Intermediate

Steep Downswing

Also known as: coming down too vertical, chopping down on the ball

Definition

A steep downswing delivers the club noticeably more vertically than the backswing plane. It usually follows an upper-body-led transition, with deep divots, pulls, and lost distance.

A steep downswing delivers the club on an angle that is noticeably more vertical than the plane it traveled on in the backswing. Instead of approaching the ball on a similar or slightly flatter angle, the club comes down at a sharper, chopping angle. This is the mechanical partner of an over-the-top path, but the two are not identical. Over-the-top describes the direction (outside-in), while steepness describes the angle of descent. A golfer can have some of either without the other, though they often occur together.

The common cause of a steep downswing is the upper body starting the transition before the lower body has led. The shoulders and arms throw the club into a steeper angle than the one it traveled up on. A steep angle of attack digs the club into the ground more aggressively. So it is strongly linked to deep divots, sometimes described as taking "a chunk of turf" even on solid strikes. It is also linked to lost distance, from excess spin caused by extra dynamic loft. And when combined with an outside path, it is linked to pulls or pull-slices.

The fix for a steep downswing centers on the same transition sequencing that resolves over-the-top patterns. The idea is to let the lower body lead, so the shaft can shallow naturally in the transition. Then it does not stay on, or steepen from, its backswing plane. Steepness and path direction are related but distinct, so it is worth checking both separately. A golfer might successfully flatten their angle of attack while still swinging from outside the line, or the reverse.

Example

A golfer's club approaches the ball at a noticeably sharper, more vertical angle than it traveled on going back. It takes a deep divot and produces a pulled iron shot that comes up short of the target.

Why it matters

Steepness and swing-path direction are related but separate variables. Treating them as the same thing can lead to fixing one while leaving the other unaddressed. Path direction comes from a launch monitor, and plane steepness from clubhead marks on your down-the-line video. Looking at both helps identify which one is actually driving a given miss.

How it shows up on video

From a down-the-line camera angle, a steep downswing is visible as the shaft descending at a noticeably sharper angle than it traveled on during the backswing, often paired with a deep divot starting well into the target side of the ball position.

Common mistakes

Assuming steepness and over-the-top are the same fault. A golfer can steepen the angle of attack while swinging on a reasonably neutral path, or vice versa. Both should be checked independently.
Trying to consciously "swing flatter" with the arms. This often creates a different, uneven problem rather than addressing the sequencing that causes the steepness in the first place.
Only addressing ball flight direction (a pull) without checking whether the angle of attack is also excessively steep. This affects distance and divot depth independent of direction.

In SwingVantage Motion Lab

Motion Lab does not track the shaft. Once you mark the clubhead going back and coming down on a down-the-line clip, Visual Proof fits both planes. It can then note a downswing steeper than the backswing. Without marks, it shows the angle of your hand path going back and coming down, as an observation. Neither gives club path direction.