Over The Top From The Inside (Overview)

Written by Todd in Online Golf Instruction

You may have heard many times in your golfing journey not to go over the top.

The traditional over the top golf swing has been known to cause slices and a complete loss of power.

This is a common move among beginner golfers or people who played a lot of baseball in their life.  It is most characterized by the big banana shaped shot that starts left and slices way right.

But what if there was an over the top swing that actually worked and produced great results with quality speed and power?

Enter Christo Garcia from My Swing Evolution.  Christo is an avid golfer who loves the game of golf.  He is on a journey to play his best golf possible.  He has chronicled his journey through his youtube channel and spent many years trying to copy the moves that Ben Hogan made and described in his book.

Christo calls his swing the Over The Top Miracle.

If you are faced with this shot, you want to have confidence in three things 1)you will hit the ball solid, 2) it will start int he right direction, 3) you will hit it the proper distance. It doesn’t matter if your back swing looks great, just produce the results you desire!

Over the Top From the Inside Golf Swing

Below, I will go through the following:

  • What is the over the top from the inside golf swing?
  • How is it different from the over the top traditional swing?
  • Why does the over the top from the inside swing work for some?
  • Who used the over the top move from the inside?
  • How to get started with the over the top from the inside golf swing?

Here is the description from his website that promotes his course:

“After twelve years of intense research, Christo Garcia from My Swing Evolution has created the most groundbreaking and controversial instructional video ever – The Over the Top Miracle Swing. By studying the greatest swingers from the past and turning conventional wisdom on its head, Christo has reached new heights with his ball striking by swinging “Over the Top”. This is universally considered a “death move” by most golf instructors but Christo has fully embraced it and believes it is nothing short of miraculous. Experience the greatest ball striking of your life with the Over the Top Miracle Swing!”

https://myswingevolution.com/
Could you imagine owning your own golf swing and not trying to replicate the “perfect” golf swing?

What is the over the top from the inside golf swing?

The over the top from the inside swing can be characterized as a swing where the takeaway is inside and then there is a slight loop over the top of the backswing trace. 

 The golfer that has this motion often takes the club pretty far to the inside compared to the swing taught today and then has the slighted move over the top of the backswing plane.  I believe that many golfers of the past and golfers of today when up in similar positions on the downswing, but arrived there differently because the golf backswing has evolved as many instructors want an aesthetically pleasing golf swing for their players.

How is it different from the over the top traditional swing?

The major difference in the over the top from the inside is that the golfer remains inside or underneath the plane that is ideal for striking a solid shot.  The golfer who has the distance robbing over the top move that causes the slice often comes way over the top and across the ball creating an out to in golf swing that is nearly impossible to strike a ball solid with.

In the traditional over the top move, the golfer oftens ends up very steep with a path 10-12 degrees left, which is a recipe for disaster.

Playing golf with confidence is so much more fun than always guessing!

Why does the over the top from the inside swing work for some?

At the end of the day, the golf swing that is able to come down on a consistent plane and produce a swing path and clubface that works, can hit great shots.  Regardless of what the backswing looks like, the golfer can end up in a great position.   Think of Jim Furyk as an example. 

While you would never teach anyone his golf swing, he ultimately ends in a quality slot to attack the ball and strike it at a quality angle of attack.

Today’s modern swing as the golfer taking the club more to the outside on the backswing and then “shallowing” or dropping the club to a more inside or lower swing plane and path.  This is a move rehearsed by many prior to the full swing.

Who used the over the top move from the inside?

  • Bobby Jones
  • Sam Snead
  • Mickey Wright
  • Ben Hogan
  • Gene Sarazen
  • Patty Berg
  • Babe Zaharias
  • Francis Ouimet

I would recommend checking out the youtube channel “My Swing Evolution” and exploring some of these swings above. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWqfI2Phht0

How to get started with the over the top from the inside golf swing?

There are several drills that one can use.  The best option is to feel has though you are taking the club way inside on the backswing and then attempt to pull the ball or hit is a bit left.  

I would recommend using video to take your swing as it is today and then work on creating an inside and then a slight move over the top, but remaining inside as you approach the ball.  It can feel power and liberating for those that have been too far to the inside and hit the snap hook from time to time from being too far to the inside.

Final Thoughts: Over the Top From the Inside Golf Swing

As the evolution of the easy to access video recording systems evolved in the golf world, more and more players and instructors wanted to develop swings that looked good.  For years, they worked together to produce swings that went back and down on the same swing.  Think of NIck Faldo’s swing and how perfect it looked.

When in reality, the key really is where you are at in the downswing and how you arrive at impact.  What the golfer is doing on the backswing is irrelevant as long as he or she can get to a quality position on the downswing and into impact.

My prime example is our post on the 10 weirdest golf swings of all time.  They produced great results, but looked weird and you probably wouldn’t teach them.

10 Weirdest Golf Swings of All Time!

When you can control your start line and curve, the game becomes fun!

What Matters Most to the Golfer?

The best golfers are able to control the following:

  1. Low Point Control – They can hit the ground 99.9% of the time at the right spot, helping them hit solid shot after solid shot.
  2. Start Line and Curve – They can start the ball down the intended line with a slight draw or slight fade as the ball works towards the target.  This helps the golfer stay on the offensive side of the ball always moving towards the target.
  3. Speed – They have enough speed and distance to play the course.

If you can control these 3 elements, the key is to find a swing that can produce these 3.  Your backswing might not look prefect on video or be something that one would teach, but can you get the results you desire?

Arnold Palmer said it best,

“Swing your swing. Not some idea of a swing. Not a swing you saw on TV. Not that swing you wish you had. No, swing your swing. Capable of greatness. Prized only by you. Perfect in its imperfection. Swing your swing. I know, I did.”

Arnold Palmer

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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