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Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

How to Shallow Your Swing in Transition for Better Shots

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the critical movements that help shallow your swing.
  • Understand the role of full body rotation and arm positioning in your transition.
  • Differentiate between effective shallowing techniques and common misconceptions.

Learn the key techniques to shallow your swing during the transition phase, helping you achieve better contact and accuracy. This video covers essential movements that can transform your approach to the game.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400
This video is looking at the major shallowers of the transition.

2
00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:10.200
So, a lot of golfers submit their swing or see me in person and I'll ask them,

3
00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:10.600
hey, what

4
00:00:10.600 --> 00:00:12.360
are you hoping to work on?

5
00:00:12.360 --> 00:00:16.080
And many of them know, many of them have seen on video or they know when they

6
00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:16.720
submit it,

7
00:00:16.720 --> 00:00:20.880
I'm getting steep in transition, I just don't know how to shallow it.

8
00:00:20.880 --> 00:00:25.200
When I try and shallow it, I hit it poorly, et cetera, et cetera.

9
00:00:25.200 --> 00:00:31.200
So what I'm going to do in this video is highlight the three possibly four key

10
00:00:31.200 --> 00:00:32.360
shallowers that

11
00:00:32.360 --> 00:00:37.120
you can try if you're struggling with getting very steep in transition.

12
00:00:37.120 --> 00:00:42.510
So, and you'll probably be surprised by one that is left out, but I'll explain

13
00:00:42.510 --> 00:00:42.960
what that

14
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:43.960
is.

15
00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:49.820
So, the three/four major shallowers are going to be full body rotation in the

16
00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:50.840
backswing,

17
00:00:50.840 --> 00:01:00.300
so completing your turn, right arm external rotation, left forearm pronation,

18
00:01:00.300 --> 00:01:01.120
or left

19
00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:05.120
arm adduction or working more across your body.

20
00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.580
That's the one that's kind of, for most people, technically shallows but causes

21
00:01:09.580 --> 00:01:10.240
a little bit

22
00:01:10.240 --> 00:01:12.600
more of a steep movement in transition.

23
00:01:12.600 --> 00:01:17.700
So, the one that you may have thought would be included but doesn't actually

24
00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:18.280
fit in this

25
00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:21.080
category would be right side bend.

26
00:01:21.080 --> 00:01:27.680
A lot of golfers do right side bend in transition, but if you're looking at

27
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:29.180
kind of the tour

28
00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:36.050
model, the right side bend isn't going to switch from left to right until round

29
00:01:36.050 --> 00:01:36.640
shaft

30
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:37.640
45.

31
00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:43.240
So, that's more of a release movement going into the side bend.

32
00:01:43.240 --> 00:01:47.360
It's not so much one of the major shallowers in transition.

33
00:01:47.360 --> 00:01:52.830
So, the one that I think everybody tries and everybody has at least

34
00:01:52.830 --> 00:01:54.520
experimented with

35
00:01:54.520 --> 00:01:57.360
is the trail arm external rotation.

36
00:01:57.360 --> 00:02:03.210
Now, a lot of golfers will try to get into this trail arm external rotation and

37
00:02:03.210 --> 00:02:03.680
end up

38
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:08.290
getting super side bendy extension, early extension, and they'll start getting

39
00:02:08.290 --> 00:02:08.840
into more

40
00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:14.670
of this kind of super shallow, shallow too long, shallow too late pattern that

41
00:02:14.670 --> 00:02:15.360
becomes

42
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:16.520
unplayable.

43
00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:22.030
So, I've had a fair amount of success helping golfers get more of the shallow

44
00:02:22.030 --> 00:02:23.160
from rotating

45
00:02:23.160 --> 00:02:26.650
the lead form and it's important that it's the forearm, not the shoulder

46
00:02:26.650 --> 00:02:27.360
because if the

47
00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:31.950
shoulder starts rotating, that's a disconnected and weak position for the

48
00:02:31.950 --> 00:02:32.800
shoulder.

49
00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:36.730
So, the shoulder is actually going to potentially internally rotate or the very

50
00:02:36.730 --> 00:02:37.480
least kind of

51
00:02:37.480 --> 00:02:41.640
stay the same as that lead form pronates.

52
00:02:41.640 --> 00:02:46.740
So, if I go up towards the top of the swing, I keep that lead elbow kind of

53
00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:47.720
pointing down

54
00:02:47.720 --> 00:02:51.880
and I'm just going to feel like I turn that thumb down just like so.

55
00:02:51.880 --> 00:02:55.120
If I turn that thumb down, that's going to shallow.

56
00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:59.880
The other option, I'm at the top of the swing, I'm going to externally rotate,

57
00:02:59.880 --> 00:03:00.520
so I'm going

58
00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:06.680
to externally rotate, like so that would be more that trail shoulder.

59
00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:10.840
The one that a lot of people miss is completing a full backswing.

60
00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:18.220
So, a lot of golfers, if you don't have enough rotation, then what will happen

61
00:03:18.220 --> 00:03:19.400
is the club,

62
00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:24.810
the hand distance from the target line will be more closer to the target line

63
00:03:24.810 --> 00:03:25.680
as opposed

64
00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.360
to if I had that rotation.

65
00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:33.430
And that rotation allows me to potentially not shallow quite as much with my

66
00:03:33.430 --> 00:03:34.200
arms and

67
00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:35.920
still come from the inside.

68
00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:41.720
So, especially with the driver, golfers who can do it pretty well with an iron

69
00:03:41.720 --> 00:03:42.480
but then

70
00:03:42.480 --> 00:03:45.860
because of the driver you don't want to hit down quite as much, they tend to

71
00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:46.440
get a little

72
00:03:46.440 --> 00:03:48.200
bit steeper with the driver.

73
00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:51.190
They can feel a little bit better and actually improve their launch

74
00:03:51.190 --> 00:03:52.520
characteristics by making

75
00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:56.900
sure that they complete their shoulder turn, complete their pivot and really

76
00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:58.200
focus on that

77
00:03:58.200 --> 00:04:04.080
arm height and depth as opposed to maximizing those arm shallowing.

78
00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:11.000
So, if you're struggling with shallowing the club in transition, take a look at

79
00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:11.640
the amount

80
00:04:11.640 --> 00:04:16.050
of turn you're having in the backswing and know from some of the other videos

81
00:04:16.050 --> 00:04:16.720
that turning

82
00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:22.010
doesn't just mean rotation, it's an extension, a side bend, it's finishing the

83
00:04:22.010 --> 00:04:22.720
pivot.

84
00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:26.320
So, you can finish the pivot which will help create the depth.

85
00:04:26.320 --> 00:04:32.900
You can rotate the lead form to help shallow or you can externally rotate that

86
00:04:32.900 --> 00:04:34.480
trail shoulder.

87
00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.850
You can potentially pull the arms more across but what can happen is sometimes

88
00:04:38.850 --> 00:04:39.120
pulling it

89
00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:43.490
across limits your ability of the trail shoulder and so it forces your arms to

90
00:04:43.490 --> 00:04:43.840
actually get

91
00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:45.280
steep in transition.

92
00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:49.660
So, for some people that helps but for many people that actually makes it worse

93
00:04:49.660 --> 00:04:49.880
.

94
00:04:49.880 --> 00:04:56.450
So, we've got drills here in the transition section to help you feel either the

95
00:04:56.450 --> 00:04:56.860
trail

96
00:04:56.860 --> 00:05:01.970
shoulder, the lead form but know that completing the backswing is always an

97
00:05:01.970 --> 00:05:03.040
option if you're

98
00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:07.410
struggling with getting too steep in transition and you can't get it shallow

99
00:05:07.410 --> 00:05:07.920
enough just from

100
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:08.600
the arm movements.

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Related topics
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Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

How to Shallow Your Swing in Transition for Better Shots

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the critical movements that help shallow your swing.
  • Understand the role of full body rotation and arm positioning in your transition.
  • Differentiate between effective shallowing techniques and common misconceptions.

Learn the key techniques to shallow your swing during the transition phase, helping you achieve better contact and accuracy. This video covers essential movements that can transform your approach to the game.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400
This video is looking at the major shallowers of the transition.

2
00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:10.200
So, a lot of golfers submit their swing or see me in person and I'll ask them,

3
00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:10.600
hey, what

4
00:00:10.600 --> 00:00:12.360
are you hoping to work on?

5
00:00:12.360 --> 00:00:16.080
And many of them know, many of them have seen on video or they know when they

6
00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:16.720
submit it,

7
00:00:16.720 --> 00:00:20.880
I'm getting steep in transition, I just don't know how to shallow it.

8
00:00:20.880 --> 00:00:25.200
When I try and shallow it, I hit it poorly, et cetera, et cetera.

9
00:00:25.200 --> 00:00:31.200
So what I'm going to do in this video is highlight the three possibly four key

10
00:00:31.200 --> 00:00:32.360
shallowers that

11
00:00:32.360 --> 00:00:37.120
you can try if you're struggling with getting very steep in transition.

12
00:00:37.120 --> 00:00:42.510
So, and you'll probably be surprised by one that is left out, but I'll explain

13
00:00:42.510 --> 00:00:42.960
what that

14
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:43.960
is.

15
00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:49.820
So, the three/four major shallowers are going to be full body rotation in the

16
00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:50.840
backswing,

17
00:00:50.840 --> 00:01:00.300
so completing your turn, right arm external rotation, left forearm pronation,

18
00:01:00.300 --> 00:01:01.120
or left

19
00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:05.120
arm adduction or working more across your body.

20
00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.580
That's the one that's kind of, for most people, technically shallows but causes

21
00:01:09.580 --> 00:01:10.240
a little bit

22
00:01:10.240 --> 00:01:12.600
more of a steep movement in transition.

23
00:01:12.600 --> 00:01:17.700
So, the one that you may have thought would be included but doesn't actually

24
00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:18.280
fit in this

25
00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:21.080
category would be right side bend.

26
00:01:21.080 --> 00:01:27.680
A lot of golfers do right side bend in transition, but if you're looking at

27
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:29.180
kind of the tour

28
00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:36.050
model, the right side bend isn't going to switch from left to right until round

29
00:01:36.050 --> 00:01:36.640
shaft

30
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:37.640
45.

31
00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:43.240
So, that's more of a release movement going into the side bend.

32
00:01:43.240 --> 00:01:47.360
It's not so much one of the major shallowers in transition.

33
00:01:47.360 --> 00:01:52.830
So, the one that I think everybody tries and everybody has at least

34
00:01:52.830 --> 00:01:54.520
experimented with

35
00:01:54.520 --> 00:01:57.360
is the trail arm external rotation.

36
00:01:57.360 --> 00:02:03.210
Now, a lot of golfers will try to get into this trail arm external rotation and

37
00:02:03.210 --> 00:02:03.680
end up

38
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:08.290
getting super side bendy extension, early extension, and they'll start getting

39
00:02:08.290 --> 00:02:08.840
into more

40
00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:14.670
of this kind of super shallow, shallow too long, shallow too late pattern that

41
00:02:14.670 --> 00:02:15.360
becomes

42
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:16.520
unplayable.

43
00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:22.030
So, I've had a fair amount of success helping golfers get more of the shallow

44
00:02:22.030 --> 00:02:23.160
from rotating

45
00:02:23.160 --> 00:02:26.650
the lead form and it's important that it's the forearm, not the shoulder

46
00:02:26.650 --> 00:02:27.360
because if the

47
00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:31.950
shoulder starts rotating, that's a disconnected and weak position for the

48
00:02:31.950 --> 00:02:32.800
shoulder.

49
00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:36.730
So, the shoulder is actually going to potentially internally rotate or the very

50
00:02:36.730 --> 00:02:37.480
least kind of

51
00:02:37.480 --> 00:02:41.640
stay the same as that lead form pronates.

52
00:02:41.640 --> 00:02:46.740
So, if I go up towards the top of the swing, I keep that lead elbow kind of

53
00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:47.720
pointing down

54
00:02:47.720 --> 00:02:51.880
and I'm just going to feel like I turn that thumb down just like so.

55
00:02:51.880 --> 00:02:55.120
If I turn that thumb down, that's going to shallow.

56
00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:59.880
The other option, I'm at the top of the swing, I'm going to externally rotate,

57
00:02:59.880 --> 00:03:00.520
so I'm going

58
00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:06.680
to externally rotate, like so that would be more that trail shoulder.

59
00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:10.840
The one that a lot of people miss is completing a full backswing.

60
00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:18.220
So, a lot of golfers, if you don't have enough rotation, then what will happen

61
00:03:18.220 --> 00:03:19.400
is the club,

62
00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:24.810
the hand distance from the target line will be more closer to the target line

63
00:03:24.810 --> 00:03:25.680
as opposed

64
00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.360
to if I had that rotation.

65
00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:33.430
And that rotation allows me to potentially not shallow quite as much with my

66
00:03:33.430 --> 00:03:34.200
arms and

67
00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:35.920
still come from the inside.

68
00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:41.720
So, especially with the driver, golfers who can do it pretty well with an iron

69
00:03:41.720 --> 00:03:42.480
but then

70
00:03:42.480 --> 00:03:45.860
because of the driver you don't want to hit down quite as much, they tend to

71
00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:46.440
get a little

72
00:03:46.440 --> 00:03:48.200
bit steeper with the driver.

73
00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:51.190
They can feel a little bit better and actually improve their launch

74
00:03:51.190 --> 00:03:52.520
characteristics by making

75
00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:56.900
sure that they complete their shoulder turn, complete their pivot and really

76
00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:58.200
focus on that

77
00:03:58.200 --> 00:04:04.080
arm height and depth as opposed to maximizing those arm shallowing.

78
00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:11.000
So, if you're struggling with shallowing the club in transition, take a look at

79
00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:11.640
the amount

80
00:04:11.640 --> 00:04:16.050
of turn you're having in the backswing and know from some of the other videos

81
00:04:16.050 --> 00:04:16.720
that turning

82
00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:22.010
doesn't just mean rotation, it's an extension, a side bend, it's finishing the

83
00:04:22.010 --> 00:04:22.720
pivot.

84
00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:26.320
So, you can finish the pivot which will help create the depth.

85
00:04:26.320 --> 00:04:32.900
You can rotate the lead form to help shallow or you can externally rotate that

86
00:04:32.900 --> 00:04:34.480
trail shoulder.

87
00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.850
You can potentially pull the arms more across but what can happen is sometimes

88
00:04:38.850 --> 00:04:39.120
pulling it

89
00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:43.490
across limits your ability of the trail shoulder and so it forces your arms to

90
00:04:43.490 --> 00:04:43.840
actually get

91
00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:45.280
steep in transition.

92
00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:49.660
So, for some people that helps but for many people that actually makes it worse

93
00:04:49.660 --> 00:04:49.880
.

94
00:04:49.880 --> 00:04:56.450
So, we've got drills here in the transition section to help you feel either the

95
00:04:56.450 --> 00:04:56.860
trail

96
00:04:56.860 --> 00:05:01.970
shoulder, the lead form but know that completing the backswing is always an

97
00:05:01.970 --> 00:05:03.040
option if you're

98
00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:07.410
struggling with getting too steep in transition and you can't get it shallow

99
00:05:07.410 --> 00:05:07.920
enough just from

100
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:08.600
the arm movements.

Have questions about this video?

Ask Mulligan for personalized guidance on technique, drills, or how to apply what you've learned.

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