Struggling to get your golf swing on the right plane, feeling like your arms lift the club into a position that feels steep and out of control? A flatter backswing might just be the movement you need to find more consistency and power. This guide will break down what a flat backswing is, why it works, and provide clear, actionable drills to help you feel the correct motion and build it into your swing for good.
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What is a "Flatter" Backswing, Anyway?
Before we start changing things, let's get on the same page. A "flat" backswing doesn't mean your swing is horizontal to the ground. It’s all about the angle of the club and your arms in relation to your spine angle and shoulder turn at the top of the swing.
Imagine two types of golfers at the top:
The Upright Player: Think Justin Thomas or Bubba Watson. Their hands are very high above their trail shoulder, and their lead arm (left arm for a righty) is at a very steep angle relative to the ground. It looks like their arms have lifted almost straight up.
The Flatter Player: Think of players like Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, or Jon Rahm. At the top of their swing, their hands are more behind their trail shoulder, "deeper" rather than higher. Their lead arm is more across their chest, matching their shoulder turn angle more closely.
Neither is right or wrong, but many amateurs fight a steep, "over-the-top" swing that causes a slice. For these golfers, learning to flatten the backswing is a game-changer. It encourages the club to approach the ball from the inside, promoting a draw or, at the very least, neutralizing that slice. It also makes it easier to use the rotational power of your body instead of just your arms.
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To fix a problem, first you have to diagnose the cause. A steep backswing isn't just one single error, it's usually the result of a misstep early in the motion. Here are the most common culprits:
The All-Arms Takeaway: This is the number one issue. Instead of rotating their chest and shoulders to begin the swing, many golfers simply lift the club with their hands and arms. This immediately separates the arms from the body and sends the club on a very high, upright path.
Rolling the Club Inside: Another frequent mistake is using the hands and forearms to roll the clubhead open and drag it inside the target line too early. From this "stuck" position, the player's only option is to lift the club steeply to get to the top, which almost guarantees an over-the-top move on the way down.
Poor Posture and Connection: If you're too hunched over or too upright at address, it's difficult to rotate properly. A lack of connection between your upper arms and your torso encourages the arms to work independently, leading to that inconsistent, steep lift.
Drills to Master a Flatter, More Powerful Backswing
Theory is great, but golf is a game of feel. These drills are designed to take a complex idea and turn it into a physical sensation you can trust on the course. Spend time with these away from the course, making slow, deliberate swings without a ball before trying to speed them up.
Drill #1: The Headcover Tuck
This is a timeless drill for a reason - it works. It directly solves the problem of the arms separating from the body during the takeaway.
Do this 10-15 times to feel the connection. You’ll feel the bigger muscles of your torso engaging. That's a good thing! You're now swinging with your engine (your body), not just your passengers (your arms).
Drill #2: The Shoulder Turn Feel
This drill helps you feel what a full, rotational turn feels like without thinking about the club at all. It isolates the body's movement, which is the heart of a good backswing.
How to do it:
Get into your golf posture without a club.
Cross your arms over your chest, placing your hands on your opposite shoulders.
Now, rotate your upper body back as if you were making a backswing.
At the top of your turn, your back should be facing the target, and your lead shoulder should be pointing down, roughly where the ball would be.
Notice the angle of your lead arm (in this case, your forearm across your chest). It's matching the angle of your shoulders - it’s not pointing vertically to the sky. This is the "flat" position we're trying to replicate with a club in your hands.
This feeling demonstrates how a proper shoulder turn automatically puts your lead arm in a powerful, on-plane position. When you then add the club, your job is simply to let your arms move with this body turn, not independently of it.
Drill #3: The Right Elbow "Low and Back"
For golfers who get steep, the trail elbow (right elbow for right-handers) often flies up and away from the body, leading to a "chicken wing" that disconnects the swing. This drill keeps it tucked and on plane.
How to do it:
Take your setup swinging with just your trail arm (right arm for righties).
As you begin your backswing, focus on the sensation of your right elbow folding and staying relatively close to your side. It shouldn’t be pinned, but it should feel like it's pointing more towards the ground rather than out and behind you.
At the top of the swing, your right palm should feel like it's supporting a tray, facing up toward the sky.
This sensation of the trail elbow staying "in" and rotating with your chest prevents the arm from lifting the club off-plane. It forces the swing to become more rotational and deeper, two key ingredients of a flatter swing plane.
After a few single-arm practice swings, add your lead hand and try to rehearse that same "low and back" elbow feeling on your backswing. Combined with the connected feeling from the headcover drill, your swing will start to feel deeper and much more synchronized.
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Drills are for practice, but how do you take it to the course? The transition is all about trust and simplifying your thoughts. Don't try to think about all three drills at once. Pick one feeling that resonates most.
For some, the "keep the headcover tucked" thought works best to promote a connected turn. For others, the feeling of the "back to the target" with a full shoulder turn is the key. And for many, the simple thought of keeping the trail elbow from flying away is what locks it all in.
Start on the range. Hit small shots first - chips and pitches - focusing solely on this one backswing sensation. Gradually increase the length and speed of your swing while trying to retain that feeling. Don't worry about the results at first. Your body is learning a new motor pattern, and it takes repetition. Be patient, stick with the drills, and you’ll start seeing a more powerful and reliable ball flight.
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Flattening your backswing is about replacing an independent arm lift with a connected, rotational body movement. By using drills that promote connection, a full turn, and a properly placed trail elbow, you can build a more efficient swing that attacks the ball on an inside path and eliminates that pesky slice.
Of course, one of the best ways to know if your swing is too steep or just right is to see it. This is where I find a tool like Caddie AI comes in handy. You can use your phone to analyze your swing plane, get instant feedback on your movement, and ask specific questions about drills that could help. It's like having a 24/7 coach that translates what you feel into what’s really happening, giving you a clear path to getting better faster.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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