Stop Topping and Thinning It

  For players who suffer from an overly flat swing, getting solid impact below the equator of the ball is often difficult. Especially with the irons, a steeper swing path into the ball is needed to produce better contact. In case you don’t understand the difference between a flat an upright swing, here is a …

 thin topped shots drill

For players who suffer from an overly flat swing, getting solid impact below the equator of the ball is often difficult. Especially with the irons, a steeper swing path into the ball is needed to produce better contact. In case you don’t understand the difference between a flat an upright swing, here is a quick rundown.

 

A flat swing is more horizontal or base-ball like (green and white shirt). This student has a swing that can lead to topped and thinned shots.

An upright swing is much more vertical to the ground (purple shirt). This swing type can lead to chunked, fat shots.

upright swing planeflat swing plane

If you often suffer from thin or topped shots – its likely your swing path is too flat. To help get away from a flat swing path, give this drill a try:

Use a mid or short-iron and set the ball up on a tee. About four inches back of your teed ball, set up another tee as shown in the picture. Address the teed ball and try to make a normal backswing – the back tee should nick your club on the way back. To avoid it, you’ll have to lift the club up steeper on the takeaway. Once you can do this properly, complete your swing like normal. If you come in too flat into the ball you’ll likely hit both tees. If your angle of attack is steep enough, you should make solid contact, and miss the back tee. That’s the goal. With some practice – you’re swing should slowly begin to steepen, and your ball contact should improve.

An added benefit of this drill? Lag production. This back tee will reinforce a steep angle of attack, and retaining your wrists cock – like all the golf say – will produce higher swings speeds and more distance.

Give it a try!