Why Do I Cut Across the Golf Ball?

That frustrating cutting motion across the golf ball, which often produces a weak slice or a dreadful pull, is one of the most common issues for golfers. It feels powerless, looks awkward, and sends the ball anywhere but where you're aiming. The good news is that you're not alone, and the fix is simpler than you think. This article will break down exactly why you cut across the ball and give you straightforward, actionable drills to transform your out-to-in swing path into a powerful, in-to-out motion.

What "Cutting Across the Ball" Actually Means

Before we can fix the problem, we need to understand it. When a coach talks about "cutting across the ball," they are describing your swing path. Imagine a straight line running from behind the ball, through the ball, and towards your target. This is the target line.

• An in-to-out path means the club head approaches the ball from inside the target line and moves to the outside of the target line after impact. This is the path required to hit a powerful, straight shot or a soft draw.
• An out-to-in path means the club head approaches the ball from outside the target line and comes across it, moving to the inside after impact. This is the "cutting" motion.

This out-to-in swing is also famously known as coming "over the top." Instead of the club dropping into a powerful position on the downswing, it gets thrown outside the correct plane and swipes across the equator of the ball. This steep, chopping motion robs you of power and consistency. The result? A weak slice if the clubface is open, or a sharp pull to the left if the face is closed to the path. Either way, it's not a shot that inspires confidence.

The Real Reasons You Cut Across the Ball

At its core, cutting across the ball is a symptom of a swing that isn't using the body correctly. The golf swing is a rotational movement around your spine, powered by your big muscles - your core and your hips. The “cut” happens when the arms and shoulders take over and try to do all the work. Here are the most common reasons why this happens.

Reason #1: The Upper Body Initiates the Downswing

This is the number one cause of an over-the-top swing. After a good backswing turn, many amateur golfers feel an urgent need to hit the ball. Their first move is to fire their right shoulder (for a right-handed golfer) and arms from the top. This action immediately pushes the club out and away from the body, forcing it onto that steep, out-to-in path.

A proper downswing sequence is a chain reaction that starts from the ground up. The feeling should be that you’re moving your weight to your lead side as your hips begin to unwind. This allows the arms and club to drop naturally a bit behind you into the "slot," setting up a shallow, powerful approach from the inside. When the upper body fires first, that beautiful sequence is short-circuited before it even has a chance to start.

Reason #2: A Flawed Setup That Pre-sets the Cut

Your swing is often a direct reaction to your setup. If you set up for a slice, your body will instinctively make a slicing motion. A common setup flaw is aiming your shoulders and hips well to the left of the target, even if your feet are aimed correctly. This is called having an "open" alignment.

When your body is aligned left at the start, it feels natural to swing along that open shoulder line. So, your body simply does what you’ve prepared it to do - swing to the left, which means cutting across the target line. You might stand like this subconsciously because you’re trying to prevent a slice to the right, but it only reinforces the faulty swing path. Remember the proper order from your setup: get the clubface aimed at the target first, then build your stance and body alignment parallel to that line.

Reason #3: A Stalled Lower Body Rotation

Power in the golf swing comes from creating rotational speed by turning your body. Think of your body as the engine and your arms as the transmission. If your lower body - specifically your hips - stops turning in the downswing, there’s no room for your arms to swing down the correct path. They get blocked.

With nowhere to go, the arms are forced to reroute, swinging up and over the top to get to the ball. You an often diagnose this by how you finish. Do you find yourself finishing flat-footed, with your hips still facing the ball? A good finish involves your hips and chest rotating all the way through so they are facing the target, with almost all your weight on your lead foot. If your hips stall, your arms are left to fend for themselves, almost always resulting in an out-to-in cut across the ball.

Actionable Drills to Stop Cutting Across It For Good

Understanding the "why" is half the battle. Now, let's work on the "how." These drills are designed to retrain your body and give you the feeling of a proper, in-to-out swing path. Don't just go through the motions - try to truly understand the sensation each drill creates.

Drill #1: The Headcover Guard Rail

This is one of the most effective visual aids to stop you from coming over the top. It provides immediate, undeniable feedback.

1. Place a ball down on the range.
2. Take your driver headcover (or a rolled-up towel) and place it on the ground about a foot outside of your target line and about a foot ahead of your golf ball. If your out-to-in path is severe, give yourself more room at first.
3. Your task is simple: hit the golf ball without hitting the headcover.

If you swing over the top, you will hit the headcover on your downswing. To miss it, you have no choice but to drop the club to the inside and approach the ball from the correct path. This drill forces you to create space and swing from the inside-out.

Drill #2: The Step-Through Swing

This dynamic drill is perfect for teaching the proper downswing sequence and getting your lower body to lead the way. It’s all about feeling how the lower body needs to transfer weight and start the turn.

1. Set up to a ball with an iron, but bring your trail foot (your right foot for a righty) up next to your lead foot so your feet are close together.
2. As you make your backswing, step backward with your trail foot into its normal position. This helps you feel a full turn away from the ball.
3. Here's the key: To start the downswing, your very first move should be to step forward and toward the target with your trail foot, crossing it over your lead foot. Then, continue to swing through.

This might feel strange, but you literally cannot start the downswing with your upper body while doing this drill. The forward step forces your lower body to initiate the swing, moves your weight correctly, and encourages your hips to rotate fully. It’s a powerful muscle memory exercise.

Drill #3: Feel the Rotational Swing

Sometimes, we get too tied up in mechanics. This drill is about forgetting technical positions and just feeling the shape of the swing. The golf swing is a circle, a rounded action around the body, not an up-and-down wood chop.

1. Get in your setup position without a ball.
2. Focus on one thought: "turn and unwind." Feel your torso rotating away from the non-existent ball. Feel your shoulders and hips making that a big turn back.
3. From the top, your only feeling should be unwinding that rotation. Feel your hips and torso turn first, letting the arms follow. Imagine the clubhead is just along for the ride, circling around your body.
4. Make five practice swings just focusing on this smooth, rounded sensation. Then, step up to a ball and try to replicate that same feeling. The intention is not to hit the ball, but to make your practice swing. The ball just gets in the way.

This drill helps reprogram your brain from "hitting the ball" to "swinging the club." When you swing the club correctly, the ball will respond beautifully.

Final Thoughts

Overcoming the habit of cutting across the golf ball comes down to re-educating your body. The out-to-in path is an arm-dominant motion, and the solution is to train a body-led, rotational swing. By improving your sequence, checking your alignment, and using drills to feel a swing from the inside, you can build a more powerful and consistent swing path.

If you're ever struggling on the course or at the range and need a reminder on a drill or some instant advice, I find that immediate feedback is incredibly helpful. It might be a question about a swing feel, or you might need a smart strategy when a slice gets you into a tricky spot. For that kind of on-demand help, tools like Caddie AI give you access to a personal golf expert right in your pocket, taking the guesswork out of your practice and your play.