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Why do I top my irons?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 21, 2026

Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the ball or you catch the ball on the way up, instead of at the bottom point. A lot of things can cause this to happen: A club that's too short. An awkward stance.

Why do I keep topping my irons?

Posture Is Key

Poor posture at address is a primary cause of the top as you won't be able to maintain your angles as you swing and are likely to lift away from the ball through impact (see below). Golfers with poor posture tend to bend through the back so the pelvis is too far forward.

Why do I go over the top golf?

Over the Top is perhaps the most common swing fault among high handicap golfers. It occurs due to an overuse of the upper body on the downswing. As a result the club will be thrown on the outside of the intended swing plane with the club head approaching the ball from outside to in.

Why can't I stop coming over the top?

One of the most common causes of the over-the-top move is when golfers fail to transfer their weight properly. This can lead to what's known as a reverse pivot where the weight stays on the left leg throughout the backswing and then shifts onto the right side coming down into impact.

Why do I slice with my driver but not my irons?

Honestly, it all comes down to one simple concept: You can't use the exact same swing for both your irons and your driver. Those two types of clubs are designed differently, with different shaft lengths and different lofts. They are made to achieve different goals.

38 related questions found

Why am I topping the ball with my fairway woods?

One common reason that amateur golfers may get into the habit of topping fairway woods is that they are trying to help the ball up off the ground. When you look down at address, you see that your three wood, for example, doesn't have a lot of loft.

Why am I hitting the ground before the golf ball?

When a player hits the ground before the ball it is generally because their club is attacking the ball from too shallow an angle. Golf coaches refer to this as the "Angle of Approach".

How do I make better contact with irons?

On mid- and long irons, try at contact to press the sweet spot against a location even with Brazil. On shorter irons, aim even farther south (Chile is lovely this time of year). Just avoid contact above the equator. The top of the world leads to topped shots!

What happens if you stand too far away from the golf ball?

Standing too far from the golf ball will result in poor posture, which could result in inconsistent shots and no control over the ball. Standing too far can result in less distance, heel shots, and can cause you to lose balance easily. Standing too far from the ball is pretty common for beginner players.

Why can't I take a divot?

If you don't take a divot on your approach shots, you're probably pulling up (above, right) or falling onto your back foot during the downswing. Here's my favorite drill for learning to take good divots. Get into your normal setup, then lift the clubhead a few inches off the ground.

How do I stop looking up in the golf swing?

A good way to stop standing up at impact is to focus on your head. Indeed, if the head is not allowed to rise or move at all vertically the upper body will be forced to move while keeping it in place. And in doing so, the spine angle should remain constant throughout the swing, which is one the things being sought.

How do you hit the ball then turf with your irons?

Move your right foot back as you start a short backswing. Move your left foot back and touch the right finishing your short backswing. Move your left forward towards the target. As your left foot moves forward, commence your downswing and try to hit the ground right where your iron was at set up just in front of the ...

Why do I keep topping my woods?

Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the ball or you catch the ball on the way up, instead of at the bottom point. A lot of things can cause this to happen: A club that's too short. An awkward stance.

Why do I hit my 3 wood farther than my driver?

Players who hit their 3- or 5-wood as far or longer than their driver are typically using too little loft with the driver for their clubhead speed. You know, it's a funny thing with the driver and its loft compared to the other clubs in the bag.

Does higher loft reduce slice?

Although many slicers want to hit the ball lower, remember the additional loft provides backspin that will reduce the amount a golf ball slices through the air.

Does a stiff shaft help a slice?

If your golf shaft is too stiff and your swing speed is too slow, your well-struck shot will be limited on both carry distance and shot trajectory; a too-stiff golf shaft will most often lead to weak fades or slices.

How do you stop an over the top iron?

To stop coming over-the-top, you need to work on shallowing the golf club in the downswing. This involves developing a more relaxed, tensionless feeling at the top of the backswing. Using alignment sticks to direct club path can also offer real-time feedback as to whether your action is, in fact, over-the-top.

How do I stop my shoulder from going over the top?

Keep your knees -- especially your right knee -- flexed. When players come over the top, they usually straighten their right knee. That pushes their right hip upward, which also pushes their right shoulder upward. Keeping that right knee flexed will help keep your right shoulder on the correct plane.

Does coming over the top cause a hook?

Coming over the top is an error which occurs when you get to the top of the backswing. The next move is supposed to be powered by the lower half of the body and getting it wrong will mess up your swing plane, causing hooks, slices and other common swing issues.