Laid off at the top

Hi,

I'm a low-handicap player, and have been working with my pro on getting my backswing steeper and less laid off at the top. I'm on plane until just after my right arm is parallel to the ground (I'm a lefty). At the second half of the backswing, my club gets a little floppy, lays off and points right.

My pro tells me that my right arm lifts and gets away from my chest on the way to the top, so he's trying to get my arms a little deeper and more connected. He's also trying to have me feel my thumbs more under the shaft. I'm not sure whether or not I'm on the right track.

Any suggestions on preventing that little lay-off at the top? I have down-the-line video I could email if needed.

I think you're on the right track. I have and occasionally still suffer from the same malady. Sometimes it helps to think of not only your forward arm, that being your right arm as a lefty, but also your trailing arm. I have found that in my case when I lay off the club, the elbow of my trailing arm is beneath that of my forward arm at the top of my swing. I understand that both elbows should be at the same height relative to the ground at the top. Prove it by looking at pictures of good players at the top of their swings. The only notable player whose trailing elbow was lower than his lead elbow was Ben Hogan, and he very much laid the club off on purpose to prevent a hook.

This can happen if your forward hand and arm are too dominant relative to your other side. To counteract this tendency you must allow your trailing arm to move away from your side as you swing the club away from the ball.

If this doesn't work, I suggest a stronger dose of medicine. A severely laid off top position exhibits a quite visible palm of the trailing hand at the top of the swing from the golfer's perspective. Swing to the top and stop. Now look at your hands. If your right palm is in sight, (assuming a right handed golfer) then the club will undoubtedly be laid off and pointing way left of target. Try to swing back to the top and place your right hand in an opposite position where you can see the back of your trailing hand. You should have the sensation of twisting the grip and shaft a bit across the line with your trailing hand. In fact, a good exercise it to try to point the club across the line with your trailing hand. You'll notice your elbows leveling out and the grip will appear more above your thumbs rather than to the side and behind.

Hope this helps!!

You can contact me through PM to email the video, I'll be happy to take a look. The bottom line reason that players lay-off the club is their left wrist position, in your case right wrist, at the top. Your wrist is "turned" instead of being vertical.