I've been struggling with a shallow backswing for awhile now. Both times I've had lessons I've asked instructors for help on this specific issue, they watch me swing and they turn around and ask me, "why would you want to mess with your swing?" I assume because they are looking at the immediate result of a slight pull draw. I've insisted because at the time it seems fine but I've battled shanks for the last 2 years off and on. Finally, during my last lesson I shanked from start to finish. The pro wrote it off as some kind of anomaly that I just have to pound away…which I know is not true. He did give me a "drill" that was the opposite thing I wanted, making me to swing even more around my body.

So, I came across a drill on the intrawebs about placing two tees a club head apart. Start addressed to the outside, take a backswing and then swing down at the front tee. I started doing this yesterday and then moved to starting at the front tee and taking back more "out"!toward where the outside tee line would be and continuing to swing down to the inside tee. I moved toward then using this drill with a ball and it's feeling pretty good.

Are there any other drills you guys use to help make your backswing steep enough? I think I remember the climb the wall drill helps as well? It's such a difficult feeling to get used to so I'm willing to try anything that will make it feel more natural!

TIA

[This message has been edited by dcrewint (edited 7/29/2014 8:03a).]

I don't think shanking is the result of swing plane. From my experience in frustration I would start standing way to close or to far from the ball or come up off it.

You might want to just take swings with someone recording or look at some of the swing analyzers like the swing byte or golf sense. Try v1 golf to record your swing with someone looking down the line. At address draw a line from the ball through your shoulder and one on the line of the club shaft. If you keep your club between that V the entire swing than your plane is good.

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Both times I've had lessons I've asked instructors for help on this specific issue, they watch me swing and they turn around and ask me, "why would you want to mess with your swing?"

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I agree with this.

Having a flat or shallow swing isn't a bad thing. I have a very flat swing and I tried to get more vertical and it just doesn't work for me. I swing on one-plane and I'll likely never become a two-planer.

Also, hitting hosel rockets isn't necessarily a function of swing plane. More than likely it a function of your proximity to the the ball at address and impact.

If it were me, I wouldn't monkey with plane. I'd follow what the professionals have already suggested.

As Arnie said during those commercials, "Swing your swing."

If it's technically sound from the advice of 2 pro instructors, then do it. Not everyone swings the Adam Scott swing.

You won't be able to fix the shanks with lessons or an altered swing plane. They are mysterious and can't be coached away. My thought would be to see a female therapist that has a professional golfer boyfriend.

seems to work for most hacks.

while I agree with the posters and your two lessons, a flat swing is not a bad thing(Zach Johnson). But to answer tour question, a good thing to do is put either an alignment stick or old broken shaft at a steeper angle in the ground in line with your heels(on the way back). this will force you to take the club back more steep, if too flat you will hit it.

Alright, I think maybe my verbiage was poor? I take the club too far inside. Thanks for the drill aggiebrother.

the distance from your back foot is determined which club you use. Put the stick about 6" from the clubhead(toward you) of whatever club you are hitting. Too close to you, you could impale your hand...

A very flat swing plane can lead to an over the top or steepening of the downswing. Its sort of a natural compensation. Thats why you get a pull draw shot. You prob wipe a few off to the right also. You can try to get some width in your backswing, stand against the wall and not hit the wall with your backswing. All little things you can try.

Shanks are caused by poor weight distribution between your balls of your feet and your heels. Stay more over your ankles. On the downswing move laterally and turn. Do not move out toward the ball.

Also keep your eye on the back of the ball and keep your weight on the inside of your rt. foot until after you hit the ball. Swing out on the ball also to get used to an inside to square to inside radius of the arc.

[This message has been edited by Houstonag (edited 7/30/2014 3:57p).]