Laid Off at the Top
Also known as: laid off, laid-off position, laid off golf swing, club laid off at the top, laid off backswing, laid off swing
The club is laid off when, at the top of the backswing, the shaft points left of the target for a right-handed golfer (right of it for a left-hander). It is the opposite of across the line. Many coaches link a strongly laid-off top to a steep, out-to-in downswing, but many good players swing from a slightly laid-off position.
Picture the shaft at the top of a full backswing, roughly parallel to the ground. If it points at the target, it is on line. If it points left of the target for a right-hander, it is laid off. A laid-off club usually sits flatter and more behind the golfer. It often comes with a bowed lead wrist and a backswing that stops short of parallel.
Common causes include rolling the forearms early in the takeaway and the hands working low and around the body. A shoulder turn that stops early can do it too. From the top, the club may then have to be thrown outward to reach the ball. That out-to-in path brings pulls and slices. Players who start the downswing with a strong lower-body turn can still deliver it well.
Being slightly laid off is not a fault on its own. Judge it by the ball flight and by the shaft halfway down. If the shaft gets steep and outside the hands in the downswing, a wider takeaway and a fuller turn often help. Check the top from a camera set behind you on the target line, at hand height.
Tips by skill level
Pause at the top of a practice swing and look up at the club. If the grip end points well right of the target, the clubhead end is pointing left and you are laid off.
Pair the top position with the shaft at delivery. A laid-off top that shallows into a good delivery is fine. One that steepens and comes over the top is worth changing.
Example
Filming down the line, a golfer sees his driver shaft pointing well left of the flag at the top. His misses are pulls. His coach has him keep the clubhead outside his hands early in the takeaway, and the shaft starts to point closer to the target.
Why it matters
The shaft position at the top hints at the path the club will take into the ball. Knowing whether you are laid off or across the line helps explain a pull or a push.
Common mistakes
- Treating any laid-off position as an error that must be fixed
- Rolling the clubface open early in the takeaway
- Throwing the club outward from the top to reach the ball
- Judging the position from a camera angle that is not on the target line
Frequently asked questions
What does laid off at the top mean?
It means the club shaft points left of the target at the top of the backswing for a right-handed golfer. For a left-hander it points right. It is the opposite of across the line.
Is a laid-off golf swing bad?
Not on its own. Many good players are slightly laid off. It becomes a problem when it leads to a steep, out-to-in downswing with pulls or slices.
How do I fix a laid-off backswing?
Many coaches start with the takeaway. Keep the clubhead outside your hands early, avoid rolling the face open and make a full shoulder turn. Check the change on video from behind.
Related terms
- Across the LineThe club is across the line when, at the top of the backswing, the shaft points right of the target for a right-handed golfer (left of it for a left-hander). It often comes with a long backswing or a flying trail elbow. Many coaches link it to an inside-out path with blocks and hooks, though some players shallow the club and play well from it.
- TakeawayThe takeaway is the first movement of the club away from the ball. Where and how the club moves in the first 18–24 inches often sets the backswing's shape.
- BackswingThe backswing is the movement of the club from address to the top position. It creates the width, shoulder turn, and wrist hinge needed for power on the way down.
- Over the TopOver the top means the downswing starts by throwing the club outside the backswing plane. This produces an out-to-in path that causes pulls, pull-slices, and loss of distance.
- Bowed WristA bowed wrist at the top of the backswing means the lead wrist flexes toward the palm (like a bow), closing the clubface and storing power for a powerful, face-controlled delivery.
- Swing PlaneSwing plane is the tilted circle the club travels on around your body. A consistent plane makes it easier to return the club squarely and on path at impact.
Related guides & benchmarks
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