Tom F. Stickney II is the Director of Instruction and Business Development at Punta Mita, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Punta Mita is a 1,500-acre golf and beach resort located 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta on a beautiful peninsula surrounded by the Bay of Banderas on three sides. Amenities include two Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses with 14 holes directly on the water, a golf academy, four private beach clubs, a Four Seasons Hotel, a St. Regis Hotel, as well as multiple private villas and homesites available. Read on for Tom’s tip to help fix an “over the top” problem.
The most common problem in golf is when the player comes “over the top” or transitions the club shaft over the top of where it started at address, giving us the dreaded out to in golf swing. Whenever this happens you are left to hit big pulls or slices into right field! Here is a simple way that you can avoid this issue with another downswing thought.
Tip No. 2: Bump the Hips into Right Field
There is a common misconception that the hips spin right from the beginning of the downswing. When this occurs the rear shoulder is thrust out and over, thus forcing you to swing from out to in. Think about it…at the top your hips are pointing to the right of your target. If you bump them into right-field to begin the downswing, you will find that the rear shoulder will lower automatically, making “over the top” a thing of the past.
To see this in action, check out the video below.
For more information regarding Punta Mita, golf outings, golf schools and private lessons, e-mail tom.stickney@puntamita.com.
For more golf tips from Tom, click here.