It’s the most common mistake in golf, committed by millions of golfers across generations: coming over the top. Pair it with an open clubface and you get a big, high, weak slice out to the right.
The chopping-down motion that accompanies an over-the-top move results in two things happening to the club and ball interaction around impact (neither of them good): It moves your swing direction too far to the left — or too much out-to-in — and steepens your angle of attack. The combo creates excess backspin, which costs you distance, control and likely a ball lost in the woods.
To fix the problem, place a ball on the ground just in front of where you normally tee up with your driver (see photo above). The goal is to hit the teed ball but not the one on the ground. It may take you a few tries, but, if you manage to do this, you’ll shallow out your downswing and be hitting up on the ball. It won’t solve all your problems, but it’ll take some of that excess spin off the ball and reduce your slice along the way.
Claude Harmon III is the host of GOLF.com’s “Off Course” podcast, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and the director of instruction at the Butch Harmon Floridian in Palm City, Fla.
