Dipping is a prevalent issue in the game of golf, and it essentially comes about when a golfer’s spine angle changes during the swing. The spine angle changing is a problem that will require a golfer to try and recover, causing a lack of swing speed and consistency.
The bottom line, dipping in the golf swing is not good. If you are ready to have your left shoulder, right shoulder, head tilt, and weight shift all working as they should, keep reading.
Why Am I Dipping During My Golf Swing?
Golfers dip in their swing for one main reason; they think it is powerful. This movement of dropping the head down and getting closer to the ball can create power and closeness to the ball. Instead, it puts a player in a poor position for impact.
Dipping is sometimes caused by a player standing too far from the ball; it can also happen as a result of an incorrect takeaway and lastly, because of a poor setup. Let’s take a look at these reasons and how you can fix them to get your normal swing back.
How To Stop Dipping In Golf Swing
Amateur golfers try so hard to hit a good shot that they often start working against themselves. Dipping is a very common problem and one that is typically easy to identify. Here are the steps you can take to stop dipping in the golf swing.
1) Identify The Issue
The first part of this process is to determine what it is that is causing you to dip. Golfers don’t stand behind a golf ball and just decide they will dip their head and change their spine angle; this happens as a result of something in the golf swing. The three main reasons that this happens are . . .
- A golfer standing too far from the ball
- A takeaway that starts with dropping the left shoulder
- Too much bend in the initial setup that continues into the backswing
All three of these issues are equally easy to fix, but they do need to be identified before you can begin the process.
2) Video Your Swing To Verify the Problem
Next, you will want to take a few videos of your golf swing. These videos can be really simple videos using your cell phone. Take a video with a face on view and one down the line. You will use these later on to make sure that the shoulder, head, and spine angles are all doing what they should be doing.
3) Work On Proper Rotation and Weight Shift
It is vital to ensure that your setup is perfect before taking the club back. Ensure that your head is not dipping down at setup and that you are in an athletic and stable position. When you start to take the club back, the shoulder rotation should be a turn as opposed to a dip.
This very first movement of taking your left shoulder and pointing it down as opposed to turning it around you is a major reason that you will dip. The shoulder needs to move laterally, and this will help with other things like weight shift as well.
For players that stand too far from the ball, it is hard to get the proper hip turn in the golf swing, instead of turning the shoulders dip to move the player closer to the ball. Move-in a little closer and start to engage the legs in the swing; the rest will work itself out.
4) Drills and Practice
There are some great drills to ensure that your upper body starts moving into the same position each time without dipping. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Practice some swings without a club. Take your hands and cross them over your chest. Once they are in place, you can stand in a mirror and take some backswings. You will notice your hips and shoulders turn, but your head does not dip.
- One positive swing thought is to think about your head is on a shelf at setup. As you swing back, you will want to keep the head on the shelf and not let it dip down.
- Golfers should understand what spine angle is and what it looks like throughout the swing. Depending on what type of learner you are, sometimes just understanding what the proper backswing and position should be will help you hit the ball much more consistently.
5) Video Comparison
Once you have identified the issue and worked to properly rotate without dipping, it’s time to take another video of your golf swing and compare what changes have been made. The easiest way to see if you have stopped dipping is that your impact position will be more consistent. However, you can also compare your original video and look for the motion of the left shoulder at the start of your swing. If it is moving laterally, you have likely addressed the root issue of the dipping.
What Will Dipping In The Backswing Do To The Golf Ball?
Dipping gin the golf swing is bad for your long game, but it isn’t great for the short game either. Here are a few of the things you will notice if you start dipping a bit too much in your golf swing.
Inconsistency
Golf shots are going to be inconsistent. When you dip, the position you bring the club head back to will rarely be the same. This means you can have one round of golf where you look like a low handicap player and the next where you look like you just started playing.
Thin Shots/Fat Shots
Hitting thin shots and fat shots is another negative that will occur when you are dipping in the backswing. Sometimes players will recover and get their head back up, but this can cause you to hit the top of the ball. When you dip in the backswing, there is no telling where the club will hit the ground when you make contact.
Decrease in Ball Speed
Anytime your should turn or weight shift is not ideal, the golf swing is less efficient. A less efficient golf swing will lead to a decrease in ball speed and fewer yards. Overall, dipping in the backswing is something that all golfers should try and avoid.
Conclusion
We hope these tips on how to stop dipping in the backswing have helped you narrow down the issues that you are having in your game. Dipping is not the hardest issue to fix, but it will likely take some practice on the range and a bit more understanding and awareness of your golf swing.