the difference was amazing. I hit the sweet spot more often stopped duffing the ball.

I know an over-the-top swing comes in steeper than on plane. Does this cause you to bottom out later than the flatter on plane swing?

[C 6 System]

I've been working on correcting a life long over-the-top swing. I've really improved staying on plane and have seen a great improvement in my driver and hybrids. However, I've been dismal with my irons of from SW to 6-iron. I've been duffing a lot of shots and just not hitting it clean.

An over the top swing doesn't necessarily mean that you will bottom out earlier than a flat swing as there are many things that can cause your swing to do this such as: a reverse pivot or looking at the back of the ball. It's good that you were able to make that adjustment on your own as putting the ball in the middle of your stance for mid irons then a little farther back for short irons will cause you to make solid contact more often. Also, I imagine that you hit a pull fade with your ball starting left and ending up fairly straight if your swing is over the top and your divots are facing left, barring an open club face. If you're looking to correct this, try feeling at the beginning of your downswing like you're pulling a rope down straight to the ground. Then as your right elbow comes down to your waist, your hips and arms should fire together through the ball. I'd recommend over exaggerating this at first. My philosophy is this; imagine a ruler and your flaw is starting at 0 inches but you want to get to perfect which is 6 inches. If you're able to correct it and get to 6 inches you will inevitably revert back to 3 inches or even back to 0. But if you go all the way to 12 inches, you will slowly come back to perfect, 6 inches. Hope this helps.

[mm6840]

An over the top swing doesn't necessarily mean that you will bottom out earlier than a flat swing as there are many things that can cause your swing to do this such as: a reverse pivot or looking at the back of the ball.

Just one thought/comment : "

If you're looking to correct this, try feeling at the beginning of your downswing like you're pulling a rope down straight to the ground. Then as your right elbow comes down to your waist, your hips and arms should fire together through the ball " it's not what you do in one plane swing ! And It's true for 2 plane ! yours right elbow should stay behind and up ! right forearm should drop/twist down. And other thought : with 1 plane swing you can't come over the top if you're on plane (properly bend etc) and turn core of your body ! If you're tilting rather than turning it's different story! Regrads,

[GolferDot]

Just one thought/comment : "

He talks about an "on" plane swing not a one plane swing.

I found personally the feeling of trying to swing the hands under my chin helped me to cure my over the top move.

[mm6840]

He talks about an "on" plane swing not a one plane swing.

Sure !

And from my point of view is better to do that even in one plane swing VS hitting from top. In all swings arms comes first down to the right hip/leg. regards,

[pcgcgolfer]

I've also always fought an over the top move in my swing. I get away with it with most clubs. I've developed into a fairly accurate driver of the golf ball and my wedge game/short irons are very, very good. Also hit the hybrids well, but 4-5-6 irons I really struggle with and I think some of the problem is because of the over the top move I get way to steep into the ball! I don't mind the over the top move, but I sure wish I could hit 5-6 irons the way I do 7-pw!!

[jambalaya]

No, it hasn't been my experience. I have struggled plenty with an over the top swing and I have had the opposite problem. I question whether you were hitting ball first and then divot in front of the ball before. If you moved it back and started hitting it crisp then that would indicate you were bottoming out too soon before. I think that would be a more typical scenario for an over the top swing.

[kfowler]

Guys thanks for the tips.

The over-the-top swing is really not the issue anymore. The issue now is adjusting all the old tendencies to an on plane swing. For instance, since an over-the-top swing causes you to leave your face open at impact in order to "try" and square the club face, I've really had to work at retraining my hands to release properly with an on plane swing. My suspicion is that this change has also affected where I bottom out in my swing. It may not necessary be attributed to an over-the-top swing but more toward my own compensating moves.



BTW, I do have a "one plane" swing.