Eliminating over the top

[motteler621]

So I Have been working on getting rid of the over the top move I do. My question is ; what feeling do you guys have in your arms as you go down and through the ball. The only way I am able to come from inside now is to basically just let my right arm go for the ride with little strength going into that arm so it doesnt steer any of the direction. My left arm generates most of the power. Before when I was going over the top I was using both arms. I have found by not using force with my right arm and just the left that it takes away the over the top. I am also pushing my hips forward which helps but I wanted to know what you guys feel with your arms when you go into your downswing and through the ball. I know its a hard to answer question but I need some input from people who dont go over the top at all.

[iacas]

Aaron, just be careful not to get too far ahead of what you're working on in evolvr. Most recently, that was related to your hips. Stick with those things and really dedicate to them so you can get them down. These pieces will come in time...

To answer your question generally, the right elbow stays flexed longer and will often feel like it's not contributing as much but it kicks in later. People who cast throw out the right arm quickly and don't "save" any right arm for later.



Look at how much the right arm remains bent there. The longer you can "save" that right arm angle the more force you can deliver into the ball.

[motteler621]

Aaron, just be careful not to get too far ahead of what you're working on in evolvr. Most recently, that was related to your hips. Stick with those things and really dedicate to them so you can get them down. These pieces will come in time...

ok, Il just focus on getting my hips moving laterally for now, thats hard enough as it is for me,lol

[HackerD]

Some people talk about feeling like your right elbow is in front of your belt buckle.

[tm22721]

I suppinate my right arm in the backswing and pronate it in the downswing. This is opposite to most teaching and feels strange at first. Impossible for me to cast, even if I try. Early pitch elbow is automatic. Arms are drawn together as Hogan prescribed.

[motteler621]

ok, Il just focus on getting my hips moving laterally for now, thats hard enough as it is for me,lol

I really am getting the lateral hip push down now and I must say it was a critical piece that I was missing, really complements alot of the S&T; moves and creates power easily.

[hacker23]

My question is ; what feeling do you guys have in your arms as you go down and through the ball.

NONE! seriously... On my back swing, i focus on the upper body (arms included), and on the downswing i focus more on the lower body and "forget about the arms/hands"... this is a big factor in my game improving lately, that and implementing stan utley's putting.

[MJP]

Aaron, just be careful not to get too far ahead of what you're working on in evolvr. Most recently, that was related to your hips. Stick with those things and really dedicate to them so you can get them down. These pieces will come in time...

Just that last statement alone made me realize I am not holding the angle of my right elbow. Not only that but I was throwing it across the front of my body.

Thinking about holding the right elbow angle and driving ONLY the left arm gives me the SENSATION that my elbow is pushing into my hips laterally, which actually seems to help me push the hips forward (go figure). Great tip Erik. I honestly didn't know that about the right elbow angle. I need to get Evolvr lessons..

[WUTiger]

My problem with OTT is linked to overswinging on my backswing. When I hit a decent shot, I stopped at the ear, and dropped my hands to start the downswing.

If you're taking lessons, you might want to work through the full-swing system your pro recommends. Don't want to pick up tidbits here which conflict with your "system."

[mcgriff]

Coming over the top is perfectly natural when your arms have no where to go due to crowding the ball or taking the club back on a shallow plane. My mistake (may not be yours) is I get lazy at address. Instead of taking a nice athletic stance at address I can get upright and stand too close to the ball. This causes a backswing that is inside. On the downswing physics kinda takes over. My arms are coming in to my body and I have to throw the club away from me as I am trying to hit the ball. Club head comes back from being off plane and strikes the ball with a bunch of sidespin I don't want.

OTT is a result of your mistakes at address, takeaway, and downswing. It is the result of a problem not a problem on its own. Really concentrate on clearing your right arm through the swing. Pretty sure I am not a S and T guy, but the principles are the same when trying to remedy a poor swing plane of any sort.

[motteler621]

Coming over the top is perfectly natural when your arms have no where to go due to crowding the ball or taking the club back on a shallow plane. My mistake (may not be yours) is I get lazy at address. Instead of taking a nice athletic stance at address I can get upright and stand too close to the ball. This causes a backswing that is inside. On the downswing physics kinda takes over. My arms are coming in to my body and I have to throw the club away from me as I am trying to hit the ball. Club head comes back from being off plane and strikes the ball with a bunch of sidespin I don't want.

yea there can be mulitple reasons for swing flaws like OTT. I dont think you should just diagnose something like an OTT move by fixing one part of your swing. I think you need to start from step 1 in getting a fundamentally sound swing and as you go along you will pinpoint areas.

When I was at the golf range today some high school guys were hitting balls. They played on some team and a kid asked his buddy if he takes lessons during the summer, his buddy says "no, thats gay. Ive never had a lesson in my life" and the other kid agreed, lol. I was thinking man these kids are missing out, they have alot of potential.

[jl923]

To the OP, how are the evolver lessons coming along? How does it work?

[colin007]

could putting an obstacle just outside of the ball, and behind it, help at all? to miss hitting the obstacle (im thinking of a headcover or something else soft) you have to hit from the inside and not OTT.

[motteler621]

could putting an obstacle just outside of the ball, and behind it, help at all? to miss hitting the obstacle (im thinking of a headcover or something else soft) you have to hit from the inside and not OTT.

I dont think that really helps to be honest, unless you are coming really really over the top.