rolltherock
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I have been fighting this problem for so long. When my backswing is completed and my upper body is in a coil, I almost always start the downswing with my shoulders and this leads to me being off plane, an outside/in swing, and I cut the ball causing a slight fade.
I have learned to live with it and even once in a while I do keep the shoulders back and hit it nice and square, but I would like to do it more often.
I know what the problem is, but have been unable to cure it. I was wondering if there were any drills that you would recommend.
It's difficult to diagnose exactly, but if you feel your arms are initiating your move from the top then chances are you are coming over the top as you stated.
Body rotation certainly depends on how much hip turn you are getting, but one thing I fought for years was driving with my hips and then not finishing the release of my hips and then the arms would catch up and race across my body. It was a protection mechanism for what I didn't pick up on....3 tears of the medial meniscus in my left knee. My body said 'uh, no way, you are not finishing hard on the left side'. Once I had surgery I fired all the way through and stopped coming over the top.
I hate to give golf advice and advocate professional eyes, but since you asked:
Make sure you are staying connected with the arms to the body. This is a great way to ensure your legs/hips are powering the golf swing. Don't be afraid to exaggerate this move early on and don't even hit balls at first....just feel as if you cannot get your upper arms off your chest....sewn right onto your torso. Then worry about speeding things up when you are making good contact with abbreviated swings.
Post surgery this is all I did b/c it's all I could do.....and it really helped me reaffirm the connection b/t my arms and body. If you stay connected it's extremely difficult to come over the top if your setup is square and proper.
Two great drills:
1. Put the butt of your 7 iron in your belly button. Raise it up to waist level like you are playing T-Ball. Take small swings back up to waist high and at that point the club will start to pull away from your belly, but keep it all connected gong back. Chances are you are disconnected on the way to the top as well. You can also use this move in a downswing manner and go from waist high to a simulated impact position, obviously not hitting any balls. If you keep the butt of the club in your belly you will have to power it with your lower body movement.
2. As mentioned earlier, a towel under EACH are will give you instant feedback on upper/lower body synch. I keep two wash cloths in my bag for practice to this day