What does a flat golf swing mean?

“Flat” describes a swing plane that is more horizontal than the norm. For a right-handed player, this means the left arm forms an angle of less than 45° with the ground at the top of the backswing. PGA Tour standout Matt Kuchar is an extreme example of a golfer whose swing is flat.

Is a flat golf swing OK?

But that doesn't prohibit you from hitting the ball farther. On the contrary--a shorter, flatter swing is much easier to keep on-plane than a longer, more upright swing. You'll make fewer compensations on the downswing and hit the sweet spot on the clubface more often, producing greater ball speeds and bigger drives.

What happens when your swing is too flat?

The bad news is, an overly flat swing can result in ugly, damaging duck hooks, shots pushed way right and balls struck near the club's sole. If you suffer from any of these issues, the first thing to do is check your swing plane in a mirror. Set up with any club, driver to mid-iron, with the mirror to your right.

Does a flat swing cause a slice?

Plane Is Too Flat

Often, beginners have a swing plane that's too flat — when viewed from the side, their club shaft is far too horizontal (or like swinging a baseball bat). As they go through impact, they lack the strength and skill to close the clubface and they send the ball curving on a slice.

Who has the flattest swing on tour?

Matt Kuchar has one of the flattest swing planes on the PGA tour. He wraps the club around his body on the backswing, comes at the ball from the inside, and tends to play a draw. Freddie, on the other hand, has one of the most abrupt and upright takeaways on tour.

Why do I slice with my driver but not my irons?

Honestly, it all comes down to one simple concept: You can't use the exact same swing for both your irons and your driver. Those two types of clubs are designed differently, with different shaft lengths and different lofts. They are made to achieve different goals.

Does a flat swing cause shanks?

One of the leading causes of the shanks is a golf swing that has gotten too flat - so, as a result, a common fix is to simply make the swing more upright. An upright swing is one where the hands (and the club) find a high position at the top, and the club comes into the ball on a steep angle of attack.

Should you stand tall in the golf swing?

Standing tall makes it easy to turn through the shots and easy to turn in the backswing – it suits a lot of golfers. Jason Day and Rory McIlroy have very athletic postures because they work out a lot and this helps them really stand over the ball, but this type of posture might not be for everyone.

What does a flat lie angle do?

A flat lie angle means that the angle between the shaft and the ground is smaller, making the club shaft more flat as compared with the ground. If your club is too flat for your swing then it means that during your swing, the toe of the club will be lower than the heel (normally you want them level at impact).

Does Rickie Fowler have a flat swing?

However, Rickie did a great job fighting the across the line move off and worked to a very flat position at the top of the swing, resulting in a very flat downswing and club path working drastically from the inside.

What does shallowing the club mean?

Shallowing the golf club means that you get the club to flatten out more horizontally on the way down. Most golfers instead, have an over the top, casting motion which leads a steeper plane on the downswing. This can produce fat shots, skinny shots, and big misses to the right.

How do I know if my golf swing is too steep?

Steep swings work more up and down. A steep swing is, in the simplest terms, one that moves more up and down. Instead of the club working around your body, it works up to the sky and back down the the ground.

What starts the downswing in golf?

The correct golf downswing sequence starts with a pressure shift to the lead leg, followed by an externally rotated trail arm to shallow the angle of the club, before rotating the torso through to impact.

Why do good players Shank?

One of the main reasons for the “shank” is the player swings excessively steep and downward into the golf ball. This means that from the top of the swing, the club shaft gets very vertical coming down, and there is nowhere to go but down on top of the ball, usually with the hosel of the golf club.

Why am I shanking my irons all of a sudden?

Setting up at address with your weight on your heels and transferring it to your toes during the swing can move the clubface forward just enough to lead to a shank. So can standing too close to the ball and then adjusting by moving the club more to the outside on the downswing.

Why do I hit my 3 wood farther than my driver?

Players who hit their 3- or 5-wood as far or longer than their driver are typically using too little loft with the driver for their clubhead speed. You know, it's a funny thing with the driver and its loft compared to the other clubs in the bag.

What is the most common cause of a slice in golf?

The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. This open club face will give you contact that isn't square and often feels like a “side swipe.” The most common cause of an open club face is an incorrect grip as your hand position will directly reflect in the face.

Does driver loft affect slice?

Driver loft to reduce a slice

More loft equals more backspin, this backspin creates a more stable flight and minimises any negative effects of side-spin. Some golfers may argue that a 12-degree driver will lose them too much distance.

Does Rory have a flat swing?

'' Not many players on TOUR would stand up in front of the media and give them this information, but that's what's so great about Rory. He would go on to say that his swing “got flat, long, and too rotational.” Many golf fans may not realize, but these swings changes don't only apply to hitting driver.

Does Matt Kuchar have a flat swing?

Matt Kuchar is a very classic example of a very flat swing plane. Very tall guy, but swings the golf club quite aggressively around himself. Again, not a move that's designed for the average golfer, something that he's been working on his entire life, and something that obviously works for him.

Does John Daly have a good swing?

You will quickly notice that, other than the long backswing, there isn't much that separates Daly from any other player on the PGA Tour. His lower body works nicely throughout the swing, his head stays stable, he makes an excellent shoulder turn, and more. In other words, Daly's swing isn't 'crazy' or 'wild' at all.

How do I slow down my downswing in golf?

How to Slow Your Golf Swing Down

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