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The 12 basic swing faults can all be traced back to physical limitations.

  

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6. Over-the-Top

  

43.5% of players are Over the Top
Over-the-Top is perhaps the most common swing characteristic among high handicap golfers. It usually occurs because of overuse or over-dominance of the upper body during the downswing. As a result the club is thrown outside of the intended swing plane, with the club head approaching the ball in an out-to-in motion. This creates a pull if the clubface is square or a slice if the clubface is open.

This characteristic can rob a golfer of power and limit their ability to control the ball flight as he adds or decreases loft to the club and additional spin to the ball through impact. By changing the swing plane or swing path, he will create a more sold strike and increase their distance and accuracy.

Several physical characteristics must be developed in order to prevent the club from coming Over-the-Top during the golf swing. It is paramount to develop a proper kinematic sequence of motion during transition and the downswing. Without the ability to initiate the downswing with the lower body, a player can easily dominate the downswing with an upper body throw right from the top, forcing the over-the-top swing plane. A good kinematic sequence requires several physical factors:


   1. S-posture
   2. C-posture
   3. Loss of Posture
   4. Flat Shoulder Plane
   5. Early Extension
   7. Sway
   8. Slide
   9. Reverse Spine Angle
   10. Hanging Back
   11. Casting/Early Release
   12. Chicken Winging
  • The ability to separate movements of the lower body from the upper body allows the lower body to lead the downswing. Usually reduced spinal and hip mobility causes limited pelvis-to-thorax separation. The Pelvic Rotation Test and the Lower Quarter Rotation Test are used to evaluate their ability to separate the lower body from the upper body.
  • Core stability to help maintain posture and thorax stability is essential. Any loss in posture (flat shoulder plane or reverse spine angle) can force the torso and arms to fire first in transition to help reposition the body for rotation. The Bridge w/ Leg Extension Test, Pelvic Tilt Test, and the Leg Lowering Test are used to evaluate core stability.
  • Good balance on each leg, especially the lead side, is paramount for proper weight shift. Limited weight shift toward the lead leg can reduce the lower body's contribution to power generation during the swing. Therefore, players will try to produce excessive power in their upper body by chopping down or throwing the club Over-the-Top. The Single Leg Balance Test is used to evaluate balance.