Over the top

Question
Mr. Kilthau -

Thanks for reading my question.   I am writing in reference -- sort of -- to the help you gave this person:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Golf-1834/Shoulders-swing.htm

My question is: I am having some success in correcting an over the top swing by trying to bring my right shoulder down (not out) on the downswing and hence the left shoulder up.

However, I am now hitting more balls thin than usually.   Could this have anything to do with the left shoulder being up too much, and if so how can I get the benfit I am seeing without hitting thin shots?

Thanks very much.

Hal

Answer
Hi Hal:

Yep, that is why they are thin.  Left shoulder goes up too much, club stays back and behind thus coming in too shallow which is usually thin or sometimes fat.  I have two things for you to try to help you understand a little more.  First, get an alignment stick (sold at Lowe's for $1).  Stick in the ground 2 feet behind your ball just inside the target line at about a 45 degree angle. Simply make some slow swings and do not hit the stick on the way down.  Learn to swing the club under that stick and hit the turf.  If you go over the top, obviously you'll hit the stick.  Two, from the top of the backswing, concentrate a little more on the butt end of the club.  I say this because it's what you are holding onto and you can control it easier.  So the drill is simple.  From the top, move the butt end of the club down along the toe line so that when the club is parallel to the ground (in the downswing), the butt end of the club will be pointing right at your target.  Do this in slow motion without hitting balls so you can feel and understand how and why it would work.  

When you come over the top, picture what the club is doing.  On the downswing, the shaft is starting to tip over so the butt end of the club would be pointing behind your left foot somewhere, causing an out to in swipe across the ball.  Instead, practice what I asked above.  Move the club correctly from the top of the backswing and give yourself a chance to swing the club towards the target.  If the shaft tips over, you are swinging the club way to the left of the target.  Make sense?

Start slow, do a lot of rehearsals in front of a mirror and finally feel how to swing the club along the correct path and at the target.  When hitting balls, do it in slow motion until you feel as though you could increase the tempo without losing control of the club.  

Best of luck Hal, hope this helps you understand a little more.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member