Introduction: The Shoulder Story Behind Over-the-Top
Most golfers know the sting of a sliced drive. The ball starts left, then veers weakly right, as if magnetized toward trouble. Coaches call it the over-the-top swing path, and it is one of the most common swing flaws in golf.
But here’s the twist: over-the-top isn’t just a “swing problem.” It’s often a shoulder problem.
That’s the focus of the first GFAA Content Partner Video Series, featuring Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, PGA, the founders of the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) located in Oceanside, California. In this installment, they reveal how the shoulders drive the Body-Swing Connection and explain why limited shoulder function is a direct pathway to the dreaded over-the-top movement.
What Is Over-the-Top?
Over-the-top occurs when the club is thrown outside the ideal swing plane at the start of the downswing. The club path cuts across the ball from out-to-in, producing either:
• A slice, if the face is open relative to the path.
• A pull, if the face is square.
Biomechanics research shows that this steepening move is far more prevalent in amateur golfers than skilled players (Kwon, Como, Singhal, Lee, & Han, 2013).
The Body-Swing Connection: Shoulders as the Gateway
TPI’s Body-Swing Connection framework teaches that every swing flaw has a physical correlation. For over-the-top, one of the biggest culprits is the shoulders; specifically, the trail shoulder’s ability to externally rotate during transition.
• Trail Shoulder External Rotation: This motion allows the club to shallow naturally in the downswing.
• Limited Motion: If external rotation is restricted, the body compensates. The arms lift, the club steepens and the result is over-the-top.
• Scapular Control: Weak stabilizers or poor posture also disrupt the sequencing that keeps the club on plane.
As Dr. Greg Rose explains in the video: “If the shoulder can’t move, the swing will always find another way, usually by going over-the-top.”
Why Shoulder Function Matters
The shoulders aren’t just passengers in the swing; they are the steering wheel. When they function well, the swing stays on plane. When they don’t, performance and long-term health may suffer:
• Distance Loss: Restricted external rotation decreases clubhead speed and efficiency (MacKenzie & Sprigings, 2009).
• Accuracy Decline: A steeper, over-the-top path magnifies curvature and mishits.
• Injury Risk: Limited shoulder motion shifts strain to the lumbar spine and elbows, elevating injury risk (Lindsay & Vandervoort, 2014).
Roberts et al. (2024) emphasize that body-swing issues like these are a leading cause of frustration among new golfers, and a reason many leave the game early due to injury.
Video Spotlight: Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, PGA: TPI in Action
This first episode of the GFAA/TPI Content Partner Video Series is more than instruction, it’s a masterclass. In this video, Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, PGA:
• Screen golfers for shoulder limitations using TPI’s Body-Swing Connection protocols.
• Demonstrate how restricted external rotation leads directly to the over-the-top swing flaw.
• Prescribe simple, effective drills to correct the problem.
This spotlight is part of an ongoing video series designed to give golfers and coaches direct access to tour-level insights. By watching, you don’t just learn about the slice, you see the fix unfold in real time.
As Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, PGA remind us: “The swing follows the body. Free the shoulder, and you free the swing.”
Three Key Exercises from the TPI Video
The video features three cornerstone exercises that directly address the shoulder’s role in the over-the-top swing flaw:
1. Banded External Rotations
• Purpose: Strengthens the rotator cuff, particularly the infraspinatus and teres minor.
• Connection: By improving external rotation strength, golfers can allow the club to shallow naturally instead of being forced over the top.
• Research Support: Rotator cuff strength has been linked to improved swing mechanics and reduced compensations (Lephart, Smoliga, Myers, Sell, & Tsai, 2007).
2. Wall Angels
• Purpose: Develops scapular mobility and thoracic extension.
• Connection: A mobile scapula and upper back create the postural foundation for the shoulders to rotate freely. Without this, the arms dominate, leading to steep swings.
• Research Support: Thoracic mobility has been shown to reduce swing variability and prevent excessive spinal stress (Lindsay & Vandervoort, 2014).
3. Prone T/Y/W Raises
• Purpose: Strengthens the mid and lower trapezius, rhomboids and posterior deltoids.
• Connection: Stable scapular muscles allow for better shoulder positioning in transition, reducing the likelihood of the arms “throwing” the club over the top.
• Research Support: Scapular stability is critical for maintaining proper swing sequencing and preventing overuse injuries (Kwon et al., 2013).
As Dave Phillips, PGA, emphasizes: “You don’t just train the swing, you train the body that makes the swing possible.” These three movements are the foundation of a shoulder-friendly, slice-resistant golf game.
Beyond Performance: Health and Longevity
Improving shoulder motion doesn’t just fix the slice; it protects the body. External rotation and scapular stability reduce shear forces on the lumbar spine and decrease rotator cuff strain, thereby extending careers and preserving the quality of life on and off the golf course (Lindsay & Vandervoort, 2014).
As TPI teaches, golf fitness is life fitness. By training the shoulders, we’re not only building better swings, but we’re also building better bodies.
Conclusion: Shoulders Lead the Way
The U.S. Army Ranger motto is “Rangers Lead the Way.” In golf, the over-the-top move has haunted golfers for generations. But thanks to the insights of Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, PGA, we know that one of its key roots lies in the shoulders; therefore, shoulders lead the way.
Their video in our GFAA Content Partner Series reminds us of a simple truth: the swing follows the body. When the shoulder can externally rotate, stabilize and sequence properly, the slice fades and the ball flight transforms.
Thus, the next time you see a slice off the tee, don’t just blame your swing; check your shoulders. That’s where the real story begins.
To stronger shoulders, straighter shots and longer careers,
Dr. Steven LorickPresident, Golf Fitness Association of America
Dr. Steven Lorick is a golf exercise physiologist recognized by the PGA of America, Titleist Performance Institute and NASM as a global expert in golf and fitness. Dr. Lorick holds a doctorate from USC, an MBA from Georgetown and over 20 advanced certifications, including from Stanford in nutrition. A military veteran, he was honored with the U.S. Congressional Award of Special Recognition as a member of the Presidential Escort.
References
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Hume, P. A., Keogh, J., & Reid, D. (2005). The role of biomechanics in maximizing distance and accuracy of golf shots. Sports Medicine, 35(5), 429–449. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535050-00004
Kwon, Y. H., Como, C., Singhal, K., Lee, S., & Han, K. H. (2013). Assessment of planarity of the golf swing based on the functional swing plane of the clubhead and motion planes of the body points. Sports Biomechanics, 12(2), 108–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2012.749939
Lephart, S. M., Smoliga, J. M., Myers, J. B., Sell, T. C., & Tsai, Y. S. (2007). An eight-week golf-specific exercise program improves physical characteristics, swing mechanics, and golf performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(3), 860–869. https://doi.org/10.1519/R-20506.1
Lindsay, D. M., & Vandervoort, A. A. (2014). Golf-related low back pain: A review of causative factors and prevention strategies. Sports Health, 6(5), 463–469. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738114529057
MacKenzie, S. J., & Sprigings, E. J. (2009). Understanding the role of shaft stiffness in the golf swing. Sports Engineering, 11(3), 165–175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-009-0020-1
Roberts, J., Mears, A., Hiley, M., & Langdown, B. (2024). Proceedings of the World Scientific Congress of Golf. Loughborough University.
Rose, G., & Phillips, D. (2015). TPI Body-Swing Connection™ Educational Materials. Titleist Performance Institute.