Does your trail hip clear early, forcing your hands over the top?
Over 80% of golfers who battle an "over-the-top" swing path have a physical mobility restriction in their trail hip, not a lack of swing discipline. Biomechanical screening data from the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) reveals that when a golfer lacks internal rotation in their trail hip, the pelvis cannot rotate backward into the trail heel during the downswing. To avoid falling off balance, the pelvis thrusts forward toward the golf ball—a universal flaw known as early extension. This pelvic thrust blocks the hands and elbows from dropping down into the target line, forcing the arms outward and across the ball on a steep, out-to-in path.
When you speak with a coach, ask this simple question before booking: "Do you screen my pelvic and hip mobility before telling me to swing from the inside?" A verified PGA coach never tells a restricted golfer to "just drop your hands" without testing hip mobility first. If your trail hip is tight, an authentic coach prescribes anatomical setup adjustments—such as flaring your trail foot 15° outward at address and dropping it two inches back to instantly open up 20° of pelvic clearance without spinal jamming.
Clearing your hips freely on the downswing creates immediate room for your arms to sweep through from the inside. You feel the deep satisfaction of catching the ball flush on an in-to-out path, watching your ball start right of the target and gently draw back to the center of the fairway.
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