Shallow Through Impact – Woosnam & O’Grady Release Exit

“Shallowing the club” has become one of the most discussed topics in modern golf instruction. Many golfers spend a lot of time trying to shallow the shaft in transition, often focusing on positions in the downswing.

However, much of the shallow appearance seen in great ball strikers actually develops through impact and into the release.

In the video below we explore what it really means for the club to move shallow through impact, and how different release patterns influence the way the club exits the strike.

What Does “Shallow Through Impact” Mean?

When golfers talk about shallowing the club, they usually refer to the shaft flattening in the downswing. While that can be part of the motion, it does not fully explain why some great players often appear extremely shallow as the club moves through the hitting area.

A large part of that look comes from how the club is released after impact.

When the club exits in a certain way, the club often travels on a very shallow path through the strike. The player may not be consciously trying to shallow the club at that moment, but the release pattern naturally produces that appearance.

Understanding this relationship can help players focus less on positions and more on how the club actually moves through the ball.

Release Exits and Club Delivery

Different players organize the release of the club in different ways. In this video we look at examples inspired by players such as Ian Woosnam and Mac O’Grady, both known for their unique but highly effective strike patterns.

By studying the release exits of these players, we can see how the club travels through impact and how that movement influences the shaft angle, the strike, and the overall delivery of the club.

Rather than forcing a certain position in the downswing, these motions show how the correct release can naturally organize the club through the hitting area.

Blade Control Through the Strike

One of the key benefits of understanding release exits is improved blade control through impact.

When the club exits properly, the face remains stable through the strike and the player can control both compression and direction more effectively.

This is why studying the movement of the club through impact can be more useful than focusing only on the backswing or transition. The way the club leaves the ball often reveals the true structure of the swing.

Understanding the Strike Pattern

The goal of this video is not to present a single “correct” swing, but to help golfers understand how different release patterns can produce similar impact conditions.

By studying how the club travels through the strike, players can develop a clearer picture of how the golf swing actually delivers the club to the ball.

If you want to better understand shallowness, release patterns, impact delivery, and blade control, the concepts in this video provide a useful framework for studying the strike.

This video and text has mainly covered what I call the Trail Power Hitter pattern.

Check out the Forgotten Master Moves homepage here.

In the FMM Academy I teach differnt patterns and it’s all about fit – has it’s overview page here.