Steep vs. Shallow: Finding the Right Angle of Attack for Every Club

The reality is that both steep and shallow are simply descriptions of your "angle of attack" - the angle at which the clubhead approaches the ball. Think of it like an aeroplane: a steep swing is like a dive bomber coming down on a target, while a shallow swing is like a passenger jet gliding in for a landing.

Neither one is universally "good" or "bad." The perfect angle of attack changes for every club in your bag. The secret to great ball striking is matching the angle of attack to the club you're hitting and the shot you're trying to produce.

Steep versus shallow swings

Round-up of swing adjustments to dial in angle of attack.

Need help matching angle of attack to shot shape? How to Hit it High and Low: Taking Control of Your Trajectory shows how window control pairs with the attack angle, and The Unsung Hero: Why Ball Position Is Critical for a Pure Strike connects setup tweaks to the angle you deliver.

What is a "Steep" Swing?

A steep swing moves on a more vertical plane. A player with a steep swing often feels like they are picking the club up in the backswing and hitting straight down on the ball.

• The Good: A steep angle of attack is actually desirable with your short irons and wedges. It helps you compress the ball against the turf, which creates a high, soft-landing shot with a lot of spin. It produces those nice, crisp, $5-note-shaped divots that you see the pros take.
• The Bad: When a swing is too steep, especially with longer clubs, it causes major problems. It's a primary cause of the "over the top" move, which leads to pulls and slices. With a driver, a steep swing will cause topped shots or sky marks because you can't hit up on the ball. With long irons, it leads to "digging" and fat shots.

What is a "Shallow" Swing?

A shallow swing moves on a more horizontal or "flatter" plane. The player feels like the club is swinging more around their body than up and down.

• The Good: A shallow angle of attack is essential for your driver, fairway woods, and hybrids. It allows you to "sweep" the ball off the turf or hit up on it when it's on a tee. This is what produces a high-launch, low-spin drive that goes for miles. The low point of a shallow driver swing is before the ball, allowing the club to hit it on the upswing.
• The Bad: When a swing is too shallow, it can also cause issues. It can lead to thin shots or blocks if the body doesn't rotate properly to make space. Getting the club too far behind you ("stuck") is a common shallow-swing fault. With short irons, a player who is too shallow may struggle to get enough compression and spin for the ball to stop quickly on the green.

How do you match angle of attack to the club in your hands?

So how do you control your angle of attack? It all starts with your setup. The changes in your stance, ball position, and posture from a wedge to a driver are what naturally and automatically adjust your angle of attack.

• Driver: To create a shallow, ascending strike, the ball is played far forward (off the lead heel), the stance is very wide, and the spine is tilted away from the target. This setup makes it easy to sweep up on the ball.
• Fairway Woods/Hybrids: The ball is still forward, and the stance is wide, promoting a shallow, sweeping motion where the low point is right at the ball.
• Mid-Irons: The ball is positioned forward of centre, which encourages a descending blow where the low point is after the ball.
• Wedges: The stance is at its narrowest and the ball is closest to the centre (though still forward of it for a full shot), which promotes the steepest angle of attack for maximum compression.

Stop trying to have one swing for every club. Embrace the idea that your swing should change slightly for different clubs, and it all starts with your setup. By adjusting your setup, you are telling your body what kind of angle of attack to deliver, allowing you to hit crisp wedges, powerful drives, and everything in between.

What are the quick questions golfers keep asking?

Q: How do you know which side of the spectrum your swing lives on?
A: Check divot depth and direction. Deep and left means steep; thin and right means too shallow.

Q: How do you match angle of attack to the club in hand?
A: Steepen wedges with weight forward; shallow driver with the ball forward and spine tilted back.