Golf requires that golfers perfect their swing. One common golf swing issue is over-the-top (OTT).

When swinging from the tee, the golfer brings the golf club to the top to prepare for the swing. With the club cocked, the upper and lower body ideally separate, as the upper body turns at the start and does the work, and the legs stay steady, maintaining stability. As it comes down, the club shallows, with the club on the same plane as the forearm. The lower body pushes toward the ground as the club comes down and brushes along the ground, hitting the ball from the inside.

With OTT, the golfer goes to the backswing but fails to separate the upper and lower body, and the club is not shallow. The upper and lower body turn together, which results in a hack, and the club moves over the top of the ball from above rather than sweeping down to connect with the ball in a sweeping motion. This steep outside angle causes the ball to fly left in a straight arc, start left, and curve sharply right.

Correcting OTT involves practicing keeping the upper body still and in a straight line, even as the legs shift. It requires golfers to compensate by bending over the ball at the start as they line up the shot more pronounced than usual. The lead arm goes deeper under the shoulder as the club comes up. This shepherds the arms to an inside position that turns the steep hack into a viable swing.