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. 1: Control Your Center of Gravity
When you get to the top, your center of gravity shifts somewhere (the rear foot for most players) and from there the key is to allow the center of gravity to move into your forward toe so the rear shoulder can lower during the transition. Whenever the center of gravity fish-hooks into the forward heel during the transition, your rear shoulder will tend to come out and over. Control where your center of gravity goes from the top and you will never come over the top again!
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.