What Is a Topped Shot?
A topped shot is when the bottom of the club hits the top half of the ball, so instead of flying into the air it skips and scuttles along the ground. It travels a fraction of the intended distance and usually stops well short of the target.
It's one of the most common beginner mishits, and one of the most fixable. The cause is nearly always the same: the club is too high when it reaches the ball.
What a topped shot looks like
- The ball barely gets off the ground, or bounces along it.
- It often dives into the turf a few yards ahead, then hops forward.
- You feel a dull, hard click rather than a crisp strike.
- There's no divot, and often a mark on the top of the ball.
A topped shot is a cousin of the thin shot, where the leading edge catches the ball around its middle. Thin shots still fly, low and hard. Topped shots hardly fly at all. More on that in fat vs thin golf shots.
Why golfers top the ball
| Cause | What happens |
|---|---|
| Lifting up through impact | Standing up or raising your chest lifts the club off the ground |
| Trying to help the ball up | A scooping, flicking action makes the club rise before it reaches the ball |
| Looking up too soon | The head lifts to see the shot, and the shoulders and club follow |
| Weight on the back foot | The club bottoms out behind the ball and is already rising when it gets there |
| Ball too far forward | The club reaches its lowest point before the ball |
| Tension | Tight arms shorten during the swing, pulling the club up |
The big one for beginners is trying to lift the ball. It feels natural to scoop it into the air, but irons are designed to hit down on the ball. The loft does the lifting. What is loft in golf? explains why.
How to stop topping the ball
- Stay in your posture. Keep the bend from your hips through impact. Feel that your chest stays over the ball until it's gone.
- Hit down with irons. Picture the club brushing the grass just after the ball. A small divot in front of where the ball sat is a good sign.
- Get your weight forward. At impact, most of your weight should be on your front foot.
- Check ball position. For mid irons, the ball sits about the middle of your stance. Move it back a touch if you keep topping it.
- Keep your eyes on the back of the ball until after you've hit it.
- Relax your arms. Loose, extended arms keep the club's low point steady.
Two drills for clean contact
The towel drill
Lay a towel flat about a hand's width behind the ball. Hit shots without touching the towel. This trains a downward strike, and it fixes topped shots and fat shots at the same time.
The line drill
Draw a line in the sand at a practice bunker, or use a tee peg line on the range grass. Try to make the club touch the ground on, or just in front of, the line every time. Once you can do that, put a ball on the line.
Does a topped shot count as a stroke?
Yes. Any time you make a stroke at the ball, it counts, however far it goes. Even a complete miss (an air shot or "whiff") counts as a stroke if you meant to hit the ball. The only good news is that a topped ball is usually still in play, often in the fairway.
Topped shots in Mashy
In Mashy, the three-tap swing meter has its own version of the top. If you miss the third tap, Pip tops the ball: it scuttles off low and short, carrying well under half its usual distance. It's the game's reminder that the final tap counts as much as the power. If it keeps happening, read three-click swing meter tips, then take a few holes in Practice mode to settle the rhythm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a topped shot and a thin shot?
Both are struck too high on the ball. A thin shot catches the ball around its equator with the leading edge, so it still flies, low and fast. A topped shot strikes the top half of the ball, so it barely leaves the ground and travels only a short way. Topped is the more extreme version.
Why do I top the ball with my fairway woods?
Fairway woods are often played from a tight lie, and many golfers try to lift the ball into the air with them. That raises the club too early. Instead, sweep the ball off the turf with a shallow swing, keep your posture, and trust the club's loft to get the ball airborne.
Why do I top the ball when I'm nervous?
Tension makes your arms tighten and shorten, and nerves make people look up early to see where the ball has gone. Both lift the club off its path. A steady pre-shot routine, a couple of deep breaths and focusing on the back of the ball can all help.
Is a topped shot always bad?
Mostly, yes, but a topped shot isn't always a disaster. On firm, flat ground, a topped ball can run a fair way and stay in the fairway, leaving a simple next shot. The real danger is when there's water, a bunker or deep rough between you and the target.
How do you top the ball in Mashy?
In Mashy, a topped shot happens when you miss the third tap on the swing meter. The ball comes off low and short, carrying well under half its normal distance. Make the final tap as the marker returns to the sweet spot to strike it cleanly.