How to Stop Topping the Golf Ball (For Good)

You know that sinking feeling. You step up to the ball, take a deep breath, swing—and watch helplessly as the ball skims off the top of the clubface and dribbles twenty yards.

Topping the golf ball is one of those gut-punch mistakes that every golfer knows too well. But here’s the good news: it’s not a life sentence.

With a few key setup tweaks and some smarter swing habits, you can stop topping the ball for good—and start striking it the way you actually meant to.

Why You Keep Topping the Golf Ball

First things first: let’s talk about the main culprits.

Incorrect ball position is a big one. When the ball is too far forward in your stance—especially with irons or woods—you end up catching it on the upswing. And that’s a recipe for a topped shot.

Then there’s poor posture and loss of spine angle. If you stand up through your swing or fail to maintain your spine tilt, you’re basically inviting disaster.

And let’s not forget improper weight transfer. Hanging back on your trail foot or reverse pivoting makes it almost impossible to strike down properly. Instead of compressing the ball, you clip it—and not in a good way.

Other common issues? Over-bending your knees, doing the dreaded “chicken wing” with your arms at impact, and that classic move: lifting your head too early. (Spoiler: it’s usually not your eyes that are the problem—it’s your body losing posture.)

Bottom line: topping the ball usually isn’t one mistake—it’s a bad cocktail of a few things going wrong at once.

Setup Changes That Actually Work

The fastest way to fix a topped shot? Nail your setup.

Ball Position:

• Irons: Middle of your stance or just slightly forward.
• Driver: Off the inside of your lead heel.
• Fairway Woods: About two balls forward from center.

Posture:

• Bend from your hips, not your waist.
• Keep your back straight and your knees slightly flexed.

Weight Transfer:

• Start balanced.
• Shift your pressure onto your lead side during the downswing.

Spine Angle:

• Maintain it all the way through impact. Think about staying in your original tilt rather than standing up early.

Arm Extension:

• Keep your arms extended through impact. No chicken wings allowed.

Or, as Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan puts it: “Maintain your spine angle through impact, and your tops will be gone for good.”

Drills That Make a Real Difference

You don’t need a fancy coach or a million-dollar simulator to fix this. Just a little time and a few clever drills.

Hit in Front of the Line Drill:

• Put a line (chalk, tape, whatever) on the ground.
• Focus on striking the ground 1–3 inches ahead of the line.
• Forces you to hit down, not up.

Tee Peg Drill:

• Stick a tee just ahead of your ball.
• Your mission? Smack the ball and the tee. Goodbye, topped shots.

Towel Drill:

• Lay a towel a few inches behind the ball.
• Hit without touching the towel.
• If you’re clipping the towel, you’re still scooping.

Weight Transfer Tap Drill:

• Practice short swings.
• Focus on tapping your weight onto the lead foot and finishing with your chest facing the target.

Little Swing, Big Rotation Drill:

• Make half swings emphasizing full body rotation.
• Once you’re making clean contact, slowly build to full swings.

Three Tee Drill:

• Line up three tees.
• Practice hitting down through all three.
• Teaches you to keep the club moving downward through the ball.

How to Make It Stick

Here’s the deal: bad habits die hard. If you want lasting results, you’ve got to be a little bit stubborn about your fundamentals.

• Check your setup before every single shot.
• Prioritize weight shift and a strong finish—weight on your front side, chest to the target, arms fully extended.
• Use feedback tools like alignment sticks, foot spray on your clubface, or even a simple phone video.
• Practice your drills —even five minutes a day will start to build real muscle memory.

It’s easy to think you’re fixed after a good range session. But if you skip the basics, those topped shots will sneak right back into your game.

If you want more great tips for cleaning up your iron play, check out our guide on improving your ball striking consistency.

And remember: golf isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making fewer dumb mistakes. Fix the top—and you’ll be amazed at how much more fun the game gets.