If you want to know how to stop topping the golf ball, start with the good news: a topped shot is usually very fixable. The club strikes the top half of the ball instead of the bottom, so the ball scuttles along the ground instead of climbing into the air. Often the cause is a small change in your height or posture during the swing, and simple drills can help you find a cleaner strike.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for beginner and intermediate golfers who top the ball with irons, fairway woods or even the driver. It also helps if you hit “thin” shots that fly low and hot off the bottom of the club. You don’t need a perfect swing to use these fixes. You only need a practice area, a few tees, a towel and some patience.
What a topped shot is
A topped shot happens when the bottom edge of the club meets the ball above its middle. The ball gets little or no loft, so it rolls or bounces forward rather than flying. A thin shot is a milder version: the club catches the ball low on the face, so it flies lower than you planned.
Both share the same root problem. At impact, the lowest point of your swing is too high or in the wrong place. To fix it, you need the club to reach the ball at the right height and then keep travelling down and through.
Common causes in plain terms
Topped shots often come from one or more of the causes below. Read through them and see which sounds like your swing.
- Lifting up. Your head and chest rise during the downswing, often because you want to see where the ball goes. As your body rises, the club rises too and catches the top of the ball.
- Standing up, or early extension. Your hips move towards the ball and your body straightens before impact. This loses the posture you set at address, which pulls the club upwards.
- Ball position. If the ball sits too far forward in your stance, the club may already be rising when it reaches the ball.
- Trying to help the ball into the air. Many golfers try to scoop the ball upward with their hands. This flicking motion often makes the club bottom out early and then rise into the ball.
- Tension. Tight arms and shoulders can shorten your swing. When your arms pull in, the club no longer reaches the bottom of the ball.
Quick diagnosis table
| What you notice | Likely cause | What to try first |
|---|---|---|
| Your head pops up to watch the shot | Lifting up | Keep your eyes on the back of the ball until after impact |
| You feel close to the ball at impact, almost crowded | Standing up or early extension | Feel your backside stay back through the swing |
| Tops happen more with some clubs than others | Ball position | Move the ball a touch back and check again |
| You feel a flick of the wrists at impact | Trying to help the ball up | Hit down and let the loft lift the ball |
| Arms feel tight and the swing feels short | Tension | Lighten your grip and make a few loose practice swings |
How to stop topping the golf ball: setup fixes
Good contact starts before you swing. Check these points each time you address the ball.
- Bend from the hips. Push your hips back so your chest leans over the ball. Let your arms hang down naturally rather than reaching.
- Flex your knees slightly. You want an athletic, ready position, not a stiff or squatting stance.
- Check ball position. For shorter irons, many coaches suggest placing the ball around the middle of your stance. For longer clubs, move it a little forward of centre.
- Relax your grip. Hold the club firmly enough to control it, but loosely enough that your forearms feel soft.
- Look at the back of the ball. Pick a spot on the back of the ball and keep your eyes on it as you swing.
Drills to stop topping the ball
These drills are simple, and you can do most of them at any practice range. Start slowly and focus on contact, not distance.
Towel drill
Lay a towel flat on the ground a short way behind the ball. Then hit shots without touching the towel. If you scoop or bottom out early, the club will brush the towel. This drill teaches you to strike the ball first and the ground second.
Tee in front drill
Place a tee in the ground just in front of the ball, on your target line. Then try to hit the ball and clip the tee in the same swing. This encourages the club to keep travelling down and through, rather than rising early.
Tee under the ball drill
Tee the ball very low on the practice mat or grass. Hit shots that clip the tee out from under the ball. Next, lower the tee until the ball sits almost on the ground. This builds confidence in brushing the turf.
Half-swing drill
Make half swings, with your hands going back to around hip height and through to the same point. Smaller swings make it easier to keep your posture. Once you strike the ball cleanly, build up to longer swings.
Stay-in-posture drill
Set up with a club across your shoulders and turn back and through without rising. Then hit some easy shots with the same feeling. Try to keep your chest pointing at the ball until after impact.
A simple practice plan
Use this short plan at your next range session:
- Warm up with some easy practice swings and stretches.
- Hit a handful of shots with the half-swing drill, focusing on staying down.
- Move on to the towel drill, and hit shots until you miss the towel consistently.
- Add the tee in front drill to encourage a downward strike.
- Finish with some full shots and keep the same feeling of posture and contact.
Stop if anything hurts, and keep the session short enough that you can stay focused. Quality of practice matters more than the number of balls you hit.
This example is hypothetical. Imagine a golfer who tops most fairway wood shots. During a range session, they notice their head pops up early. They switch to half swings, keep their eyes on the back of the ball, and add the towel drill. After a while, the ball starts to fly, and they gradually lengthen the swing while keeping the same feeling.
Troubleshooting checklist
- Are you bending from the hips with your arms hanging naturally?
- Is the ball in a sensible spot for the club you are using?
- Is your grip relaxed rather than tight?
- Are you keeping your eyes on the back of the ball through impact?
- Do you feel your chest stay over the ball as you swing through?
- Are you hitting down and letting the loft lift the ball?
When to get a lesson
Drills can solve many topped shots, but some faults are hard to feel on your own. Consider a lesson if you still top the ball after several practice sessions. It also helps if the fix for one fault creates another, such as hitting behind the ball. A PGA professional can watch your swing, check your posture and ball position, and give you a drill that fits your swing. Even one lesson can give you a clear plan for practice.
If you are still learning the basics, our beginner’s corner covers setup and practice in more detail.
Where to read more: Golf Monthly on how to stop topping the golf ball.
Key takeaways
- A topped shot happens when the club meets the top half of the ball.
- Lifting up, standing up, ball position, scooping and tension are the usual causes.
- Set up with good posture, a relaxed grip and your eyes on the back of the ball.
- Use the towel, tee and half-swing drills to train a downward strike.
- Book a lesson if the problem keeps coming back.
Now that you know how to stop topping the golf ball, take these drills to the range and build your strike one shot at a time.
Written by the Golf Luxor Editorial desk. Disclosure: this guide contains no affiliate or sponsored links.