Tip no. 20 - Curing the Thin / Top
with Pachesham Golf Academy

You're all set for that soaring five wood to the heart of the green, or a towering wedge that drops right by the hole - and what do you get? Your wood runs 50 yards, all along the ground, or the wedge shoots ankle-high straight through the green into the rough behind. The thin or top is a horrible feeling - put a stop to it now!

• If hit a lot of iron shots thin or fat, or if you are one of the many club golfers who suffers from hitting the ball too high, not getting enough difference in length between your longer irons, there is a very good chance that your impact position requires attention. • All good, consistent ball strikers have the club shaft and lead arm in line as they strike the ball, and not before!
• To get a feel for this position, try this drill. Put a coat hanger down the left side of the handle of the club and take your grip as normalyl as possible. The coat hanger should be up against the inside of your left forearm. The aim of this drill is to keep the connection of the coat hanger and your left forearm throughout the swing. • Done correctly your left wrist will be a lot flatter at impact, your right wrist will have a slight hinge and the club and left arm will be in line. This will also give you the feeling of swinging down into the ball.

THE COMPLETE ONE MINUTE TIPS, WITH   No. 1: Common Ball Flights - your golf ball is your teacher! No. 2: The Set Up - grip, stance and posture No. 3: The Straight Shot - getting the basics right No. 4: The Fade - for a gently-curving, soft-landing shot No. 5: The Pull - trees down the left? No worries! No. 6: The Hook - commonest fault in lower handicappers No. 7: The Pull Hook - eliminate this destructive shot No. 8: The Draw - for a penetrating, powerful ball flight No. 9: The Push - water to the right? No problem! No. 10: The Slice - cure this curse of the high handicapper No. 11: The Push Slice - fix it and keep out of the thick stuff No. 12: The Swing - backswing and downswing explained No. 13: Distance - tips for hitting it further No. 14: Pitching - master this basic scoring shot No. 15: Chipping - turn three into two around the green No. 16: The Lob - loft it and stop it close - like 'Lefty'! No. 17: Bunker Shots - no need to fear these any more! No. 18: Putting - tips and drills to end those three-putts No. 19: Awkward Lies - uphill, downhill and sidehill shots No. 20: The Thin or Top - fix this infuriating fault No. 21: The Fat or Duff - cure it and hit the ball clean! No. 22: Plugged Lies - don't give up, get out! No. 23: The Shank - how to cure 'the unmentionable' No. 24: Club Selection - some distance guidelines No. 25: Basic Rules - every golfer should know these No. 26: Course Management - learn to play the percentages For more help, see your PGA pro, or contact: Pachesham Golf Centre, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BP For all Lesson Enquiries Email: lessons@pacheshamgolf.co.uk Tel: 01372 843453 - Web: www.pacheshamgolf.co.uk Copyright ©Pachesham Golf Centre 2011, reproduced with permission