Shallowing Your Golf Swing: A Simple Explanation
← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Swing Mechanics & Fundamentals
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Quick Answer
- Shallowing your golf swing means getting the club to approach the ball from the inside on a flatter plane during the downswing.
- This technique helps you hit the ball more solidly and square, often leading to more distance and accuracy.
- It’s a go-to move for fixing that dreaded “over-the-top” swing that kills power.
Who This Is For
- Golfers who struggle with a slice or hitting the ball outside-in.
- Anyone looking to add some serious pop and consistency to their ball striking.
What is Shallowing in Golf?
Alright, before we start messing with your swing, let’s get a lay of the land. You gotta know what you’re working with, right?
- Your Current Downswing Path: Make a few practice swings. Where is the club coming from as it heads toward the ball? If it looks like it’s chopping down from way outside the target line, you’re probably coming over the top. Grab your phone and film yourself; it’s eye-opening.
- Your Grip: Take a good look at how your hands are on the club. Is your left hand turned too far clockwise (stronger) or not enough (weaker)? A slightly weaker grip can be a real game-changer for shallowing. I learned that lesson the hard way out on the course one sunny afternoon.
- Your Stance: How’s your foundation? A stance that’s too narrow makes it tough to turn your body properly. Too wide, and you might feel a bit stiff. You want a balanced, athletic setup that lets you pivot freely.
- Your Backswing: While shallowing is mostly about the downswing, your backswing sets the stage. Are you getting the club too far inside or too far outside on the way back? A neutral or slightly laid-off position at the top can make shallowing easier.
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How to Achieve a Shallower Golf Swing: A Step-by-Step Plan
This is where the magic happens. We’re talking about making subtle tweaks that can unlock a more powerful and consistent swing.
1. Action: Adjust your grip slightly. What to look for: Turn your hands just a touch counter-clockwise on the club. For a right-handed golfer, this means seeing maybe half a knuckle more on your left hand and slightly less on your right. You’re aiming for a more neutral or slightly weaker position. Mistake: Going too strong or too weak. A grip that’s too strong can encourage you to come over the top, while one that’s too weak can make it hard to control the clubface.
2. Action: Widen your stance a bit. What to look for: Feel a solid, athletic base. You should be able to shift your weight and rotate your hips and torso freely without losing balance. Aim for roughly shoulder-width apart, maybe a touch wider if you feel more stable. Mistake: Stance too narrow or too wide. A narrow stance can lead to instability and limit your body’s rotation, while a stance that’s too wide can make you feel stiff and restrict your movement.
3. Action: Focus on your takeaway. What to look for: Take the club back smoothly, using your shoulders and arms in a connected motion. Try to keep the clubface looking relatively square to your target line for the first half of the backswing. Avoid the urge to yank the club inside with your hands. Mistake: Yanking the club inside too quickly with your hands. This is a surefire way to set yourself up for an over-the-top move in the downswing, fighting against the shallowing motion before you even start down.
4. Action: Feel the transition into the downswing. What to look for: As you start your downswing from the top, feel your hips begin to turn first, leading the way. Imagine the club dropping down on the “inside” path, almost like it’s coming from behind you. This is where the real “shallowing” happens. Mistake: Letting your arms start the downswing independently. This is a primary cause of the over-the-top swing; your arms will tend to come from outside the target line.
5. Action: Maintain clubface awareness through the downswing. What to look for: As the club drops into the shallower plane, keep the clubface from closing too early. You want it to square up naturally through impact, not be forced shut. Think about releasing the clubhead through the ball. Mistake: Over-rotating or snapping the clubface shut in the downswing. This is a common compensation that can lead to hooks and a loss of control, negating the benefits of shallowing.
6. Action: Practice with impact. What to look for: Hit balls with a focus on this new shallow feeling. Pay attention to how the club feels as it approaches the ball. Are you making solid contact? Is the ball flight straighter or with a draw? Mistake: Only practicing the motion without hitting balls. You need feedback from striking the ball to truly ingrain the change and understand its effect.
7. Action: Utilize drills. What to look for: Try drills like the “pump drill,” where you make a downswing move, stop halfway, and then complete it, focusing on that shallow feeling. Another good one is placing an alignment stick on the ground outside the ball and focusing on swinging under it. Mistake: Not using drills to reinforce the feeling. Repetition with specific drills helps build muscle memory for the new swing path.
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Common Mistakes When Shallowing Your Golf Swing
Shallowing can feel awkward at first, and it’s easy to fall into some traps. Watch out for these:
- Trying to force the club inside too early — This is a big one. You might feel like you’re “tucking” the club under your armpit, but that often leads to a severe hook or an incredibly awkward, disconnected swing. Instead, focus on the lower body initiating the downswing, which naturally helps the club drop into a shallower plane.
- Over-rotating the clubface — As you try to shallow, you might consciously or unconsciously rotate your hands too much, closing the clubface prematurely. This can cause nasty hooks and a loss of control. The goal is a square clubface through impact, not a shut one.
- Not allowing the lower body to lead the downswing — This is the flip side of the first mistake. If your arms get ahead of your hips and torso in the downswing, they’ll naturally want to come from over the top to catch up. Keep your hips turning and leading the charge.
- Changing too much at once — This is classic golfer syndrome. You’re excited about shallowing, so you try to fix your grip, stance, takeaway, and downswing all in one practice session. It’s a recipe for confusion and frustration. Pick one or two key elements to focus on each time you practice.
- Ignoring feedback — Are you getting the results you want? If you’re consistently hitting hooks or chunks, something isn’t right. Don’t just keep swinging; analyze what’s happening and adjust. Film yourself, or better yet, get a lesson.
- Getting discouraged too quickly — Shallowing is a feel-based change. It takes time and repetition for your body to get used to the new movement. Don’t expect miracles overnight. Stick with it, and you’ll see progress.
FAQ
- What is the primary benefit of shallowing a golf swing?
The main benefit is significantly improving your downswing path. By approaching the ball from the inside on a shallower plane, you can achieve more consistent, solid contact. This often translates to increased clubhead speed at impact, leading to more distance and a straighter, more controlled ball flight, reducing slices caused by an over-the-top swing.
- How does a weaker grip help with shallowing?
A weaker grip (turning your hands counter-clockwise on the club) can help encourage your hands and the club to stay more “behind” your body through the transition and into the downswing. This natural tendency can promote a shallower angle of attack and make it easier to swing from the inside, rather than coming over the top.
- Can I shallow my swing without changing my backswing?
Yes, absolutely. While a well-structured backswing can certainly make shallowing easier, the primary focus for this technique is on the transition from the top of your backswing into the downswing and the subsequent path the club takes. Many golfers can achieve a shallower plane by consciously focusing on how they start their downswing, even if their backswing remains largely the same.
- How long does it take to shallow a golf swing?
This varies wildly from golfer to golfer. Some players have a natural feel for it and can start seeing improvements within a few practice sessions. Others may take weeks or even months of dedicated practice and repetition to truly ingrain the feeling and make it a consistent part of their swing. Patience and consistent effort are key.
- What if I start hooking the ball excessively after trying to shallow my swing?
This is a common issue and usually means one of two things is happening: either you’re bringing the club inside too much on the backswing or downswing, or you’re closing the clubface too early through impact. Re-evaluate your transition and focus on a smooth, controlled release of the clubhead through the ball, rather than an aggressive manual closing of the face. Sometimes, a slightly stronger grip can help counteract this if it’s a face-closing issue.
- Is shallowing only for advanced golfers?
Not at all! While advanced players often refine it, shallowing is a fundamental swing concept that can benefit golfers of all skill levels, especially those struggling with common faults like slicing or inconsistent contact. It’s a technique that, once understood, can simplify the swing and improve results for many players.
- Does shallowing help with hitting down on the ball?
Yes, it absolutely does. By getting the club on a shallower plane, you’re naturally setting yourself up to strike the ball first and then the turf, rather than hitting the ground behind the ball (a chunk) or skimming the top (a thin). This downward strike, combined with compressing the ball against the clubface, is crucial for power and control.
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Sources:
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.