How to Flatten a Golf Swing

Flattening your golf swing is one of the most common goals for players struggling with a slice or a weak, high ball flight. A flatter, or more accurately, an on-plane swing is the secret to unlocking the powerful, consistent, ball-striking you see from better players. This article will show you what a proper swing plane looks like, help you identify if you’re coming in too steep, and give you practical, easy-to-follow drills to get your club on the right path for solid contact and better shots.

What Does "Flattening a Swing" Actually Mean?

Before we start changing things, let’s be clear. The goal isn’t to swing like you're taking a baseball cut. When golfers and coaches talk about "flattening the swing," they’re usually trying to correct a swing that is too steep. A steep swing is one where the club lifts up too vertically in the backswing and then chops down on the ball from an "over-the-top" angle.

Imagine a large, tilted hoop runs from the golf ball up through your shoulders. This is your ideal swing plane. In a steep swing, the club travels up and outside of this hoop during the backswing and then cuts down across it to get back to the ball. A flatter, on-plane swing means the club stays on or very close to that imaginary hoop throughout the backswing and downswing.

The Problem With a Steep Swing

An overly steep attack angle is the root cause of many frustrations in golf. When your club comes crashing down from the outside, you’re forced to make last-second compensations just to make contact. This often leads to:

• The Slice: The classic over-the-top move creates an out-to-in swing path, which puts slice spin on the ball. The steeper you are, the more you’ll see that ball start left (for a righty) and curve dramatically to the right.
• Loss of Power: A chopping motion is inefficient. You're not using your body's rotation correctly to generate speed, so you feel like you swing hard but the ball goes nowhere.
• Inconsistent Contact: A steep swing can lead to deep, chunky divots when you dig in behind the ball, or thin shots and pop-ups when you over-correct and catch the ball on the upswing.

In contrast, a flatter, on-plane swing travels from the inside, allowing you to use your body’s rotation to deliver the club with speed and square up the face at impact naturally. The result is often a powerful, baby draw - the shot shape most coveted by golfers.

How to Tell If Your Swing Is Too Steep

You can't fix a problem you don't know you have. Many golfers who are extremely steep *feel* like they are swinging around their body. Feel isn't always real. Here are two simple ways to diagnose your swing plane.

1. Read Your Divots

Your divots tell a story. After a solid shot with an iron on the fairway or at the range, take a look at the turf you took. For a right-handed golfer:

• A divot pointing left of the target is the classic sign of a steep, over-the-top swing. You cut across the ball from out-to-in.
• A divot pointing straight at the target_ (or slightly to the right)_ indicates a much better, on-plane or in-to-out path.

If you're indoors or hitting off mats, you can place a piece of impact tape on the bottom of your iron to see the strike pattern. You still want the scuff mark to appear to be moving towards your target, not cutting across the face.

2. The Down-the-Line Video Test

This is the most reliable way to see what's really happening. You don't need fancy equipment, just your phone. Set it up on a tripod or have a friend film you from a "down-the-line" perspective. This means the camera is positioned directly behind you, looking down the target line through your hands.

1. Take a few swings and record them.
2. When you play back the video, pause your swing at the top. Use your phone’s edit feature to draw a line that starts at the hosel (where the shaft meets the clubhead) and runs up through your trail arm's elbow or shoulder. This is your general swing plane line.
3. Now, slowly advance the video into your downswing. Watch where the clubhead travels.
   • If your hands and the clubhead are clearly above this line, you are "over the top" and your swing is steep. This is the most common fault for amateur golfers.
   • If your hands and clubhead track down on or slightly below this line, you are swinging on plane or from the "inside." This is what you want!

Seeing your swing on video can be an eye-opening moment and is the first real step toward making a lasting change.

Actionable Drills to Flatten Your Swing and Get on Plane

Okay, you've identified that you have a steep swing. Now what? The fix isn’t about consciously trying to swing "flatter." The fix is about addressing the root causes through targeted drills. A steep swing is almost always caused by the upper body dominating the start of the downswing. These drills train the lower body to lead and the club to drop naturally into place.

Drill #1: The Headcover Under the Arm

This classic drill is fantastic for helping you feel the connection between your arms and your body.

1. Setup: Tuck an empty headcover or a small towel under your trail armpit (the right armpit for a righty). It should be secure but not squeezed so tight that it adds tension.
2. The Goal: Take half-to-three-quarter swings with the sole intention of keeping the headcover in place until after you’ve made contact with the ball.
3. The Feeling: To keep the headcover from dropping, you are forced to start the downswing by rotating your hips and torso. This prevents your right shoulder from throwing forward "over the top." Your right elbow will naturally stay tucked closer to your side, allowing the club to "drop into the slot" and approach the ball from the inside. The headcover will eventually fall out naturally as your arms extend through to the finish.
4. Practice: Start with very slow, deliberate practice swings. Once you have the feel, start hitting short iron shots, focusing more on the motion than the result.

Drill #2: The Two-Ball Gate Drill

This drill gives you instant, undeniable feedback on your swing path. It actively discourages an out-to-in swing.

1. Setup: Place a golf ball where you’d normally hit it. Now, place a second ball (or another object like another headcover or even a water bottle) about 4-5 inches outside and about 4-5 inches ahead of the ball you intend to hit. This creates a "gate."
2. The Goal: Your task is to hit the target ball without making any contact with the gate ball/object.
3. The Feedback: If you swing over the top, you will inevitably hit the gate object. There’s no cheating it. To miss the gate, you *must* have the club approach the ball from the inside. This forces you to flatten your plane of attack.
4. Practice: This drill can be a bit intimidating, so start with slow, short swings. You'll quickly get a feel for the path needed to swing "through the gate." As you gain confidence, you can slowly increase the speed.

Drill #3: The Transition "Feel" Drill

Often, a steep swing starts with a poor transition from the an aggressive move at the top. This drill helps reprogram that move.

1. Setup: Get to the top of your backswing and stop. Your weight should be loaded into your right side.
2. The Move: From this static position at the top, the very first thing you should feel is your lead hip (left hip for a righty) starting to bump or shift towards the target as it begins to open. Simultaneously, feel as if your arms are just "falling" or dropping straight down, not being pulled toward the ball. Think "drop, then turn."
3. The Feeling: This creates a powerful sensation of lag. The club feels like it's trailing way behind you, which is exactly what a good, shallow swing path feels like. It will feel strange at first, especially if you’re used to heaving the club from the top.
4. Practice: Don't even hit a ball at first. Just repeat the sequence: Get to the top, pause, and initiate the downswing with that "hip bump and arm drop" feeling. After doing it 10-15 times, try to replicate that same feeling on a soft, easy iron shot.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to flatten your golf swing is really about learning how to get on plane by using your body correctly. By understanding the difference between a steep and an on-plane swing and using drills to retrain your transition, you can say goodbye to that weak slice and start hitting powerful, consistent golf shots with a nice draw.

Instant feedback is a huge advantage when you're a serious golfer looking to improve their swing. For this specific challenge, getting an unbiased look at your swing plane can make all the difference. That's why Caddie AI is so helpful - we give you a way to understand your swing without the guesswork. You can upload a video of a swing, get it analyzed in seconds, and receive an instant breakdown of your swing plane and club path. We'll give you clear, actionable feedback with specific drills tailored to what you need to work on, making it easier than ever to practice with purpose and see real results.