Why I Don’t Like Shallowing Moves in the Golf Swing

Why do golfers feel the need to make deliberate shallowing moves in the downswing? You see them everywhere on social media: shallow the club, find the right position, and then hit the ball.

But I’ve always questioned the logic behind this approach. Why not build a backswing that allows you to deliver the club without needing an additional shallowing move? And why not develop a power intention that creates the shallowness naturally?

The Problem With Three-Tempo Swings

My main objection is that many of these methods create what I call a three-tempo swing.

First, you make the backswing. Then you perform a separate shallowing move. Finally, you unleash the club through impact.

That is a lot to manage. You can, of course, drill these movements until they become familiar, but I have never enjoyed that approach. It feels awkward, and it adds another task to a movement that should have a clear athletic purpose.

When I reach the top of my backswing, I want to focus on one thing: unleashing the power of the club. I want to know how to send that power out, not interrupt the process to perform another mechanical action.

Two Tempos, Not Three

My preference is what I call a two-tempo swing.

The backswing has one tempo, and the through-swing has another. There is no separate shallowing move inserted between them.

This does not mean that the club cannot shallow during the transition. It means that I do not want to make shallowing an independent task that I must consciously perform.

Instead, I want the backswing, power intention and release style to work together so that the club can find its way into a suitable delivery naturally.

And that is exactly how I approach my own swing. I do not deliberately perform shallowing moves, and I can still produce decent golf shots.

How to Get Shallowness Without a Shallowing Move

If you want to move away from deliberate shallowing moves, I believe three things are worth understanding:

1. Your release style

How do you intend to release the club? Your release intention influences how the club is delivered, including the movements needed to support it.

2. Your power style

How do you intend to use the power of the club? Your power definition helps determine which backswing and downswing characteristics make sense for you.

3. Your swing pattern

Not every golfer needs the same combination of components. I teach three examples of distinct patterns:

  • Big Arc Swinger: Inspired by players such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
  • Aggressive Fluid Release: A more Hogan-inspired pattern, which is the style I use myself.
  • Trail Power Hitter: A pattern with greater trail-arm dominance.

These patterns organise the swing around different power intentions and release styles. Rather than adding a separate shallowing action, the objective is to find a combination that produces the delivery you need.

Sometimes, You Need to Add Steepness

One of the interesting consequences of this approach is that the swing can sometimes become so shallow naturally that you actually need to introduce more steepness.

That is a very different starting point from assuming that every golfer needs to learn a shallowing move.

The objective is not to chase shallowness for its own sake. It is to find the right combination of movements for your intended release and power pattern.

Final Thoughts

I have never understood why deliberate shallowing moves should be treated as a universal requirement. For me, it makes more sense to build the swing around a clear power intention and a release style that fits the golfer.

Rather than adding another mechanical task, find a backswing and power pattern that allow the club to shallow naturally when appropriate.

Two tempos. A clear intention. No unnecessary moves.

At Forgotten Master Moves, I teach these concepts through old-school golf principles, release styles and pattern-based coaching. If you want to explore the ideas in greater depth, you’re welcome to join the FMM membership.

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