Hi Andy,

Hitting the ball thick (behind the ball) and topping tend to come from the same swing fault: leaving your weight on the back foot and scooping/flipping at the ball through impact.

You will need to understand more about transferring your weight to the back foot in the back swing and the front foot in the downswing and hitting down at the ball, avoiding something called the "Reverse C" or "Reverse Pivot". Ask your coach about it at your next lesson.

By the way, don't feel isolated, most Golfers do this when they start but the soonest you get out of it the better will be your progress.

Hope this helps.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!