Have you ever wondered whether you need to shallow your golf swing? Do you find yourself hitting inconsistent golf shots? Perhaps you struggle with a slice or a hook, or maybe you just can’t seem to make solid contact with the ball. Regardless, an inconsistent golf swing can make for a frustrating day on the course and take the fun out of the game. 

If you’re an amateur golfer looking to shave a few strokes off your handicap, one of the components of your swing that you may want to focus on is called “shallowing.” Shallowing your golf swing essentially means getting your club into a more horizontal position during your downswing. If you have a shallow golf swing, you’ll likely find your ball striking improves due to the angle of attack that you’re taking toward the ball.

In this article, we’ll cover how to shallow a golf swing. Specifically, we’ll look at what shallowing is, what you need to do to shallow your swing, why shallowing is so important, and a few drills to help you practice. By the end of this article, you’ll be itching to get to the driving range to work on your swing.

What Is Shallowing?

“Shallowing” is a golf term that refers to getting the club plane more horizontal during your downswing. The ability to do so typically leads to longer, straighter shots. The opposite of shallowing would be an over-the-top downswing.If you watch PGA Tour pros, you’ll find that they have varying backswings. Some, like Matthew Wolff’s, are very unconventional and quirky. However, no matter how different their takeaways and backswings are, you’ll find that pretty much every pro has the same swing plane on the downswing.

Why Shallowing a Golf Swing Is Important

Learning how to shallow your golf swing is important for a few reasons, including:

• More consistent contact
• A quieter, more compact golf swing
• Longer, straighter drives
• More compression on your irons and wedges

Unfortunately, many golfers are too steep during their downswing. This means that instead of having a shallow, horizontal club angle, they come over the top with the club with a vertical downswing. Though it varies from one golfer to another, the main cause of this is starting the downswing with the upper body instead of the lower body.

As a result, the downswing is rushed, and the angle of attack is inconsistent. Additionally, the lower body is not utilized, which can result in a loss of speed and power. When utilized properly, the lower body can be the most powerful component of the golf swing. Eliminating steep swings can make a dramatic improvement in your game.

Golf Tips and Drills to Help Shallow Your Golf Swing

If you’re looking for a few things that you can do to help change your angle of attack, you’ll want to consider a few of the golf drills below to help improve your swing.

Work on Your Tempo

One way to shallow your golf swing is by practicing your tempo. Specifically, learn to slow down during your swing. Your body and club will do the work naturally if you learn to make consistent contact with the ball.The takeaway is a big component of this. The takeaway is the pause at the top of your swing between the backswing and the downswing. When taking practice swings, be sure to have a nice easy tempo and emphasize a pause at the top of your swing. This will allow you to fire your hips, generate power, and put your club into a shallower position. A non-shallow position often occurs because the downswing is too rushed.

Utilize an Alignment Stick

The “Bring your club to the top of your swing, and then slowly slide the club underneath the alignment stick. … Once you feel comfortable, then [you can] take a real swing.” This is one of the best drills to provide instant feedback on whether you are shallow enough during your swing.Alignment sticks are available for purchase online, your local golf warehouse, or maybe even at a course near you. They are an inexpensive training aid that can help you improve multiple facets of your game. 

Try the Wall Drill

Another drill that you can use to shallow the club is the wall drill. All you need to complete this drill is a wall and a golf club. This drill is another excellent option to receive live feedback on whether your swing is too steep and whether you are properly driving your hips at the beginning of the downswing. It’s also helpful because you can complete it anywhere, even when you need a break at work or are watching tv.

Start Working Today to Improve Your Golf Swing

For most amateur golfers, there are always facets of the game that could use improvement. If you’re looking to hit better golf shots, you may want to focus on learning how to shallow your swing. Shallowing is an essential component of the golf swing but is difficult to master and often overlooked, especially by those who play golf casually.

To create a shallow golf swing, you’ll want to focus primarily on your weight shift and your lead wrist during your downswing. Implementing a proper weight shift after your takeaway will naturally lead to a shallower shaft angle, as your upper body will lag behind your lower body. If you’re looking for help learning how to shallow the golf club. 

Indoor golf practice? This simple drill is perfect to improve your downswing

Proper casting is vital when you’re trying to catch a fish — but casting when you’re hitting a golf ball? That means you’re releasing the club too early in the downswing, which can lead to any number of challenges. Casting adds unpredictability to your golf game, making it difficult to predict shot direction and contact. Good news: You can work on killing your cast this winter without even leaving the house.Of course, if you happen to escape to Florida (like I did below), you can do this outdoors, too — but it can really be done anywhere. Grab an iron, find a wall, flip the club upside-down (gripping it on the shaft of the club) and try this drill.

Step 1: Stand about one foot away from the wall in your golf posture, then lift the club and rest it on your right shoulder.

Step 2: Make a full turn, as you (hopefully) would in your golf swing, with your chest and lower body.

Step 3: Extend your arms away from your body, placing the butt of the club on the wall somewhere back and behind you.

Step 4: Begin your downswing by pushing your weight into your front foot while also making sure the butt end of the club stays on the wall.

Step 5: Continue to turn, keeping the butt of the club on the wall until your hands are close to even with your right thigh again. At this point, the butt of the club (where the clubhead would normally be) will start to release through the golf ball.

Step 6: On the other side of where the ball would be, I want you to try and get that club close to the wall and then swing up and over your shoulder for a fully-turned finish.

To see the best results from this drill, I suggest you try it 10 times a day. Be sure to take your time while you are working through it; it takes reps to override your old swing habits and ingrain a new one. The winter is a phenomenal time to work on your swing because you can take the golf ball away and simply work on creating new patterns. If you put the time in this winter you’ll be pleasantly surprised with your new swing come spring!