Topping is hitting the ball above the centre and the higher it is hit the more it will be driven into the ground with a loss of momentum.

In the same way that a billiard ball, with "right hand side" played full against the top cushion from back, breaks to the right, so a topped ball when it receives the forward spin by topping it will ricochet from the ground with the spin reversed and not only will rise quickly, but because of the backward spin will fall dead when it again strikes the ground. A topped ball is, therefore, often desirable. Such a stroke, however, should only be made when the ball is on a downward slope, otherwise it is apt to be driven too much into the ground.

Oh, my poor head !

d e - the top cushion. a b - right hand side.

c - direction of spin given the billiard ball.

/ - direction of reverse spin given the ball by the concussion with the cushion.

g - the direction taken by the billiard ball. h k - the ground. m l - a topped ball.

n - direction of spin given the ball by topping it.

o - direction of reverse spin given the ball by its concussion with the ground.

P - direction taken by the golf ball.

To Avoid Topping

Keep the eye not only on the back of the ball but on the ground back of the ball.

Do not stand with the ball so far to the right of the body that it will be hit as the club is descending.

With the forward swing bring the club head close to the ground some distance behind the ball.

Do not rise on the toes with the forward swing to avoid digging into the ground.

Do not swing in a circle, as only one point of the arc of a circle comes near the ground and this may not be below the centre of the ball.

Summary of Slicing, Pulling and Topping,

vertical section.

horizontal section.

The ball should be hit below the line a b c.

A ball hit above the line a b c will be topped.

A ball hit on the line If will be sliced.

A ball hit on the line h f will be pulled.

A ball hit at c and f will be sliced if the club head swings across the ball from right to left and will be pulled if from left to right.

A ball hit within the section c b g and f e h will be topped and pulled.

A ball hit within the section c b g and f e I will be topped and sliced.