Training Guide

Choosing a new putter takes a lot of considerations and homework. Most golfers, however, overlook the putter’s hosel when picking out their putter. Often, this seemingly insignificant neck-to-head connection represents the club’s most significant impact on how it swings. Moreover, understanding the differences between hosel designs can help you determine how you approach putting and your stroke styles.

Let’s look closely at ten of the most common hosel configurations so that you can start improving your putting today.

Choose The Right Putter Hosel Types

Center Shaft

Many of you may not enjoy the look of a center-shaft hosel, whose shaft connects to the head in the middle. Nevertheless, many also find them to be the easiest to putt. They’re straightforward to align, and since their shaft meets the head exactly where you want to hit your putts, they enable you to hit them using a simple pendulum motion. This type usually suits golfers with limited openings and closings in their strikes.

It’s worth checking out if you putt straight-back and straight-through. Due to the shaft’s location near the center, weight is distributed evenly across the head. It helps maintain a straighter line with the putter throughout the stroke, reducing the clubhead’s twisting.

Single Bend

Putter hosels with single bends are pretty much recent developments. Rather than the hosel, it’s the shaft that has the bend. Bending the putter head puts it behind the hands (you notice it is offset), and its superiority over the double bend is that it looks cleaner and thus is less likely to draw attention. Straight-back and straight-through strokes are best with these models.

Double Bend

Traditional mallet putter shafts and hosels are set up with double bends. Just like a single bend, it’s the shaft that has the curve and not the hosel itself. Double bends help putter designers balance the face, which results in straighter strokes when the head is behind the hands. It is usually more a matter of aesthetics than performance, whether you have a double bend or a single bend.

Plumber-Neck

Putter hosels with plumber-necks are the most common among all. With this hosel design, a certain amount of forwarding movement is encouraged while it also gets you a slight offset. Because the putter prompts you to keep your hands in front of the ball, you avoid the chance of wrist injuries. A toe hang putter is most likely to have this type of hosel since it facilitates arc-shaped strokes.

Long-Neck

There’s no difference between these hosels and plumber-neck hosels other than their long necks. Long-necks provide a less toe-weighted feel than regular plumber necks, which create a more balanced face. Putting strokes are generally less severe with these hosels.

‘L’ Neck

There have been hundreds of thousands of different blade putters made with L-neck hosels over the years; actually, many distinct models have been created with hosels of this design. In most L neck putters, the toe hang is usually higher, making this type of putter more suitable for arcing strokes.

No-Neck

Putter shafts with no neck tend to promote better facial balance. It’s another excellent option to consider if you are into aggressive straight-back straight-through putting. Likewise, if you have a more arc stroke, you might want to stay away from these hosels.

Flare-Tip

People who putt with arc strokes often prefer putters with flare-tip hosels. This hosel shape makes the putter’s head more toe-down-weighted by altering its weighting. Therefore, you get a facilitated rotation of the putter face during your strokes.

Small Curve

The hosel set-up is classically elegant and well-loved because it allows the eye to follow naturally from the shaft to the head. Hosels with a slight curve usually have a lot of toe hang, which generally means they are better suited for strokes with solid arcs. This kind of flat stick style design has been used by some of the best putters throughout history.

Small Slant

The hosel is vital in helping tour pros to make the transition from blades to mallets and MOIs. Because of the design, both of these putter styles can have a toe hang ( typically, they rely on face balance), allowing for arcing strokes with a more forgiving putt. The offset and toe hang of each design may differ from one model to another.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do putter shafts make a difference?

Sure they do. You can only get in the proper posture when your putter shaft length is correct. Your height, arm length, and posture play a more significant role than your stroke style when determining the correct shaft length.

Does putter shaft matter?

It may seem like the putter shaft types have little to do with your strokes since they don’t affect your movement directly. But since body mechanics are essential for posture, it matters to a great extent since it’ll depend on your shaft length. In any case, however, the hosel shape has a more significant impact.

What putter shaft do I need?

The choice of putter shafts depends primarily on your personal preference. A shaft should correspond with your height and arm length so you don’t have to adjust your body and posture every time you play with it. You should also consider what type of shots you like to play. Take a moment to review our discussion above to find a clearer picture.

Can you put a new shaft on a putter?

Yes, it’s possible. You can do it yourself by purchasing a suitable replacement when you have handy tools like a vise, utility knife, heater, and glue, or you may want a professional repairer to do it for you.

Conclusion…

You essentially choose a putter based on which eye appears to you to be your dominant one. And the same holds with the putter hosel types. Selecting the offset and eye dominance is necessary to enable proper alignment. After that, all you need to do is decide which strokes you prefer. That will narrow your selection even more.

You should make use of some trials and errors. Before making any big purchases, we recommend having a professional fit you accordingly.

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Whatever form of golf you plan to play, a pair of shoes is an essential part of the game, whether you’re playing at a driving range or on a golf course for the first time.

No one can argue that golf shoes are the most obvious and standard choice when it comes to what to wear when playing golf. However, if you are just trying out the sport for the first time, you probably won’t want to spend money on those expensive shoes when still undecided whether you’ll enjoy the game or not.

Fortunately, if you’re looking for the best substitute for golf shoes, chances are you already own a pair of them that can get you started right away.

So, what to wear if you don’t have golf shoes?

Check Out The Best Substitutes For Golf Shoes

Below we have listed six options for you to take into consideration. Let’s find out which option gives you the best support, comfort, and grip without damaging the greens.

Studs Cricket Shoes

The mention of cricket shoes in this list may cause many eyebrows to furrow as many golfers find their design infamous due to the metal spikes they commonly have.

However, that’s not always the case; some cricket shoes come equipped with studs that provide adequate grip on golf courses without damaging the grass. And they can efficiently serve as the best non golf shoes for golf.

In contrast to spikes, studs cricket shoes have rubber studs added to the outsole. The shoes are also versatile, allowing you to go straight from your car to the golf course to the clubhouse without changing.

Essentially, you’d be glad to know the fact that they also make these shoes for proper cricket swings as well as protecting the pitch, in a pretty similar way golf shoes do for golf swings and golf courses, respectively.

These days, the newer versions of these spikeless shoes are even going beyond the originals, providing better grip, comfort, traction, support, and flexibility. They also offer extra stability on wet greens and downhill slopes. You can therefore wear them on the golf course with no trouble at all. 

Trail Running Shoes

Trail runners also make great golf shoe alternatives because they combine the support and comfort of traditional running shoes with soles more appropriate for the course.

You will notice how much better your balance will be when you wear a trail running shoe with a good grip. Intricate patterns on the soles provide maximum stability and keep you steady, even on damp courses. In terms of cushioning and support, trail running shoes are your best regular shoes for golf.

These shoes are gentle enough not to be evidently damaging to the course, too. Besides keeping your feet happy, they’re also a good choice for keeping the greenskeeper in good spirits.

Turf Ground Soccer Shoes

You may be skeptical that a golfer would ever turn to soccer for any reason. But when you’re looking for alternative shoes for golf, soccer shoes, or, more specifically, turf-soccer cleats can indeed be a great option.

A turf soccer boot has more studs than a traditional firm ground shoe. While the added studs eliminate pressures on the individual studs, the rubber soleplate (unlike typical TPU cleats) maintains your balance on the sands and smooth greens without harming them.

The short stubble rubber cleats could even easily pass you on wet outfields. These shoes with rubber sole plates are particularly more comfortable for older players because they are less strenuous on joints.

However, these shoes mostly come without an ankle cover, which might cause a bit of a problem if you’re yet to become steady on your stance and foot control.

Golf Sandals

Despite sandals being seen as an undesirable option for golf on the course in the past, these days, you can buy sports sandals intended for use on a golf course.

Golfers playing in hot climates or the summer months may find these open-toed shoes to be an excellent choice.

You may also consider these for temporary use when your feet are healing from an illness or condition, and they need some extra room. These sandals are available in a range of soft spiked and spikeless options.

Choosing soft spiked shoes means you can only wear them on the course. In contrast, if you opt for a spikeless option, it will be perfect for wearing away from the course and afterward in the clubhouse or anywhere you go.

Tennis Shoes

Tennis shoes may not be anywhere near as great as the rest of the options we’ve covered so far, but they can still be a decent temporary solution, given the course you’re playing in is considerably dry and rigid.

These shoes usually have a flat baseline, with no studs or spikes at all. Instead, they come with complex, labyrinthine patterns, which may be sufficient for a good stance and casual movements. 

In tennis shoes, the soles have more stretch, which means that walking several miles is less taxing and damaging on the joints, making them a good option as regular golf shoes for women and seniors.

Nonetheless, we recommend you try other alternatives before trying tennis shoes as they don’t allow for the best movements needed for longer shots. 

Going Barefoot

Even though barefoot golfing isn’t a widespread practice, you can occasionally see some people playing and enjoying themselves this way. Pro golfer Rocco Mediate is a notable example of a player who often kicks his shoes off on the course.

The benefits of golf, in this way, are numerous. The first advantage is that you can walk naturally throughout the day, without anything restricting your natural movement. Your joints can benefit from this significantly since shoes can often cause fatigue if they interfere with your natural mobility.

As far as your golf stance is concerned, it does not differ either. You can get into a perfectly natural position in the absence of shoes, ensuring an uninterrupted alignment. In addition, your feet will also give you a better sense of the course’s conditions, allowing you to gauge the hardness of the ground, the state of sand, or anything else you walk on.

However, this style could be allowed in certain clubs, but it won’t necessarily be permitted in all. At your local club, it might not be an issue, but you may be barred from getting on the course if you proceed in this manner. If such an option is not available, you should have a backup plan in mind as an alternative, just in case.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What can I use if I don’t have golf shoes?

As you can see from our above discussion, you have at least six potential options for golf shoes. If you haven’t made a decision yet, go over them again and consider your current situation.

Can I use running shoes for golf?

Yes, you can. Casual runners and sneakers with patterned treads and good grips can be great alternatives to golf shoes as they provide superior comfort with more control. However, it’s best not to try to play golf in fashion sneakers.

Do I really need golf shoes?

Technically, no. Although golf shoes are essential for your swings and movements, they aren’t mandatory when you’re out for a few rounds.

The majority of golf courses do not typically have a strict policy regarding golf shoes. You can even play wearing flip-flops or go barefoot if you wish. But since golf shoes are designed to give you the very best experience on the course, it’s always the wisest choice to wear them instead of anything else.

Can you use baseball turf shoes for golf?

No. Neither metal nor molded baseball cleats are suitable to wear on the golf course. This type of cleats is harmful to the greens and not appropriate for driving range mats made of astroturf.

Can you wear any shoes to golf?

You can. Very few clubs require golfers to maintain a strict dress code, including wearing golf shoes. But just like we said, you can wear whatever you want on the rest. However, we still don’t recommend it.

On a Final Note…

When you are just getting into golf or wish to try it out, there’s no need to purchase expensive golf shoes right away. It’s likely that you already have a pair of these alternative options, as we have seen in our discussion.

So long as your footwear does not harm the greens and suits your needs, you are free to choose whatever you wish. Just confirm the course you’re headed to allows you to wear these shoes; you can check their website or give them a call.

But remember, while studs cricket shoes and the other options make great substitutes, you should think of nothing but a pair of quality golf shoes if you’re taking the game seriously.

Are Mallet Putters More Forgiving? – The Reasons Why It is so

Putting is pretty crucial in golfing and a small change in putting can be the game maker or breaker. Yes, putting is important and it is challenging at the same time. That’s why a little help from a forgiving putter is a part of the game to make your day.

Which putter can provide you with the sought-after forgivingness?

Are the mallet putters forgiving as it is claimed to be?

This post will give a precise answer in this regard.

What is a Forgiving Putter Anyway?

It has become a trend now to have forgiving putters as the must-have golf instrument. If you closely look at the professional golf tournaments, the phenomena will not slip your lookout that even the veteran golfers ensure that they have forgiving putters with them. Mallet putters being the more forgiving than its blade counterpart, is the most popular with the golfers seeking a forgivingness in a putter?

Now, if you want to judge how far forgiving a mallet putter is; you must determine first the characteristics or benefits a putter feature to be considered as a forgiving one. Here you go with the prime features of a putter that is thoroughly forgiving or the main features of a mallet putter known and depended on to be forgiving.

Face Insert

One of the prime features of a forgiving putter is to have face insert in your club rather than milled to be a single piece. This will offer you a covetous package for any level of golfer you are and that includes different inertia numbers in your changing moment, superb distant control, and different feel. 

A putter featured with face insert will enable it to spring the ball from the clubface. Moreover, the putter with its face insert is comparatively softer than the milled one. To be frank, face insert will provide the golfers with convenience but in terms of forgivingness, it can do very little.

Read:

• Can You Change Putter Inserts?
• What does a putter Insert DO?

Shaft

As for the putter shaft, you probably don’t pay a great deal of attention to it except that it is made by a trustworthy manufacturer. But two things are crucial for a putter shaft that include the shaft material that is steel and ensures that the putter head is considerably heavy. A heavy-headed putter will give the ball the required roll.

If you are that particular about your putter shaft, you better look for premier weighty putters.

Read: How to bend your putter shaft?

Length

For a putter to act forgiving so long your game goes on, you must ensure the right putter length. Given the putter length is wrong, the chance is highly slim that your putter will be forgiving. In fact, it will never be forgiving to the list.

As for the length of the putter involves, it is better to be a bit longer but it must not be shorter than you require. While the pro golfers go for 33-34 inches long putter, the novices prefer it to be 35 inches.

Alignment

Forgiving putter do have their alignment lines since the inception. And the earlier tended to feature a small line to the back of the putter and this helped golfers line up at 40 feet away. Manufacturers now a day seem to have understood the real worth of the putter alignment and many of them keep alignment lines on the back of their putters. The more putter alignment you have, the more forgiving your putter gets.

To swing on the correct path, the ball and the head of the putter should keep in the same line.

Balance

Balance for forgiving putter is as much important as alignment is. So, when you cannot change your stroke, you better arrange a putter that can ensure the stroke you need then. That is reason that putter fitting has become so talked about a topic.

Does Mallet Putter Match The Above Characteristic?

The earlier mallet putters have gone through a rigorous modification and the years-long evolution is the reason behind the current forgivingness that today’s mallet putters offer. As per the discussion above, modern mallet putters do have larger and heavy heads for better and trustworthy roll from the ball.

With the alignment on the putter back, you can pretty easily control distance in golf. That is the prime reason you see golfers keep mallet putters with them especially the ones who struggle with the alignment. And the convenience of the larger mallet-type putters is that they work better for the players both with a straight back and those who have straight swing. Moreover, the said putters do have excellent balance, right length, and face insert.

Now, when questions arise “Are mallet putters more forgiving?” and “Does a mallet putter offer the convenience mentioned above?” The answer is simple and clear that to reap the full benefit of forgivingness in golfing you must opt for mallet putters. And ensure forgivingness beforehand is not a shame whether it is big tournament, club championship, or a $10 bet with your buddies.

Mallet vs. Blade Putter

You have two alternatives to go for – a mallet putter or a blade putter. Which one to go for? The answer is given precisely well in the previous section. Given the larger sweet spot, amazing distant control, and alignment convenience; mallet putters have the edge over its blade counterpart. But the blade putters too have improved over time in terms of providing forgivingness not that much to challenge the mallet putter.

Because putters are the best friend in need when you need help with consistency, to accurately hit any shot – too short and too long. Moreover, when it is to roll the ball a bit better; a mallet putter will help you learn easier and faster.

Yes, when it is the case with low handicap golfers like the impeccable feel and classic design; blade putters enjoy the edge over their forgiving counterparts. Despite the said fact, pro golfers are switching to mallet putters rapidly as it gives one result and gets the ball inside the hole with ease and precision.

Conclusion…

With that inch-depth discussion on this topic, it is crystal clear that help from a forgiving putter is the part of the game. As to answer to are mallet putters forgiving, now we can certify that the mallet putters are the most forgiving. You know why because you have learned already.

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Do you still have a problem with topping in golf?

Well, it’s something everyone has experienced in the game. You’re out for a sunny weekend round with some pals; you briskly stroll up to the first tee with your folks looking on, you square up nicely, hit an excellent backswing, a fantastic downswing, then suddenly– the ball goes bobbing and rolling off the edge, much to the amusement of your buddies.

In golf, topping the ball is one of the most frustrating experiences because it feels like you’re not even playing the game. When you hook or slice, you may feel bad, but it feels worse when you don’t advance the little white ball beyond a mere ten yards!

Fortunately, the ‘chronic tops’ are very easy to cure, and most golfers recover very quickly and never worry about it again. And in this article, we’ll talk about how you can get rid of your woes too.

Keep reading to find out our simple tips on how to stop topping the golf ball for good.

Why am I Topping the Golf Ball?

Understanding what causes topping the golf ball is the first step to stopping it.

By general rule, the bottom of the golf ball is where you should strike. However, due to poor technique and inconsistent execution, many amateur golfers make errors such as topping their golf balls during a round. As they hit the middle or top of the ball instead of the bottom, their shots will be thin or topped, resulting in less than desired outcomes.

Topped golf shots are likely to occur for the following reasons.

Faulty Posture and Stance

Amateur golfers with incorrect posture will exhibit the signs in a couple of crucial areas. Most commonly, golfers top the ball due to bending the knees too much, indicating a poor posture. Golfers need to flex their knees only minimally when swinging their clubs.

Having a back curved too much for the swing also causes poor posture, which results in the golf ball being topped. Bending the back will cause a golfer to reach for the club from a distance too far out and cause a curved spine.

As for the stance, the mistake that leads to topping golf shots is not bending at the hips and flexing the knee. At address positioning, you are farther from the ball than you would be if you are standing up (which most amateurs do); such a stance is likely to lay your hits on the top half of the ball.

Poor Ball Placement

You’re more likely to hit it fat if you place the ball forward too far in your stance. When you do this, the clubhead reaches its swing arc’s bottom before even reaching the ball. If you make swing adjustments to avoid hitting the ground, you’ll find the clubhead swinging in the air by the time it hits the ball. It eliminates any chance of hitting the ball’s bottom, resulting in golf topping the ball or whiffing.

Your Club is Too Short

Too short and choked-down clubs can contribute to high swings. Club fitting ensures the shaft length provides good posture and minimizes the need for choking on the club. Also, if you shorten the club’s shaft and height, the swing could be altered, impacting your upswing.

You Try to Send the Ball Up

While golf’s physics demands that you hit the ball downward to make it rise, that line of thinking is contrary to most amateurs. So instead, they try to send the ball up by swinging upward.

Unless the ball is lying on thick grass, which would allow you to get under it, either you’ll swing the ball up (as with a poor ball positioning), or you’ll stand up when down-swinging. Still, you’ll most likely top the ball most of the time.

You Throw the Clubhead

It’s not unusual for golfers to attempt to increase their clubhead speed by flipping their wrists at impact. However, that only leads to straightening your wrists before the clubhead even contacts the ball.

As a result, the bottom of the club’s arc reaches farther back in your stance instead of the ball’s front. Consequently, the clubhead swings upward earlier than you initially planned and hits the top, not the bottom, of the ball. Therefore, not only do you top your shot, but you also hit the ball slower than you would if you were using your regular swing.

Reverse Pivot

You’re likely to tend to lean away from the target on your downswing when leaning toward it at the top of your backswing. By doing so, you change the swing arc’s bottom. As long as you don’t hit the ground before hitting the ball (fat shot), your club head will swing upward when contacting the ball – and that’s how you hit a golf top shot.

Read: How to start the golf downswing?

How to Stop Topping Golf Ball off the Tee?

So, how do you not top a golf ball? You can fix all your topping problems by changing a few things about how you hit the ball with a few different adjustments. Check out these basic topping the golf ball fixes across all clubs before we go ahead with the advanced techniques.

Move the Ball Back into Your Stance

Golf swings are like circles that travel upward from the bottom and then arc back to the bottom as you follow through. Making the ball swing in the shape of a loop is all there is to it.

Why can’t you stop topping the ball, then?

Chances are, the ball isn’t located along the circle’s arc where you can hit it in the square. You might have placed the ball too far forward. So, when you move the club through the area of impact, the ball never gets the chance to hit the middle of your clubface. Therefore, you need to place the ball within your stance, ensuring the clubhead contacts it on the downswing and not the upswing.

Maintain Proper Posture throughout the Swing

Stance is something that every athlete should learn. And when you’re golfing, it’s even more crucial. It is essential that you:

• Keep your knees flexible (don’t bend them)
• Keep your back straight while bending at the waist
• Keep your arms lose

To begin a golf swing, it’s a simple concept, but it’s crucial. If you’re topping the ball, not having the appropriate posture in the above areas can cause you problems. You can only improve your stance by training up your body and repeating it. Doing it once will make it work for you, and continuous practice will make it second nature. Be sure to maintain the correct posture throughout your swing.

Fix Your Problematic Weight Shift

Ideally, during a swing, your weight needs to be balanced at address, move to your rear foot on your backswing, and finally shift to your front foot when making contact. When topping, you’re “reverse pivoting,” the complete opposite of what you should do.

Strike the Ball with the Right Arc

A professional driver hardly ever tops his driver anymore, thanks to their massive clubheads. Yet, it remains an issue with long irons and fairway woods. This is due to the high angle of attack, which shrinks the contact zone dramatically. So, it’s pretty challenging to hit the sweet spot with that emaciated hitting zone.

You should flatten the impact area of your swing arc and ensure that the ball is positioned in the middle. Keep in mind that with the shorter irons, you have to swing down on the ball, while with the long irons or fairway woods, you must sweep it.

Avoid Hitting the Ball Too Hard

The issue is common to all athletes. The adrenaline rush becomes overwhelming, and we end up ruining shots. You cannot control your adrenaline easily, that’s for sure. A rush of adrenaline helps us work this way by giving us a feeling of hope that comes with a chance to succeed. However, it can also trick us into trying to subdue our ability to succeed.

So how do we control our adrenaline rush?

Well, there’s no stringent rule; just remember- ‘don’t overdo your emotions.’ Indeed, it can be challenging because we all want first dibs. A simple thing you can do is reduce your stress while playing and avoid hitting the ball so hard.

Maintain Your Focus on the Ball

No matter what sport you play, keeping an eye on the ball is essential. Train your eyes to stare at the ball intently as a way to keep them fixed on the ball. When you maintain focus during the strike, you can still see the ball and the spot to hit. To help your vision further, you can use golf balls with an easily visible logo.

Adjust Your Hands

At address, many golfers tend to keep their hands back instead of slightly pushing forward. You must remember, however, that you have to swing at the ball with the proper arc to hit down on it.

With any club, simply press with your hands slightly forward. When you use your hands and wrists in this position, you are less likely to top the ball. It allows you to hit down on the golf ball effortlessly instead of sending it airborne.

How to Stop Topping The Golf Ball with Irons?

When learning how to avoid topping the golf ball, the information we’ve shared above lays the basic rules for all clubs. Here, we’ll just alert you to three other things you should remember when striking your irons.

• Make contact below the ball’s centerline (or equator) with your iron’s leading edge. This will help get the ball in your swing arc correctly.
• To remain intensely focused on the ball, keep your head down and steady throughout your shot. It will also help you maintain a constant swing path and also keep your posture stable.
• Kick out the fright of hitting the ground with your iron- it’s necessary for taking the divot, hence a successful golf shot.

How to Cure Topping Golf Ball with Driver?

Unlike your other clubs, your driver swing will be a bit different. Due to the driver’s massive head, you must raise the ball by teeing it to make proper contact. It also means that you’ll have to contact the ball with your upstroke and not your downstroke. Essentially, you need to have your weight just behind the ball (no more than a few inches) to be able to come “up” at it.

Beginner golfers often have trouble with the diver because they come up way too fast. Generally, this is because of the driver being the lightest club among all and the golfers’ tendency to swing too quickly at the ball.

To stop topping driver:

• Take a wider stance than you would with an iron with the ball inside your front heel
• Use your front foot to play the ball
• Maintain a low backswing on the takeaway ground
• Rotate your body about the golf ball by using your hips
• Maintain an extended front arm
• The weight of your body should be slightly behind the ball during the entire swing
• Take it easy on the swing!
• Think of hitting the tee to activate your driver’s loft
• Transfer your weight forwards on follow-through

How to Stop Topping The Golf Ball with Fairway Woods?

The basics of avoiding topping apply to fairway woods, just like with irons and drivers. Yet, you may still find it considerably harder when hitting the woods without topping, using the same approach.

It’s only because of their loft, which is much lower than the rest.

Firstly, it makes it more challenging to hit the ball off the ground. And because of their lower loft angle, you’ll always have to go with a shallower approach angle than with any of the irons or drivers.

Here are four tips to solve this issue proactively.

Make a Full Rotation

To avoid hitting lofty upswings, you can use a whole-body rotation to get your loft right. But to make it effective, you must ensure that you don’t overturn your hips.

Stand with your hand shoulder-width apart and raise the wood above your head. Turn your shoulders 45 degrees as you bend your back slightly forward.

Ensure a Proper Setup

A slight adjustment to your posture can substantially enhance your ability to hit woods.

Stick your bottom out a little and flex your knees. Your back should tilt forward slightly (enough so you feel comfortable), and you should keep your spine straight and parallel with the shaft. With your arms in the position now, you should not feel like stretching to reach the ball anymore.

Position the Ball Correctly

When hitting a fairway wood or a hybrid, the ball has to stay closer to your target. Make sure the ball lines up with your left eye so it’s on the inside of the left heel. By doing so, you’re free to stretch your arms out and swing wider than usual. Hence, you are much less likely to top with it.

Stretch Your Arms

When you hit your fairway wood, simply extend your arms as you swing. Longer arms create a wider arc as well as less shaft lean at impact.

Drills to Stop Topping Golf Ball

In this section, you’ll learn some drills to develop the proper habits to avoid the errors that cause topped shots.

Drill to Fix the Early Bottoming-Out of Your Swing Arc

When you hit your clubhead early, then it will ascend as you get closer to the ball. And having contact with the club’s bottom will result in tops.

For the resolving drill, you’ll only need your golf towel. You will be able to tell if you’re bottoming out too early with this drill.

Lay your towel out on the ground 5-6 inches behind the ball. You’re bottoming early if you hit the towel first. The purpose of this drill is to force you to shift your weight to your body’s lead side and strike the ball first instead of the ground. Do this drill every time you hit the range or practice at home.

Drill to Fix Forwarded Swing

As we’ve discussed earlier, a poor weight shift (like overdoing it on your lead side) can cause your swing to move too far forward, resulting in topped shots.

The golf towel will again come in handy for this drill. However, this time, you’ll need to place one a few inches in front of the ball and another 7-8 inches behind it. Over-shifting your weight results in you striking the ball first and then hitting the front towel. This drill will make you stay more focused on the ball and let you hit the ground only an inch or so after the ball.

Drill for a Better Set-up

The drill may not be the same for everyone, but it will benefit golfers with high handicaps. It’s beneficial for those who stand too far from the ball and bend too much to ruing their stance and posture.

To perform this drill, you should stand straight up with your weight evenly distributed on both feet; bend your knees slightly, and bend over while maintaining equal weight balance. Keeping your balance is crucial here. Your strikes won’t be consistent if you’re on your heels or toes. Ideally, you’d like to bend over where you can straighten your arms as comfortably as possible.

Initially, this change will feel odd, but you will get used to it after doing it over and over. Now hold your club in this position and try to get used to it.

Drill to Improve Posture and Body Rotation

The rotational motion of swinging the club can be problematic for many amateurs. As their posture keeps changing, their hands start to throw at the ball. The wall drill comes as a huge help in solving this problem.

When setting up to the ball, put an alignment stick behind you, so it touches under your lead hip. During your downswing, when you hit the ball, maintain constant pressure on the stick. Once you get out of your posture, you won’t feel the stick anymore. Practicing this drill will help you achieve better rotation while maintaining your posture throughout the entire swing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I hit the ground with my irons?

A shallow angle of attack usually explains why you hit the ground before the ball. With a shallow Angle of Approach, the club approaches the ball from a close angle to the land. And due to the proximity between the club and the ground, heavy/fat shots are likely to result when the club is this close to the ground.

How do I stop topping the golf ball with my driver?

Our guide above will surely help you fix most of your woes with the driver. You must understand your flaws and keep practicing the fixes regularly. And you can always seek aid from a professional if you’re struggling with particular maneuvers.

Does swaying lead to a topped shot? Why can’t I stop swaying during the backswing?

Yes, it does. The swing arc’s bottom can be positioned behind the ball if you slide your hips back during the backswing and do not bring them back to their proper position for impact. It ultimately leads to a topped shot. The trick is to lean on your right knee to keep your upper body in place after takeaway and backswing.

How do I maintain a steady back and shoulders when hitting the ball?

Your chest should be at an approximate 50-60 degree angle to the ground, and your back should be straight, engaging your glutes. Keep in mind that the body follows the head. During your swing, if you lift your head, your back and shoulders aren’t far behind.

Is there any technology that I can use to keep track of what I’m doing?

Yes. The current generation of swing analyzers provides a 3D view of your swings and your mistakes.

Final Words

Topping the golf ball is ever so humiliating, and the tips above are sure to help you fend it off. Hopefully, you won’t have to worry about topping the golf ball anymore if you keep up the consistent practice until you master it.

However, if you still feel overwhelmed by all these techniques, you are not alone. For particular troubles that are too challenging to handle alone, get assistance from a swing coach you trust. Remember- from Tiger Woods to Phil Mickelson; everybody gets help; therefore, there’s no need to hesitate. Happy golfing!

The temperature in the golf course is never too mild but sometimes it might be wild enough to reach the peak. Therefore, you must be ready to play hot and dry while playing summer golf when the temperature keeps most at or around the 80s.

But what will you do when there is a forecast that on a given day, the temperature may reach 100 degrees? You may decide to stay off and sacrifice the booking fee. However, smart planning and precaution can throw a tough challenge to the burning sun, and playing golf in 100 degree weather may provide you with ecstasy.

6 Secrets of Playing Golf in Extreme Heat

Below you go with 6 secrets to beat even the high temperature in the desert golf in September.

#1. Hydrate Yourself

When you are playing golf under the hot sun that is heating the earth at 100 degrees temperature or around, you cannot wait to get thirsty and then drink. Rather, you should keep your water intake on without getting too heavy in your belly so that you cannot move swiftly as golf requires.

To make clear, you should drink a few sips of water before you land on the course and keep drinking a considerable amount at regular intervals. Drinking no water until the front nine is done and drink as much as half a gallon when it is over will be too foolish to avoid dehydrating. What is even more crucial is to keep other liquid intakes at bay. It should be only water and no beer. The modern carts in the golf course tend to have water coolers in them.

#2. Sunscreen

It would be a wrong notion to keep focused only on physical strength and fitness while outdoor sports are involved. When you have to play staying exposed to scorching heat, sunburn is a common issue to invite if you are not careful to protect your skin. It’s not about keeping the fairness of your skin; the matter is ever serious.

If you play under the raging sun for a longer period, you are under the constant threat of skin cancer.  A top-quality sunscreen is an unavoidable recommendation here to prevent the onslaught of burning sun and its ultraviolet rays.

#3. Snack a lot

When the sun is raging at its top, frequent water intake may keep you hydrated to the highest but what will compensate for your calorie burn.

In this regard, there is no alternative to go proactive in energizing yourself to keep up with your normal performance level. And the best way to do this is to snack as much as you can.

Given the stress of the game and the heat, you cannot eat too much what you shouldn’t do either but you should have your snacks so long your rounds are on.

#4. Do not miss the shade

You must not miss any opportunity to be under the shade even if it is for the shortest period. You will come across nobody standing under the scorching sun when he has a scope to be away from the tee box.

And if you cannot afford to be away from the tee time for long, get your small cotton towel soaked with cool water and wrap it around the neck. You can feel the magic instantly as it will bring you quickly back to your normal state.

#5. Put on a Hat

It is the head skull and face that receives the intense attack from the rising temperature and so you become affected immediately. There is a way out to keep the fierce heat blocked. A wide-brimmed hat will be a great help to keep the direct sun off your head and face.

On top of keeping you cooler, a hat will bar the angry sun from frying your forehead and heating up the neck.

#6. Conserve Energy

If you do not want your $30/40 to go in vain and plan to attend the rounds in the golf course, the first thought that comes to your mind is how to spend less energy or conserve your energy. To do so, you must take a lot more rest than you usually do and avoid everything that may cause overexerting yourself.

Veteran golfers opine that the two most important things to challenge 100 degrees of weather include conserving energy and staying hydrated.

Takeaway…

Now, you have learned how to face the raging sun in summer golf. But you should not risk certain health issues when the heat is too extreme. Otherwise, these are the secrets to succeed in playing golf in 100-degree weather and keeping your pro-level up.

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