If you’re looking to improve your golf swing and hit longer, straighter drives, learning how to shallow the golf club is key. This technique helps you achieve a more consistent and powerful shot. In this blog post, we’ll break down three essential drills to help you shallow your golf club and improve your downswing.
Before we jump in, let’s cover what shallowing the club means. This golf swing technique refers to adjusting the swing path so the clubhead approaches the ball on a flatter, more horizontal plane during the downswing.
Instead of coming “over the top” or on a steep angle, a shallow swing path allows the club to travel from the inside-out. This movement promotes better contact, improved ball flight, and added power.
Be sure to watch the YouTube video featuring swing sensation JT Thomas, which covers three drills to help you generate more distance, hit the ball straighter, and achieve more accurate ball striking.
1. Body Rotation Drill
The first drill focuses on using your body to start the backswing. Many golfers struggle with coming “over the top” by relying too much on their arms. Instead, try this drill to get the right body rotation for the golf swing:
Place a club against your sternum, with arms extended, and rotate your torso, not your arms, turning your chest and belly button towards the camera (just imagine a camera in the same position as JT in the video).
This rotation engages your torso muscles and sets the stage for a shallower downswing, allowing the arms to follow naturally.
2. Alignment Stick Drill
The second drill utilizes an alignment stick to help you properly load the club and prevent a steep downswing. “Attach” the stick to your club by aligning it right against the edge of the grip and holding it in between your hands. (Don’t worry too much about a proper grip here, focus on the location of the stick throughout your practice swings.)
Practice taking the club back, ensuring that the alignment stick points between your feet and the golf ball (see green zone in the above example).
Avoid any movements where the alignment stick points behind your feet, or in front of the golf ball, as this won’t allow you to properly engage the downswing.
This steep positioning allows the club to get in a shallow downswing movement. By doing this, you’ll improve your ball strike and generate more power with a cleaner, more controlled hit.
3. Elbow Club Drill
The final (and JT’s personal favorite) drill involves using the club as a prop to help you load your arms properly during the backswing.
Place the club against your elbows and work on keeping the grip side of the club higher than the clubhead side as you turn. This encourages a shallower swing plane and allows your arms to naturally follow the rotation, leading to a more efficient downswing and better contact with the ball.
Shallow the Club for Longer, Straighter Drives
Shallowing the golf club is a crucial technique for improving your drive. By focusing on body rotation, using an alignment stick to control the club’s path, and practicing with the elbow club drill, you’ll be able to hit more powerful, accurate shots.
Incorporate these drills into your practice routine, and watch your drives soar! Be sure to subscribe to the Performance Golf YouTube channel for more free tutorials, drills and entertainment from top golf coaches.
