Golf Tips: Golfs Biggest Swing Myth!
By Sam Adams
The biggest swing myth in golf is that looking up causes thin and topped shots. If you go to PGA.com there is nothing about it.
It is a common misconception among golfers that looking up too early leads to topping the ball, whiffing or thin shots. I polled golf professionals from around the world on social media and had only two that said they had ever actually seen it. They each said that they have had a student that, on rare occasions, actually “looked up” on a shot.
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There are three major causes of topped, whiffed, or thin shots and none of the three involves looking up or not keeping your head down or not looking up.
The number one reason for topped, whiffed, or thin shots that golfers try to “hit” the ball, causing them to deliver the club head to the ball too soon. This causes the club head to pass the hands too early and start up prior to impact. This causes the leading edge of the club or the sole to contact the ball first instead of the club face. Any time you contact the ball near or above the middle or equator of the ball it will not get airborne. It is essential to get the grip end of the club or hands slightly past the ball prior to impact.
The number two reason is a “V” shaped or “U” shaped golf swing. This means the club goes up too sharply on the backswing and comes down too steeply on the downswing and back up again sharply. This is particularly frustrating since you will occasionally hit a good shot and the swing feels the same as on the bad shot. On the rare occasion when the ball happens to be right at the bottom of the V or U the result is a good shot, but it is impossible to be consistent with this motion. The main problem is there is no margin of error at the bottom of the arc.
The club should approach the ball on the downswing like an airplane coming in for a landing. Gradually descending and then leveling out, not like a dive bomber descending sharply and then pulling up quickly.
The simplest cure for both of these is to place a broken tee on the ground a couple of inches ahead of the ball and make sure you hit the tee after you hit the ball.
A third, and less common, reason is changing your posture during the swing causing the head to move up or lift. This usually is caused by trying to lift or help the ball up at impact causing your legs to straighten and prevent the club from returning to the proper impact position. Just concentrate on keeping the club low to the ground for a few inches after impact.
Under no circumstances is a problem caused by “looking up” or “taking your eye off the ball.” I once had a female student who started her swing with her chin pressed against her chest. Of course this caused her shoulder to push her head back on the backswing. When I asked her why she did that her answer was her husband told her to do it to keep her head down.
In the final analysis, looking up is just another myth that keeps getting perpetuated by well-meaning golfers trying to help their friends and spouses.
One of the interesting things about golf is that anybody who can get the ball airborne thinks they can help other golfers. If you just can’t resist the temptation to help your buddies or your wife, please don’t tell them they looked up or didn’t keep their eye on the ball. Blind people play golf.
If you are having the problem of hitting the ball thin (sculling it), have someone video your swing and send it to me or post it on YouTube where I can find it. I’ll give you good advice on how to fix it!