Make a perfect downswing and hit more fairways. Here’s how

Coming over the top is the bane of recreational golfers. All you get is a heavy dose of pulls, slices and a ton of missed fairways. 

Here’s how to practice making an on-plane downswing by better syncing your arms and body.

1. Lay down a club extending from your front foot, settle into address and place your gloved hand on your sternum, making sure your front elbow points at the target. 

2. Using only your trail arm, swing to the top, turning your upper body until your front elbow points well behind the ball. 

3. Now, the secret sauce: Shift your lower body toward the target while allowing the club to drop. This move is the exact opposite from the cast you’re probably doing now.

The goal is to keep your front elbow pointing behind the ball. If you can reach this position, all you have to do is turn through impact and release your hands. The result: big drives that never leave the target. 

Mike Malizia is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and is the director of instruction at the Club at Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Fla.