Shallowing

Why can't golfers shallow the club?

Last week I wrote about early extension in the golf swing, and how it is more likely to be a physical issue than a swing issue. This week I’m writing about another common issue amateurs have: shallowing the club.

What is shallowing the club?

The golf club needs to swing on an angled plane relative to its design. On the downswing, the shaft needs to be on plane to deliver consistent contact. If the club is too vertical or steep (over the top), it becomes very difficult to consistently strike the ball solidly.

The image on the left shows a steep angle of attack. Notice how vertical the shaft is at this point in the downswing. A lot of manipulation needs to occur in order to hit the ball. The image on the right shows a shallow angle of attack. See how the angle of the shaft is on plane. From this point, it’s much easier to hit the ball consistently well. No manipulation is required.

Don’t tell me this a physical issue, too.

It can be. There are several swing related issues which can lead to a steep downswing. Whipping the club too far inside on the backswing is a common flaw. This can cause the player to reactively steepen on the downswing. Other causes include a cupped left wrist, crossing the line at the top or a flying trail elbow (which can be a physical issue) at the top of the backswing. Most of these can be corrected with some proper instruction from a PGA Golf Professional.

From a physical standpoint, in order to shallow the club on the downswing, the trail shoulder needs to rotate externally. If there is loss of range of motion in the shoulder and/or thoracic spine, the shoulder will not be able to externally rotate properly. As a result, it will move into a comfortable position where the elbow will be up and away from the body. Notice where the trail elbow is on the steep swing. It’s out and away from the body which means the shoulder has not externally rotated. On the shallow swing, see how the elbow is tucked into the side which means the shoulder has externally rotated.

Should I get a lesson or get in the gym?

In this case, I would recommend a lesson first to determine if there is a swing flaw causing you to get steep on the downswing and getting to the gym secondary. If the swing flaw is the culprit, a lesson will get you moving in the right direction to develop the feels necessary to shallow the club. That said, having some shoulder mobility and strength work is always a good idea. The shoulders are relatively weak compared to other muscle groups. Increasing range of motion and strength in the shoulders can only help when it comes to golf.

How do I know if it’s a physical issue?

If you already have rotator cuff issues or shoulder pain issues, then it’s a physical issue. If, after getting a lesson, you are still having difficulty shallowing, it’s probably because you can’t rotate the shoulder properly. I would suggest getting a physical assessment done by a TPI certified trainer like me to determine a proper corrective approach.

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As always, be grateful when you play and thankful for each shot when you get to play this amazing game. Now, go golf!