Shallow-Your-Swing-Today
How to Shallow the Golf Club and Fix Over-the-Top Swings
Hi. My name is coach Erik Schjolberg, owner of EJS Golf located in Scottsdale, AZ. I teach Scottsdale Golf Lessons from an indoor and outdoor bay at McCormick Ranch and online golf lessons. My priority is immediate impact-first improvement: ball first then turf, predictable start line, controlled shaft lean, and rotation. These are not feel-based aphorisms. They are cause-and-effect relationships. If you control low point and face, the lie stops being an excuse.
Many golfers struggle with a steep downswing that leads to inconsistent strikes, fat shots, and slices. This over-the-top path increases spin loft, reduces compression, and shifts the low point too far behind the ball. In this post, you will learn precise mechanics to shallow the golf club, creating a shallower angle of attack for solid contact and straighter ball flight. As Erik Schjolberg, PGA Professional with over 25 years at EJS Golf in Scottsdale, Arizona, I base this on ground reaction forces, hand path dynamics, and matchups that align your swing for efficiency.
At McCormick Ranch Golf Club, I use TrackMan data to show how shallowing reduces early extension and optimizes pressure shift. Golfers see day-one improvement because we focus on cause-and-effect: a steep clubhead approach stems from poor sequencing in P4 to P6 positions, leading to high dynamic loft and erratic trajectories. This instruction rejects universal fundamentals—your matchups must agree for consistent results. Expect to compress the ball better after one session, without getting worse first. Shallowing the club is key to better ball striking, and here at EJS Golf, we make it actionable with drills tied to real data.
What Causes a Steep Downswing and How It Ruins Your Strikes
A steep downswing occurs when the club approaches the ball from too vertical an angle, often exceeding -5 degrees angle of attack for irons. This problem manifests as hitting behind the ball, thinning shots, or inconsistent divots. The mechanical cause is improper hand path in transition: hands move out and up instead of in and down, disrupting the kinetic chain from P5 to P7. Without proper pressure shift to the lead side, ground reaction forces fail to support a shallow arc, leading to early extension where hips thrust forward to compensate.
Ball flight data reveals the consequences—high spin rates over 7,000 RPM on irons, weak fades or pulls, and loss of carry distance. TrackMan metrics show increased spin loft (difference between dynamic loft and angle of attack) above 30 degrees, reducing smash factor below 1.4. To fix this, perform the "Wall Drill": Stand with your trail shoulder against a wall at setup. Swing to P4, then initiate downswing by shifting pressure to lead foot while keeping hands inside. This constrains hand path, promoting shallowing. Repeat 20 times, focusing on feeling the club drop behind you before P6. This drill enforces matchups that shallow the club without overcomplicating your motion.
Mastering Forward Shaft Lean Through Shallowing Techniques
Forward shaft lean at impact—where the handle leads the clubhead—requires shallowing to achieve 4-6 degrees for optimal compression. Without it, golfers deloft the club too little, causing high launches and ballooning shots. The cause is casting from the top, where wrists unhinge prematurely in P5, steepening the plane and losing lag. This mismatches ground reaction forces, as vertical forces dominate over rotational, preventing efficient energy transfer.
Data from force plates indicates poor lead-side pressure at P6 (below 70% body weight) correlates with reduced club speed and erratic low point. Ball flight shows thin strikes with launch angles over 20 degrees for a 7-iron, dropping distance by 10-15 yards. The focused fix is the "Pump Drill": Take your stance, pump the club to P4 twice, then on the third, shallow by dropping the trail elbow while shifting pressure forward. Hit half-swings, ensuring shaft lean at impact. This builds the sensation of hand path arcing low, aligning matchups for consistent strikes. Practice 30 reps, gradually increasing to full speed.
How Shallowing Controls Low Point for Pure Compression
Low point control means the club's lowest arc occurs 2-4 inches after the ball for irons, but steep swings shift it backward, causing fat contact. Mechanically, this results from insufficient rotation in P6-P8, where over-the-top motion forces compensatory flips, increasing dynamic loft. Ground reaction forces play a role—trail foot pressure lingers too long, blocking hip clearance and steepening the attack angle.
TrackMan data links this to fat shots: angle of attack steeper than -6 degrees, with divots starting before the ball and smash factors under 1.35. Ball flight suffers with low trajectories or hooks from closed faces trying to save the strike. Use the "Gate Drill" for correction: Place two alignment sticks as a gate, one vertical behind the ball and one angled shallow in front. Swing through, shallowing to miss the back stick while clipping the front. This drill targets hand path and pressure shift, ensuring low point advances. Do 25 swings, feeling the club bottom out forward for compressed, penetrating flights.
Stopping Early Extension by Shallowing the Club Path
Early extension—where your hips and spine angle straighten before impact—stems from a steep plane that demands compensation to reach the ball. The cause is mismatched sequencing: arms dominate over body rotation in transition, reducing ground reaction forces' torque and forcing postural loss. This disrupts P7 position, where the pelvis should rotate open while maintaining flex.
Ball flight data shows pulls or slices, with club path deviations of +5 degrees or more out-to-in. Spin loft climbs, leading to weak contact and distance loss. Force plate analysis reveals lead knee extension too early, dropping vertical forces below optimal. The drill to fix: "Chair Drill"—position a chair behind your glutes at setup. Downswing by shallowing the club with lead-side pressure shift, avoiding bumping the chair. This maintains posture, promoting rotational forces over linear. Perform 40 reps, integrating into full swings for matchups that eliminate extension and stabilize low point.
Ground Reaction Forces and Shallowing for Power
Ground reaction forces generate swing power, but a steep downswing wastes them through inefficient vertical pushes instead of shear forces. Mechanically, poor trail-to-lead pressure shift in P4-P5 keeps weight back, preventing the club from shallowing and building lag. This mismatches kinetic chain, where lower body should lead arms.
Data indicates club speeds drop 5-8 MPH, with suboptimal peak forces under 150% body weight. Ball flight lacks carry, showing high spins and fades from open faces. To address, use the "Step Drill": Start with feet together, step lead foot forward in downswing while shallowing hands inside. This amplifies ground reaction forces, timing the pressure shift for shallow arc. Hit 50 balls, focusing on P5-P7 positions to boost speed and compression without forcing the motion.
Using Matchups to Shallow Without Overcomplicating
Matchups ensure your grip, stance, and path align—no universal fixes, just agreements that shallow the club. A steep swing often mismatches strong grips with out-to-in paths, increasing face-to-path deltas. Cause: Hands travel too far out in backswing, forcing steep return without rotational support from ground forces.
TrackMan reveals face-open impacts, slices with paths -4 degrees or worse. The fix: "Alignment Rod Drill"—stick in ground at ball line, another in grip at setup. Swing to shallow by matching rod angles in downswing, ensuring hand path drops while pressure shifts. This drill synchronizes elements for day-one shallowing gains.
FAQ
How to shallow the golf club?
Shallowing the golf club involves dropping the clubhead behind your hands in transition, creating a shallower angle of attack. Start by focusing on hand path: in P5, let arms fall while rotating the body. Use the Pump Drill—pump to the top twice, then shallow on the third by shifting pressure to your lead side. This builds forward shaft lean and low point control. At EJS Golf, we measure this with TrackMan to confirm reduced spin loft and better compression. Expect straighter shots immediately as matchups align.
Why am I hitting behind the ball?
Hitting behind the ball happens when low point shifts backward due to steep angle of attack and early extension. Mechanically, insufficient pressure shift keeps weight on the trail side, steepening the club path. Ball flight data shows fat shots with high dynamic loft. Fix with the Gate Drill: alignment sticks guide shallowing, advancing low point. Practice ensures ground reaction forces support rotation, not compensation.
How to stop casting in golf?
Casting releases lag too early, steepening the plane and losing power. Cause: Wrists unhinge in P5 from poor sequencing, mismatching hand path with body turn. Data reveals high spin rates and weak distances. Use the Wall Drill to constrain hands inside, promoting shallowing and delayed release. This aligns matchups for better strikes.
Where can I find golf lessons in Scottsdale?
For golf lessons in Scottsdale, visit EJS Golf at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. Erik Schjolberg offers private sessions using TrackMan, force plates, and 3D analysis. Focus on shallowing the club, low point control, and matchups for day-one improvement. Book at EJSGolf.com/book-now to address your swing issues directly.
How do ground reaction forces affect shallowing?
Ground reaction forces power shallowing by creating shear and vertical pushes for rotation. Poor forces lead to steep swings from trail-side weight hangback. Data shows reduced club speed and erratic paths. The Step Drill times pressure shift, enhancing forces for shallow arc and increased lag.
Conclusion
Shallowing the golf club transforms steep, inconsistent swings into efficient, compressed strikes by optimizing hand path, pressure shift, and ground reaction forces. Key takeaways: Address steep downswings with drills like the Pump and Gate to advance low point, build forward shaft lean, and eliminate early extension. Matchups ensure your elements agree, delivering lower spin loft and better ball flight from day one. At EJS Golf in Scottsdale, this science-based approach—part of The Science of Better Golf—turns data into results without false patience.
Download my free drills guide for constraint-based exercises used at McCormick Ranch: EJSGolf.com/my-drills. Ready to fix over-the-top issues? I coach serious golfers with TrackMan and force plates for immediate gains. Book your lesson at EJSGolf.com/book-now and start compressing the ball better today.
Learn more about my coaching approach at EJSGolf.com/about. For related posts on swing mechanics, check EJSGolf.com/blog.
