Over the Top

[Kevin]

Since beginning Tathatgolf, I’ve developed and over the top move. Before my arms were soft and now I’m adding pressure. I’ve tried incorporating the moves with the ribs and bringing the arms down but can’t quite get rid of my hands going forward with a steepening of the shaft.

Any drills or feels that will help me with this problem?

Thank you.

[Lance]

I am a chronic over the top swinger.

I find that I tug from the top of the backswing, move my right hip forward, throw my right shoulder out, and therefore, swipe across the ball towards the left.

Though I am only through Day 2 I can already feel that my over the top move (that causes hard pulses left or massive slices to the right) shouldn’t happen any longer.

Keeping the body in sync and ensuring the pelvis moves back and stays back seems to be the trick for me at least. The basic body movements of Day 1 and 2 stress this along with the Chapter support. I would start there for exercises and work slow and with concentration. It is easy to allow the hips flexors to tighten and hip extensors to loosen if that is what your body is used to.

I am no Tathata Motion Specialist here but just a guy who hopes he and others, who play this silly game, can get their swings right and enhance their enjoyment of play.

Here is to your pursuit,
L.

[Kevin]

Thanks for the tips Lance. Very helpful.

My big problem is I can’t feel whether I’m doing correct or not. So I got a laser to fit in the butt end of the club. Now I get immediate feedback on whether I’m accross the line/overswinging or comming over the top on the downswing. So when I incorporate the movements I can now also see where the laser points in relation to the target line. If it is inside then I’m steepening the shaft and in a bad position.

I see what you mean about pelvis position. My hands also want to immediately “throw” when I reach the top. Thanks again.
Kevin

[Lance]

If you have a smartphone or iPad, get a golf swing app (free one, I use Hutl Technique) and film yourself DLT. Don’t worry about your hands and swing so much as looking to see what your pelvis is doing.

I draw a line on the screen from my butt to the ground. In my case, my butt always moves forward off the line a bit on backswing and more on downswing. My swing is good but my pelvic movement is all wrong. You may be experiencing similar issues.

I am enjoying for the first time understanding what I see in a Pros swing that I could never duplicate.

Here to you,
L.

[Tathata Staff]

Lance, thank you for the sound words of advice.

Kevin, one thing I might add that Lance might have stumbled upon in day 2 is the Body Movement “Surf to Level” movement. If the shoulders, hips and knees can all be level to the ground (even slightly tipped back away from the target) and square to the target line, this should help any over the top move you may have previously struggled with. You will also notice that at the end of the movement the front knee has a bit of flex in it still and has moved at least even with the front foot if not closer to the target than the front foot.

With the body moving like this, the arms should be able to swing “over the top” as hard as they want to and you will still be coming down on a proper plane because your body is no longer getting in the way and throwing them over the top. Lance also eluded to this with the right shoulder “throwing out” or getting in the way coming down and the difference he is feeling with it not getting in the way anymore.

As you come to learn in the Hand & Arm Movement Routine, the club will be just past parallel with the ground at the end of this “Surf to Level” movement. The only thing to be sure of after this is that your club face is in a square position coming down. With the body moving like this the club face will have a tendency to feel much more “closed” than you may be used to.

I hope this helps, happy training!