Golf: Why We Say We Look Up Too Early When Topping The Ball

Step 1: A low set-up

If your body position at set-up is too low, you will have to raise your body during the down swing to avoid hitting into the ground behind the ball.

Sometimes, you might get lucky and hit a good shot, but more often you will overcompensate and top the ball, or even miss it completely.

Step 2: Changing position during the backswing

Even if you set up well, if you then lower your body from the set-up position during the backswing you will again have to adjust your downswing to compensate.

The most common reason for lowering the body is trying to help the ball up into the air instead of letting the ball fly from the loft of the club.

So although we do usually look up early when we top the ball, this is not the cause, it is just the way we have to compensate for an incorrect swing, to avoid hitting too far behind the ball.

Now you can watch our video on how to stop topping the ball.

Set up correctly and keep your set-up position throughout the swing, and your contact with the ball should be true.