Fighting an over-the-top swing? This drill will shallow the shaft

For lots of recreational golfers, the biggest issue in their swings is an over-the-top downswing. Go to any range in the country and you’re sure to see a majority of golfers struggling with this issue. This results in fades and slices that have little power.

Coming over the top is the opposite of what you want to do in the swing. If you watch any high-level golfer, they rarely make this error, instead properly shallowing the shaft on the downswing. This helps create more consistent strikes that come off the face with much more power.

Most weekend warriors know that coming over the top is an issue, but they don’t have any idea how to go about fixing it. It’s one thing to understand the problem, but fixing it is another story.

If this sounds like you, you’re in luck. Below you’ll find an easy drill from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Cameron McCormick that will teach you how to shallow your shaft like the pros.

How to shallow your shaft

When you shallow your shaft during the downswing, you’ll be able to get your shaft to the proper angle in transition. Once you find this spot, you’ll find it is much easier to hit solid and consistent shots.

“[Shallowing] is one of the most similar aspects of all elite-level ball strikers,” McCormick says.

So, how should you go about teaching yourself to shallow the shaft? It all starts with grabbing an alignment stick. Next, thread it through your sleeves inside your shirt so it’s laying across your chest. You should have a little bit of the alignment stick poking out from either sleeve. Then make a normal backswing to the top of your swing.

“The feel here is trying to move the shaft back towards the stick,” McCormick says. “But not so much as the club would ever touch that stick.”

If you overdo it and hit the stick with your shaft, you’ll get the club too far behind you in the downswing and get stuck. But if you can feel like you’re moving the shaft down toward the alignment rod — but without touching it — you’ll be properly shallowed and in position to hit a solid shot.

“An amount of this sensation is absolutely necessary,” McCormick says.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.