Stop Coming Over the Top: A Simple Golf Cart Drill to Improve Your Downswing
If you struggle with slices, pulls, or inconsistent contact, there's a good chance you're coming over the top during the downswing.
Coming over the top is one of the most common swing faults I see in golfers, and the problem isn't always your arms or the golf club itself. Often, it starts with how your body sequences the downswing.
Many golfers begin the downswing by unwinding their upper body before they have properly shifted pressure into their lead side. When the shoulders rotate too early, the club can move outside the ideal path, making it much harder to approach the ball from the inside.
The result can be slices, pulls, inconsistent contact, and a loss of power.
The good news is that you can start improving this movement with a simple drill that doesn't even require hitting a golf ball.
Try This Simple Golf Cart Drill
The next time you're at the driving range, stand next to a golf cart and grab the side support with both hands.
Get into your golf posture and imagine you're beginning your downswing. While keeping your hands fixed on the side support, start pushing pressure down into your lead foot.
Your hands should stay in place while your lower body begins moving toward your lead side.
As you do this, you should feel a stretch develop through your midsection.
That's the feeling we're looking for.
By keeping your hands in place while shifting into the lead side, you're teaching your lower body to initiate the downswing without allowing your upper body to immediately unwind.
Why Does This Help You Stop Coming Over the Top?
A good golf swing depends heavily on sequencing.
When the upper body unwinds too early, the shoulders can pull the arms and club out toward the ball. From there, the club often approaches impact from outside the target line.
Instead, we want to give the lower body an opportunity to move into the lead side while the upper body stays back for just a fraction longer.
That separation can help create more room for the club to shallow and approach the ball from the inside.
When your sequencing improves, you may start to see:
A better club path into impact
More consistent contact
Fewer slices and pulls
Better use of the lower body
More efficient speed and power
Rather than trying to manually force the club into a certain position, this drill helps you improve the movement of your body that influences where the club goes.
How to Practice the Drill
Before hitting balls at your next range session, perform 10 to 15 slow repetitions while holding onto the side support of a golf cart.
Focus on pushing pressure into your lead foot while keeping your hands and upper body from immediately rotating toward the target.
Then step away from the cart and make a few slow practice swings while trying to recreate that same stretch through your midsection.
Start with half swings before gradually working your way back toward a full swing.
Remember, when you're making a swing change, don't worry about hitting perfect shots immediately. Give your body time to understand the new movement first.
Still Coming Over the Top? Let Me Look at Your Swing
While coming over the top is common, the reason it happens isn't necessarily the same for every golfer.
That's why simply copying a drill you see online doesn't always solve the problem.
Through my Skillest online golf lessons, you can upload videos of your swing from anywhere in the world. I'll personally analyze your swing, identify what's causing your specific pattern, and give you personalized feedback and drills to work on.
Instead of guessing what you should change, you'll have a clear plan based on your own golf swing.
Ready to improve your swing?
👉 https://skillest.com/@jonschoepfgolf
Upload your swing and let's start working on the changes that can help you play better golf.