How to Square the Shoulders in a Golf Swing

A slice that sails out of bounds or a pull-hook that dives into the woods can often be traced back to a simple, fundamental error: incorrect shoulder alignment. Getting your shoulders square - or, more accurately, learning to control their rotation - is a huge factor in hitting powerful, accurate golf shots. This tutorial will break down what it really means to have square shoulders, why it matters, and provide simple, actionable drills to sync up your upper body for more consistent ball striking.

The Truth About "Square Shoulders" at Impact

First, let's clear up a common misconception. While you want your shoulders to be perfectly square to your target line at address, they should not be perfectly square at the moment of impact. This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s a non-negotiable part of a powerful golf swing. An efficient swing is a sequence, and in that sequence, your lower body leads the way in the downswing. Your hips begin to open toward the target before your shoulders do.

Because of this, a scratch golfer's shoulders will actually be slightly open (around 20-30 degrees) to the target line at impact. The problems arise when they open up too much, too soon - a classic move amateurs make called "spinning out." This causes the club to swing "over the top" and cut across the ball, leading to a weak slice. The goal isn't to keep your shoulders perfectly square at all times, but to control their rotation and ensure they are moving in the correct sequence with the rest of your body.

Step 1: Get Square at the Start

You can’t finish in a good position if you don’t start in one. Proper shoulder alignment begins at address. Most amateur golfers who slice have an open shoulder alignment at setup without even realizing it. They aim their feet correctly but then unconsciously open their shoulders to get a better look at the target. This pre-sets a path from out-to-in before the club even moves.

Your goal at setup is for your feet, hips, and shoulders to be perfectly parallel to your target line. Imagine two railroad tracks: one track is your ball-to-target line, and the other, inner track is the line your body is set on. They should never converge.

The Alignment Stick Drill

This is the simplest way to check your initial alignment and train your body to feel what “square” truly is.

• Place one alignment stick on the ground, pointing directly at your target. This represents the target line.
• Place a second alignment stick parallel to the first one, about a foot inside of it (closer to you).
• Set up to the imaginary ball so that the tips of your toes are right against the second alignment stick.
• Now, without moving your feet, look down at your shoulders. Are they parallel to the sticks on the ground? Many golfers are surprised to see how "closed off" a genuinely square setup feels. This is your new normal.
• Practice taking your setup using this drill until you can trust your feel without needing the visual aid.

Step 2: The Backswing – Turning, Not Tilting

Once you’re square at address, the a proper shoulder turn during the backswing loads your power and sets you up for a great downswing. A poor shoulder turn, on the other hand, virtually guarantees poor shoulder position at impact. A common mistake is a flat shoulder turn, where the shoulders rotate horizontally without any tilt. This sends the club too far around the body, forcing you to come "over the top" to get back to the ball.

A good shoulder turn feels like your lead shoulder (left shoulder for a righty) is turning down and under your chin. The spine angle you create at address should be maintained throughout the backswing turn.

The Cross-Armed Turn Drill

This drill helps you feel the correct blend of rotation and tilt in your backswing, isolating the movement of your torso.

• Get into your golf posture without a club.
• Cross your arms over your chest, grabbing your opposite shoulders.
• Now, perform your backswing rotation. Focus on getting your lead shoulder to turn down and point towards where the ball would be.
• At the top of your backswing, your back should be facing the target. Notice the angle of your shoulders, your front shoulder is significantly lower than your back shoulder.
• Repeat this motion several times to ingrain the feeling of a proper, tilted turn. This "coiling" sensation is what stores power for the downswing.

Step 3: The Downswing – Let the Lower Body Lead

This is where most swing sequence issues appear. Eager to smash the ball, many golfers initiate the downswing by unwinding their shoulders first. This is the "over the top" move in a nutshell. As the right shoulder and arms fire first, the club is thrown outside the ideal swing plane, and the shoulders spin open way too early. Your only option from this position is to cut across the ball.

The correct sequence starts from the ground up. Your hips begin the downswing rotation, which pulls your torso and shoulders around, which then pulls your arms and, finally, the club. This creates lag and allows the club to approach the ball from the inside, giving you that beautiful push-draw ball flight.

The "Feel vs. Real" Step Drill

This exaggerates the feeling of the lower body leading the downswing, teaching your shoulders to wait their turn.

• Take your normal setup with a mid-iron.
• Before you start your backswing, bring your feet together.
• As you swing the club back, take a small step forward with your lead foot, planting it in its normal stance position. Time it so your foot lands just as your backswing completes.
• That little step naturally forces your lower body to initiate the downswing. It gives you a head start with your hips, preventing your shoulders from taking over.
• The club will feel like it’s "dropping" into the slot behind you. This is the correct feeling! Practice this a few times, then try to replicate that same feeling in your regular swing.

Step 4: Putting It All Together for a Connected Impact

Controlling the shoulders through impact is all about staying "connected" - that is, keeping your arms and body moving together as a unit. When a player "spins out," their trail arm (right arm for a righty) disconnects from their chest and flies away from their body. A fantastic drill to prevent this and promote a unified, powerful rotation is the towel drill.

The Towel Under the Arm Drill

This is a classic for a reason. It physically restrains your trail arm from getting disconnected, forcing your body to be the engine of the swing.

• Grab a small golf towel or an empty headcover.
• Tuck it into the armpit of your trail arm (right armpit for right-handers). It should be snug enough to stay in place, but not so tight you can’t move.
• Start by making half-swings (from waist-high to waist-high). The goal is to keep the towel from dropping.
• To keep the towel in place, you’ll find you have to rotate your chest and hips through the shot. You can't just throw your arms at the ball. The towel forces your trail elbow to stay closer to your body on the downswing, delivering the club from an inside path.
• Once you get the hang of it with half-swings, gradually work your way up to full swings. Don't worry about hitting the ball perfectly at first, just focus on making contact without the towel falling to the ground until after impact.

Final Thoughts

Mastering shoulder rotation isn't about one static position but about controlling the a dynamic sequence from A to Z. It starts with a square setup, continues with a deep, tilted backswing turn, and is powered by a downswing where the lower body leads and the shoulders follow. By practicing these alignment checks and sequencing drills, you’ll trade that weak slice for a powerful, controlled ball flight.

If you find yourself on the course and unsure of why your shots are flying off-target, getting personalized feedback is invaluable. At Caddie AI, we’ve designed our tool to act as that on-demand coach. You can ask for drills specific to shoulder rotation or even use our photo analysis to get a diagnosis of a specific shot, helping you understand if your shoulders are the culprit. It's about getting clear, actionable feedback to Caddie AI so you can get you back on track right when you need it most.