Many amateur golfers struggle with maintaining a shallow path in their downswing. A steep swing can lead to inconsistent ball striking and distance issues. But fear not! Here are some effective drills to help you shallow your golf swing and improve your game.
Drill #1: The Tall Player Drill
This drill is all about positioning.
Setup: Position yourself with the driver or a 7-iron (starting with a short club can help) in your hands.
Stance: Stand tall as if you are reaching for a high shelf. This encourages a more upright posture.
Swing: As you swing back, focus on pushing your hands high and wide, rather than immediately dropping them. This promotes a shallower angle on the downswing.
Drill #2: The Baseball Swing
Practicing with a baseball bat can enhance your feel for a shallow swing.
Grip: Hold a baseball bat with both hands.
Motion: Take your normal stance and practice a few swings as if you’re hitting a baseball.
Observation: Notice how your arms and hands move in a more level manner, which mirrors a shallow golf swing. Practice this for about 5-10 minutes.
Drill #3: Headcover Under the Arm
A simpler drill that you can easily add to your practice routine.
Equipment: Grab a headcover (or a small towel).
Position: Place it under your lead arm (left for right-handed golfers).
Swing: As you swing, focus on keeping the headcover in place through the entire swing motion. If it falls, you’ll know you’re likely steepening the swing inappropriately.
Additional Tips
Video Yourself: After practicing, film your swing to analyze its path. Look for a more shallow descent and try to self-correct.
Take Lessons: Sometimes all it takes is a professional eye to spot what might be going wrong. Consider scheduling a session with a local pro.
Community Input
Feel free to share your thoughts on these drills, or let us know what techniques have worked for you to shallow your swing. The journey to a better golf game is often best done in a supportive community! Let’s help each other improve our swings!
To achieve a shallow golf swing, start with your posture. Keep your back straight and bend slightly from the hips. This helps maintain balance throughout the swing.
One drill I love is the ‘pencil drill’. Place a pencil under your arm during practice, and keep it there. It encourages a shallow swing path and promotes proper mechanics.
While I agree with the importance of grip and stance, some say a shallow swing is overrated. It can feel unnatural to some golfers sometime! Anyone else feel that way?
One drill I found really effective is using alignment sticks. Place one on the ground along your target line and another at your feet to promote a shallow swing path. It really helps with visualizing the right movements!
Absolutely agree! I’ve also added some body rotation exercises to my warm-up routine. It enhances my overall swing feel and reinforces the shallowness during impact.
Has anyone tried the tilted tee drill? Tipping your tee slightly creates an angle that helps you practice getting under the ball. It really helps with that shallow arc.
I do a lot of one-handed swings with my lead arm and my trail arm separately. It helps me really nail down the feel of a shallow approach—plus, it’s kind of a fun challenge!
That’s an interesting approach! I might try that. I’ve been focused more on drills with my feet together; it forces me to use my upper body efficiently.
Something contentious but fun: I actually think some instructors overcomplicate the shallow swing concept. Sometimes you just need to feel it rather than overthinking technique.
Humorously speaking, I’m convinced my club is trying to help me practice fishing instead of golfing! I swear my shots look like casts more than swings sometimes!