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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.

Identify and Fix a Steep Downswing in Your Golf Swing

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Determine when your downswing becomes steep and its impact on your shots
  • Understand the body movements that lead to a steep swing path
  • Learn how to adjust your transition to create a more efficient downswing

In this video, you'll learn how to diagnose a steep downswing and understand the key movements that contribute to this issue. Recognizing these patterns can help you improve your swing mechanics and overall ball striking.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.200
This video is steep and shallow timeline, the steep version.

2
00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:08.640
So we're going to look at the downswing and we're going to look at getting the

3
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:09.080
club in

4
00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:10.560
the steep position.

5
00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.590
So if you review the steep and shallow flowchart or you look at the steep and

6
00:00:14.590 --> 00:00:15.760
shallow video,

7
00:00:15.760 --> 00:00:20.020
you'll see that the major steepening movements are going to be pulling down

8
00:00:20.020 --> 00:00:21.280
with the arms,

9
00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:27.140
left rotation with the arms, narrowing with the arms, flexing with the body,

10
00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:28.320
left rotation

11
00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:29.600
and left side bend.

12
00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:34.420
So when we're looking at this timeline, we're basically looking at when are you

13
00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:35.000
getting

14
00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:40.240
into this steep pattern and ultimately what do we think is the driving force.

15
00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:45.080
Now we're going to break the downswing into three different phases.

16
00:00:45.080 --> 00:00:49.320
The middle phase is kind of this blend between the transition and the release.

17
00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:52.860
But we could either get steep right off the bat during transition, which would

18
00:00:52.860 --> 00:00:53.280
tend to

19
00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:57.590
be more of a power source thing, or we could get steep during the middle phase

20
00:00:57.590 --> 00:00:58.360
of blending

21
00:00:58.360 --> 00:01:01.160
transition into the release or during the release.

22
00:01:01.160 --> 00:01:06.420
If it's one of the latter, I'm thinking it's more of a how I control the face

23
00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:07.480
situation.

24
00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:12.060
So if we were to break those up, go up towards the top of the swing, getting

25
00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:13.040
steep early would

26
00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.760
be basically getting steep before the left arm is parallel to the ground.

27
00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:20.940
The major movements that are going to do that would be this left rotation and a

28
00:01:20.940 --> 00:01:21.560
little bit

29
00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:22.560
of a lunge.

30
00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:28.410
So from a body going like this, and the big one would be the arms rotating to

31
00:01:28.410 --> 00:01:29.160
the left

32
00:01:29.160 --> 00:01:31.080
and pulling down.

33
00:01:31.080 --> 00:01:33.080
So kind of this pattern here.

34
00:01:33.080 --> 00:01:36.920
That's going to tend to get me into a steep position unless I really early

35
00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:37.920
extend and really

36
00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:39.720
shallow out with my body.

37
00:01:39.720 --> 00:01:43.900
So if my arms look like they're getting steep in the early phases, it's

38
00:01:43.900 --> 00:01:44.840
typically going

39
00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:49.040
to be how I'm creating speed or how I'm powering the swing.

40
00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:52.650
So then the second phase would be looking, if everything's kind of okay here,

41
00:01:52.650 --> 00:01:53.120
that means

42
00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:58.840
I started with my lower body, and then it tends to get steep here.

43
00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:02.410
I'm starting to think of controlling low point and path, but the big movement

44
00:02:02.410 --> 00:02:03.000
that's going

45
00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:06.800
to tend to happen is going to be a little bit more of this forward lunge.

46
00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:11.120
So when I do that first movement, what should then happen is as I start the

47
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:12.000
release, my

48
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.120
body is going to brace and go into this side bend.

49
00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:20.320
But if my body continues to get on top, that will tend to get the club getting

50
00:02:20.320 --> 00:02:20.920
a little

51
00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:24.480
bit too outside or a little bit too steep.

52
00:02:24.480 --> 00:02:31.300
So that ends up looking like this from the face on, and kind of like that,

53
00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:32.400
where it's

54
00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:37.220
getting steep in there, which will usually result in a little bit more of kind

55
00:02:37.220 --> 00:02:37.720
of this

56
00:02:37.720 --> 00:02:39.920
scoop early extension pattern.

57
00:02:39.920 --> 00:02:44.200
So then the last option would be down at the bottom of the swing.

58
00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:47.880
And that's going to tend to be mostly from either not having a lot of this

59
00:02:47.880 --> 00:02:48.520
right side

60
00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:50.480
bend, so it's staying very level.

61
00:02:50.480 --> 00:02:53.160
But the big ones are now we're down in the release zone.

62
00:02:53.160 --> 00:02:56.560
And it's going to tend to be more of what's happening with the arms.

63
00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:00.940
So if I'm getting steep down at the bottom, it usually means that either my

64
00:03:00.940 --> 00:03:02.240
arms are getting

65
00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:05.040
too rotated like this.

66
00:03:05.040 --> 00:03:09.860
So they're rotating left as opposed to my don't break the arm where we kind of

67
00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:10.520
maintain

68
00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:13.950
that alignment so that from down the line, the right arm is a little bit more

69
00:03:13.950 --> 00:03:14.440
under the

70
00:03:14.440 --> 00:03:21.080
left, or it could be hinging the wrist and kind of bending this way or not

71
00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:22.080
having enough

72
00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:24.000
of this ulnar deviation.

73
00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:29.050
So if I'm in a good position right into there, but then I continue rotating and

74
00:03:29.050 --> 00:03:30.120
don't release

75
00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:35.380
the ulnar, you can see that that tends to get on top and has really kind of dig

76
00:03:35.380 --> 00:03:36.120
gy contact

77
00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:41.500
compared to if I got to that same position and released that ulnar, you can see

78
00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:41.920
that

79
00:03:41.920 --> 00:03:45.520
the club is now going to kind of slide and glide through the wall.

80
00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:50.070
So if you're struggling with trying to figure out when you get steep, I always

81
00:03:50.070 --> 00:03:50.720
recommend

82
00:03:50.720 --> 00:03:51.960
using video.

83
00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:56.780
If you tend to have consistent steep feedback, so you're tending to get more

84
00:03:56.780 --> 00:03:58.000
outside in path,

85
00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:03.040
you're tending to get toe hits, maybe even really deep divots, I would use

86
00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:03.920
video to kind

87
00:04:03.920 --> 00:04:07.200
of identify at the timing of when you get steep so that you'll be able to

88
00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:07.800
figure out

89
00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.640
the appropriate correction.

90
00:04:09.640 --> 00:04:12.240
If you're not sure, you can always submit your swing and we'd be happy to guide

91
00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:12.440
you

92
00:04:12.440 --> 00:04:15.870
as to when you're getting steep and what drills we think have the best chance

93
00:04:15.870 --> 00:04:16.440
of fixing it.

Have questions?

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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.

Identify and Fix a Steep Downswing in Your Golf Swing

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Determine when your downswing becomes steep and its impact on your shots
  • Understand the body movements that lead to a steep swing path
  • Learn how to adjust your transition to create a more efficient downswing

In this video, you'll learn how to diagnose a steep downswing and understand the key movements that contribute to this issue. Recognizing these patterns can help you improve your swing mechanics and overall ball striking.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.200
This video is steep and shallow timeline, the steep version.

2
00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:08.640
So we're going to look at the downswing and we're going to look at getting the

3
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:09.080
club in

4
00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:10.560
the steep position.

5
00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.590
So if you review the steep and shallow flowchart or you look at the steep and

6
00:00:14.590 --> 00:00:15.760
shallow video,

7
00:00:15.760 --> 00:00:20.020
you'll see that the major steepening movements are going to be pulling down

8
00:00:20.020 --> 00:00:21.280
with the arms,

9
00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:27.140
left rotation with the arms, narrowing with the arms, flexing with the body,

10
00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:28.320
left rotation

11
00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:29.600
and left side bend.

12
00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:34.420
So when we're looking at this timeline, we're basically looking at when are you

13
00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:35.000
getting

14
00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:40.240
into this steep pattern and ultimately what do we think is the driving force.

15
00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:45.080
Now we're going to break the downswing into three different phases.

16
00:00:45.080 --> 00:00:49.320
The middle phase is kind of this blend between the transition and the release.

17
00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:52.860
But we could either get steep right off the bat during transition, which would

18
00:00:52.860 --> 00:00:53.280
tend to

19
00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:57.590
be more of a power source thing, or we could get steep during the middle phase

20
00:00:57.590 --> 00:00:58.360
of blending

21
00:00:58.360 --> 00:01:01.160
transition into the release or during the release.

22
00:01:01.160 --> 00:01:06.420
If it's one of the latter, I'm thinking it's more of a how I control the face

23
00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:07.480
situation.

24
00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:12.060
So if we were to break those up, go up towards the top of the swing, getting

25
00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:13.040
steep early would

26
00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.760
be basically getting steep before the left arm is parallel to the ground.

27
00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:20.940
The major movements that are going to do that would be this left rotation and a

28
00:01:20.940 --> 00:01:21.560
little bit

29
00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:22.560
of a lunge.

30
00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:28.410
So from a body going like this, and the big one would be the arms rotating to

31
00:01:28.410 --> 00:01:29.160
the left

32
00:01:29.160 --> 00:01:31.080
and pulling down.

33
00:01:31.080 --> 00:01:33.080
So kind of this pattern here.

34
00:01:33.080 --> 00:01:36.920
That's going to tend to get me into a steep position unless I really early

35
00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:37.920
extend and really

36
00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:39.720
shallow out with my body.

37
00:01:39.720 --> 00:01:43.900
So if my arms look like they're getting steep in the early phases, it's

38
00:01:43.900 --> 00:01:44.840
typically going

39
00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:49.040
to be how I'm creating speed or how I'm powering the swing.

40
00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:52.650
So then the second phase would be looking, if everything's kind of okay here,

41
00:01:52.650 --> 00:01:53.120
that means

42
00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:58.840
I started with my lower body, and then it tends to get steep here.

43
00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:02.410
I'm starting to think of controlling low point and path, but the big movement

44
00:02:02.410 --> 00:02:03.000
that's going

45
00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:06.800
to tend to happen is going to be a little bit more of this forward lunge.

46
00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:11.120
So when I do that first movement, what should then happen is as I start the

47
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:12.000
release, my

48
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.120
body is going to brace and go into this side bend.

49
00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:20.320
But if my body continues to get on top, that will tend to get the club getting

50
00:02:20.320 --> 00:02:20.920
a little

51
00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:24.480
bit too outside or a little bit too steep.

52
00:02:24.480 --> 00:02:31.300
So that ends up looking like this from the face on, and kind of like that,

53
00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:32.400
where it's

54
00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:37.220
getting steep in there, which will usually result in a little bit more of kind

55
00:02:37.220 --> 00:02:37.720
of this

56
00:02:37.720 --> 00:02:39.920
scoop early extension pattern.

57
00:02:39.920 --> 00:02:44.200
So then the last option would be down at the bottom of the swing.

58
00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:47.880
And that's going to tend to be mostly from either not having a lot of this

59
00:02:47.880 --> 00:02:48.520
right side

60
00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:50.480
bend, so it's staying very level.

61
00:02:50.480 --> 00:02:53.160
But the big ones are now we're down in the release zone.

62
00:02:53.160 --> 00:02:56.560
And it's going to tend to be more of what's happening with the arms.

63
00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:00.940
So if I'm getting steep down at the bottom, it usually means that either my

64
00:03:00.940 --> 00:03:02.240
arms are getting

65
00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:05.040
too rotated like this.

66
00:03:05.040 --> 00:03:09.860
So they're rotating left as opposed to my don't break the arm where we kind of

67
00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:10.520
maintain

68
00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:13.950
that alignment so that from down the line, the right arm is a little bit more

69
00:03:13.950 --> 00:03:14.440
under the

70
00:03:14.440 --> 00:03:21.080
left, or it could be hinging the wrist and kind of bending this way or not

71
00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:22.080
having enough

72
00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:24.000
of this ulnar deviation.

73
00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:29.050
So if I'm in a good position right into there, but then I continue rotating and

74
00:03:29.050 --> 00:03:30.120
don't release

75
00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:35.380
the ulnar, you can see that that tends to get on top and has really kind of dig

76
00:03:35.380 --> 00:03:36.120
gy contact

77
00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:41.500
compared to if I got to that same position and released that ulnar, you can see

78
00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:41.920
that

79
00:03:41.920 --> 00:03:45.520
the club is now going to kind of slide and glide through the wall.

80
00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:50.070
So if you're struggling with trying to figure out when you get steep, I always

81
00:03:50.070 --> 00:03:50.720
recommend

82
00:03:50.720 --> 00:03:51.960
using video.

83
00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:56.780
If you tend to have consistent steep feedback, so you're tending to get more

84
00:03:56.780 --> 00:03:58.000
outside in path,

85
00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:03.040
you're tending to get toe hits, maybe even really deep divots, I would use

86
00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:03.920
video to kind

87
00:04:03.920 --> 00:04:07.200
of identify at the timing of when you get steep so that you'll be able to

88
00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:07.800
figure out

89
00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.640
the appropriate correction.

90
00:04:09.640 --> 00:04:12.240
If you're not sure, you can always submit your swing and we'd be happy to guide

91
00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:12.440
you

92
00:04:12.440 --> 00:04:15.870
as to when you're getting steep and what drills we think have the best chance

93
00:04:15.870 --> 00:04:16.440
of fixing it.

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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