This One Shoulder Move Makes The Golf Swing So Much Easier!

One overlooked but crucial concept in improving your ball striking is the tilt of your shoulders during the backswing. Many golfers instinctively try to turn their shoulders level with the ground, but this can lead to a host of contact issues. In this post, we’ll explore why a proper shoulder tilt is essential and share a simple drill to help you feel and implement it in your own swing.

The Importance of Shoulder Tilt

In golf, the ball is on the ground—not chest height—so our swing needs to reflect that reality. This means we must rotate at an incline, not flat or level to the ground. When done correctly, the lead (left) shoulder should move down and in during the backswing. This movement helps set your swing on the correct plane and prepares your body to strike down on the ball.

Conversely, if you rotate your shoulders level with the ground, it pulls your head and upper body off the golf ball. This leads to one of two issues:

You stay back, causing fat shots or early releases.

You make a last-second compensatory move, leading to inconsistent strikes and topped shots—especially with longer clubs like fairway woods.

Understanding Why Flat Shoulder Turn Fails

Let’s imagine the ball is at chest height. In that case, a level shoulder turn would be fine. But the ball is on the ground, so the swing must reflect that. Flattening your shoulder plane while keeping your body in forward bend results in a motion that drags your upper body away from the ball, disrupting your swing center and leading to poor contact.

Your goal is to keep your head centered while rotating around your spine with a proper incline. When you do this correctly, your body stays in posture, your arc remains consistent, and your ability to hit the ground in the right spot improves dramatically.

Drill to Improve Shoulder Tilt

The Inclined Rotation Drill (Dry Drill)

This is a simple yet powerful drill that trains your body to rotate with the proper shoulder tilt.

Setup:

Stand in your golf posture without a club in hand. Place a club or alignment stick across your chest, holding it with both arms. Put pressure into your lead (left) foot, then step your trail (right) foot slightly back and behind you.

Execution:

With your head staying centered, begin to rotate your shoulders, focusing on tilting the club (on your chest) down toward the ground. Feel how your left shoulder moves down and in, creating an incline that matches the golf ball's position on the ground. This setup helps train a centered pivot while preventing flat rotation.

Tip:

From a face-on view, try to keep your lead ear (left ear for right-handed players) closer to the target during the backswing. This helps keep your swing center intact and encourages a proper tilt.

Why the Drill Works

Placing your back foot behind you adds stability and helps create the sensation of your right side opening up, which naturally pulls your left side down. This motion is key to achieving the correct shoulder angle and maintaining posture. It also helps you shift pressure correctly to your trail side while staying centered over the ball.

Conclusion

If you're struggling with inconsistent ball striking, fat shots, or topping the ball—especially with longer clubs—it's time to take a look at your shoulder tilt. Avoid turning level with the ground and start training your body to rotate on the proper incline. By incorporating the Inclined Rotation Drill, you’ll develop a more centered and effective pivot, leading to more solid, consistent shots.

Remember, the golf swing isn’t just about turning—it’s about turning correctly. Master this tilt, and you’ll unlock a new level of ball striking.