Bad shot of actor Tom maybe ending up on top (5)
I believe the answer is:
shank
'top' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shank that I've seen before include "The shin" , "Cut of meat; leg" , "Cut of meat from lower part of foreleg" , "If red, flyer" .)