Ava Romero
Golfers often struggle with steep swings, which can lead to a reduced distance and a golf club that digs too deeply into the ground. A steep swing is caused by excessive wrist extension, which can be corrected by focusing on keeping the wrist flat or slightly flexed during the swing. This is important because it helps to shallow the shaft and compress the ball properly, improving the overall consistency of the swing. To steepen your backswing, you need to start the swing in the proper sequence, with your core acting as the engine. As the swing progresses, you can start to get the club more vertical, and finally, shift your weight to your lead leg as you finish the backswing.
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What You'll Learn
Start with good posture
To steepen your golf backswing, you must start with good posture. This is because everyone has different arm, leg, and torso lengths, so your posture will be unique to you.
When setting up to hit a golf ball, make sure you are a comfortable distance away from the ball. Stand tall, with a slight flex at the waist, and let your arms hang down naturally in front of you. This will allow you to initiate your swing with a turn, rather than a lift.
The wrist position is key. When taking your backswing, your lead wrist should be flat or slightly flexed. If it is too flexed, the club may be shallow, and if it is too extended, the club may be too steep. When your lead arm is parallel to the ground, hinge your wrists straight up so that the butt end of the club is pointing at the ball.
To get a sense of the correct posture, try this drill: place an alignment stick at an angle in the ground. Make sure you approach the ball without hitting the stick on the way down. The stick acts as an indicator of a steep golf swing and will help you feel what it’s like to swing under it.
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Avoid bending your knees
To steepen your golf backswing, you need to start the swing in the proper sequence. However, bending your knees too much can negatively affect your performance.
Golfers who bend their knees too much will drop lower to the ground than necessary. This can cause their knees to collide with their hands, requiring them to extend their hands out to avoid this collision. As a result, the weight of the golfer will be positioned towards the back of their feet instead of squarely in the middle, which can make it difficult to control and precisely dial in the swing.
Additionally, bending your knees too much can force you to straighten up during your downswing to avoid hitting the ball fat. This can restrict your body from fully participating in the swing, resulting in a weak swing.
To avoid bending your knees too much, it is recommended to stand tall and flex at the waist, allowing your arms to hang down in front of you. This will enable you to achieve a more neutral swing plane.
It is important to note that some knee flex is still necessary. By flexing your knees slightly, you can maintain better balance, stability, and power throughout the swing. This helps to lower your centre of gravity, promoting a more athletic stance and facilitating better weight transfer.
To find your optimal knee flex, consider your natural balance point. Take your normal stride and plant your left foot flat on the ground while allowing your right heel to rise. Check the amount of bend in your left knee, and then match this flex in your right knee when bringing your back leg parallel to your front leg.
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Focus on your wrist position
The wrist position plays a crucial role in steepening your golf backswing. It is one of the key features to focus on during the setup, at the top of the swing, and at impact.
Firstly, it is important to understand the three ways in which the wrists move: extension/flexion, radial deviation/ulnar deviation, and pronation/supination. Extension and flexion are the most critical for controlling the clubface and hitting straighter shots. Flexion in the wrists, also known as "bowing", closes the clubface earlier and helps to square it to the target. On the other hand, extension, or "cupping", opens the clubface and delays squaring it to the target.
To steepen your backswing, you want to avoid too much extension in your lead wrist, which can cause the clubface to be open at impact. Instead, aim for a flat or slightly bowed lead wrist position at the top of the backswing. This will make it easier to attack the ball from a shallower angle, preventing a steep downswing.
- Grip the club in the fingers of your hand, rather than the palms. This will give you a better feel for the wrist angles and allow you to generate more power.
- During your backswing, hinge your wrists straight up when your lead arm is parallel to the ground, so that the butt end of the club is pointing at the ball.
- Practice the "Dynamic Top Drill": Start as normal, then swing to the top at full speed. Pause once you reach the top and observe your wrist position. If you're cupping too much, adjust your wrist position until you see the right angle. Repeat this drill at least ten times to reinforce the correct motion.
- Use a training aid like HackMotion to get real-time feedback on your wrist position during your swing. This will help you make adjustments and improve your consistency.
By focusing on your wrist position and making the necessary adjustments, you can improve your backswing and overall golf game.
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Practice the Shallow and Strike drill
Shallowing the golf club is a crucial technique to improve your drive. By mastering the Shallow and Strike drill, you can achieve a flatter shaft angle during the downswing, resulting in more accurate and powerful shots. Here is a detailed guide to help you incorporate this drill into your practice routine:
Setup:
Begin by assuming your regular address position. Ensure that you are standing at a comfortable distance from the golf ball. This positioning will enable you to initiate your swing with a smooth turn rather than a lift. Stand tall, with a slight flex at the waist, and let your arms hang naturally in front of you.
Execution:
Take the golf club back to the top of your swing. At this point, focus on extending your trail arm (the arm closest to the target). As you transition into the downswing, visualize pulling a sword out of its hilt, encouraging a wider swing arc. This technique helps to extend your arms and shallow the club naturally.
Now, flatten your lead wrist (add flexion) and observe your thumbs pointing away from your head. Pause to ensure that the shaft feels more horizontal or "laid off." Make short, punch-style swings from this position.
Additional Tips:
- Avoid pulling your arms too close to your body during the downswing. Instead, keep your arms extended and rotate your body into the strike.
- Engage your hips early in the backswing and again as the first move of the downswing. This lower body rotation helps prevent the club from climbing a steep path.
- Practice with an alignment stick to guide your club's path. Position it against your club, between your hands, and ensure it points between your feet and the golf ball during practice swings.
- Focus on body rotation and hip movement to shallow the club effectively.
By incorporating the Shallow and Strike drill into your practice routine, you will improve your ball striking, achieve longer drives, and gain more control over your shots. Remember to focus on the key elements of this drill, including arm extension, wrist flexion, and body rotation, to master the art of shallowing the golf club.
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Keep your arms and hips in sync
Keeping your arms and hips in sync is crucial to achieving a powerful and accurate golf swing. Here are some tips to help you steepen your golf backswing while maintaining synchronisation between your arms and hips:
Firstly, ensure you are a comfortable distance from the ball. Stand tall, with a slight flex at the waist, and let your arms hang down naturally in front of you. This sets the foundation for a smooth and controlled backswing.
Now, focus on initiating the backswing with your hips and core, not just your arms. Feel your core engage as the engine of the swing. As your arms begin to move, ensure your hips are rotating too. Your hips should lead the movement, pulling your arms and shoulders into action. This synchronisation is key to generating power and preventing your arms from taking over, which can result in a steep and inaccurate swing.
As your arms lift, maintain a flat or slightly bowed wrist position. This helps prevent the clubface from flipping open too early, which can cause the club to steepen. Rehearse your backswing, stopping at the top to check that your left wrist is flat.
To further enhance this synchronisation, visualise the butt end of your grip and your belt buckle moving in harmony. If either your arms or hips move independently, your sequencing will suffer.
Lastly, when transitioning from backswing to downswing, continue to engage your hips. Turn your belt buckle and hips hard to the left while keeping your back facing the target. This will help maintain the separation between your hips and upper body, creating an extra burst of speed and power.
By focusing on keeping your arms and hips in sync, you'll achieve a more fluid and powerful golf swing.
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Frequently asked questions
A steep backswing can help golfers fight a slice, where the club travels on an out-to-in path. A steep backswing can also lead to effective golf shots, increased control, and higher ball flight on wedges and short irons.
A steep backswing can increase the risk of slicing the golf ball and cause reduced distance. It can also lead to a golf club that digs too deeply into the ground.
To achieve a steeper backswing, ensure you are a comfortable distance from the ball and initiate your swing with a turn instead of a lift. You can also try the Shallow and Strike drill, which helps train a flatter shaft angle in the downswing by using wrist flexion to "lay off" the club.
