One of the biggest differences between elite and amateur players it happens before the impact ever occurs. This is how they maintain their inclination to the ground throughout the swing.
Your pitch to the ground is set at address, determined by how much you bend forward from your hips and spine.
“You have set your inclination on the ground at address based on your attitude – the angle of your spine and how much you bend forward,” says Josh Troyer, GOLFTECDirector of Teaching Quality. On average, Tour players are about 40 degrees forward with their shoulder flexion.
The best players in the world are able to keep that angle extremely consistent as they spin. But it’s something many recreational players struggle with.
“They maintain that propensity for the land as they do a backflip,” says Troyer. “You can think of it like trying to hammer a nail into a wall—if your body is moving around while you’re doing it, it’s really hard to hit the same spot.”
So how consistent are big ball hitters at guarding this angle? At the top of the backswing, their shoulders are pitched about 3 degrees less than they were at address.
“If the tournament average is 40 degrees forward at address, at the top of the backswing the best players tilt their shoulders about 37 degrees to the left,” Troyer explains. “That little difference is what keeps you grounded.”
Amateurs, on the other hand, often lean very slightly.
“What bad players do is start 40 degrees forward, but they only tilt their shoulders maybe 20 or 22 degrees,” says Troyer. “That’s a flat turn of the shoulders — and when that happens, their head goes up and they get out of position.”
The key, says Troyer, is understanding RELATIONS between setup and shoulder tilt at the top – not just following specific numbers.
“If a golfer is 30 degrees forward at address, they should have their shoulders about 27 degrees to the left at the top,” he says. “That’s how you maintain your slant. If they went to 37 degrees instead, they’re actually going to dive toward the ball.”
It’s not about memorizing measurements – it’s about keeping them accurate pattern. “
“Numbers are important,” Troyer says, “but understanding how that relationship works is what really matters.”
When your shoulder tilt matches your setup curve, you stay in position, rotate efficiently, and make solid, repeatable contact—just like the pros do.
If you want to learn how to correctly maintain forward swing in your swing, book a swing assessment with GOLFTEC below.
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