There’s a lot of debate about steep vs. shallow in the short game, so GOLF Teacher to Watch TJ Yeaton explains what’s best.
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About a year ago, a viral video on social networks Viktor Hovland reacting excitedly in one stroke of the flop may have changed the instruction of golf forever. OK, so the hyperbola is a LESS extreme, but I think you get the point: Never before so many people argued being steep vs. shallow pitching.
Standing alongside a Ping representative in the 30-second clip, Hovland couldn’t contain his giddiness after executing the difficult shot.
“I’ve never been able to do that before,” Hovland says. “It was sick.”
‘One isn’t better or worse’: Pro breaks down the differences between steep and shallow pitching
From that simple admission, Hovland opened a can of worms that no one would have ever imagined, with golf teachers everywhere offering their opinions on the shallow and slanted shots on the course.
But is there one FAIR method? What should an intermediate handicapper use versus a beginner or scratcher? To help explain the debate and reveal some guidelines, GOLF 100 best teachers to watch TJ Yeaton lends his expertise.
Steep vs. Shallow: Which is better for the short game?
“When it comes to standard chip and fairway shots, many golfers are now asking whether it’s better to be steep or shallow,” says Yeaton. “First, it’s important to understand what both mean.”
Yeaton offers some quick explanations of both.
“We can measure the trajectory of the clubhead using two different metrics, known as the angle of attack and the vertical swing plane,” he says. “The more the clubhead moves down at impact (angle of attack), along with a more vertical movement of the clubhead relative to the ground (swing plane), the steeper it is.”
He then provides a visual.
“If you think of a Ferris wheel, it would move in a plane of 90 degrees of vertical oscillation (which is pretty steep!), while a gyro would be the flattest plane of vertical oscillation (zero).
After describing those two elements of the golf swing, Yeaton explains the importance of making first contact with the ball.
“It’s in our best interest to hit the ball first before we hit the ground,” he says. “Of course, there are some times when it’s not (deep rough and sandy), but when possible, hitting the ball early is the best way to create a predictable trajectory and distance. A club that begins to interact with the surface too quickly only increases the possibility of spin-offs from the ground, which can alter clubhead speed and ball release.”
While making first contact with the ball is important, so is making sure how to stop the ball – which is not something many amateurs think about often, mainly because they are so focused on making good contact. that they forget. controlling distance in the short game.
Yeaton says there are several options for doing this, with spin being the preferred method on a shot that doesn’t require a high trajectory.
So how does a golfer create spin? explains Yeaton.
“First, you have to make clean, high-friction contact. Moving the clubhead into a steeper swing plane and steeper attack angle would keep the clubhead farther off the ground the most, which reduces the chance of debris building up between the clubface and the ball. This increase in friction also increases rotation.
“Next, we need to increase our spin loft, which is the difference between the club’s loft at impact and the angle of attack. We can increase spin loft by choosing a club with a good amount of loft and then increasing the amount we hit it (angle of attack).
Of course, this is easier said than done, which Yeaton understands. That’s why he says the most common issue he sees with amateurs is too shallow an entry, which causes the clubhead to catch the ground in front of the ball.
Viktor Hovland’s improved short game can be connected with 1 wedge change
“A clubhead that moves on a shallower swing plane approaches the ground more quickly, which then interacts with dirt, moisture and other debris on its way to impact,” says Yeaton. “This is the most common issue I see among less skilled players, with those who struggle in the short game almost always having the club too close to the ground too quickly, preventing them from making clean contact.”
So what can you do to lean in when you’re trying to make better contact? Yeaton says to try the following.
“At address, put your weight more to the side of the bullet and make sure your sternum is closer to the target than the ball,” he says. “During the backswing, limit how much you turn your chest and instead let your shoulders tilt more like a saw (lead shoulder down, trail shoulder up). This will make the club work more up and down and less around. Finally, make sure to finish with the weight on the lead side at the end, keeping your body further in front of the ball throughout the lift.”
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