Golf is such a technical sport that unfortunately there are many things which can go wrong when playing a shot. Whether it be something as simple as selecting the wrong club for the distance or slicing the shot, there are always things you can do to improve.
One of the common things many beginner golfers do is top the golf ball, especially when on the tee. Yes, this is probably one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to you on the golf course but even the best players have suffered from topping a shot sometime in their career.
Thankfully, we have some great tips for you which will help you to stop topping the ball when playing tee shots.
Firstly, check your grip on the club is not too tight. Perhaps you are feeling a little nervous or thinking too much about the shot and gripping the club more, which is restricting your hand movement on impact with the ball. Doing this can stop you from getting the club face under the ball. Try to keep your hands active during the shot and do not grip the club too hard.
If you have done this and still find you are topping the ball, perhaps you have the ball too far forward in your stance and need to move back a little. If you have the ball too close to your leading foot, the club will already be moving up as it approaches the ball and this will lead to the face of the club striking the ball above the midway point. This will result in a topped shot.
To remedy this, keep in mind the following ball positions next time you step up to the tee. When using a driver, the ball should be opposite your left heel. You can take it back slightly but any further forward will lead to problems. If you are using a short iron, the ball should be positioned in the middle of your stance, any further forward than this and you will usually end up topping the ball. As you practice with each club, you will begin to get a feel of exactly where the ball should be relative to your stance.
Another reason why you are topping the golf ball could be to do with your posture during the swing. Many golfers lift their body during their downswing and this increases the chances of a topped shot. To prevent this from happening, keep the lead shoulder down through impact and make sure the opposite shoulder rotates under the chin, keeping below the height of the lead shoulder until the finish.
Finally and something we have all been guilty of is trying to hit the ball too hard. This is especially true when using the driver. The harder you swing the more likely you are going to lose your swing plane and fall back on the shot. Losing stability in this way can lead to the driver catching the top of the ball so do not be tempted to swing the club as hard as you can. Concentrate on the technique and you will stop topping the ball.
